@realjohnboy,
Quote:I read the story about the fixing of games, but I didn't understand exactly what they are accused of doing to throw the match.
A "no ball" is when the bowler oversteps the front line of the crease in delivering the missile (5.5--5.75 ounces) in trying to get as near the batsman as possible. The bowling side concedes one run for a "no ball" and the batsman cannot be out off it.
It is also a "no ball" if the umpires consider the bowler is throwing or if the ball arrives at the batting crease on the full pitch above the batsman's waist.
The fix in question was for three "no balls" to be bowled at prearranged points in the game. As the bowler concerned delivers at about 90 mph the batsman has no time to react to the umpire's "no ball" signal and cannot take advantage of the free hit. So in the context of a five day Test Match in which 1000 runs might be scored the conceding of three runs off these "no balls" is very unlikely to effect the result of the match. "No balls" are quite common as the bowlers are straining to dislodge the batsman. There could easily be 40 in a Test Match. It's no big deal. Just as three no-gains on three 1st down and 10s at prearranged points is unlikely to influence a game result. In both instances the players are trying to win the rest of the time.
Such things wouldn't happen in the UK because the amount of money required to tempt players to do these things could not be recovered in betting without bookmakers and police becoming suspicious. But the betting markets in Asia are very large and unregulated.
If the NFL wants to avoid the risk of such things, a fumbled snap or a foot in the sidelines say, then it should consider not broadcasting games in those areas. And generally, to avoid all risk, gambling on these games should be outlawed. But that's prohibition and has other dangers. There is a gambling streak in human nature.
The CEO of darts and snooker has said that there is no answer except the education of the players which basically constitutes a wing and a prayer with the amounts available to bribe players with. Players can injure themselves and never play again and I hardly think they could switch to brain surgery or banking if that happens.
It is beyond very difficult. QBs are obviously particularly vulnerable so paying them high wages helps to reduce any temptations that might come their way. I see it as a flaw in NFL that one player has so much influence on a game.
The bowler, who was 19 at the time, claimed originally that his family had been threatened if he failed to co-operate.
