Are Professional Sporting Events really Reality TV?

Right after the start of the Iraq War, the St. Louis Rams played the New England Patriots in New Orleans for SuperBowl XXXVI. The Patriots had just won a controversial game against the Oakland Raiders in their home stadium. The Rams were a heavy favorite. Preceding the game there was a pre-game show that was very "patriotic", every living former president except Reagan was in attendance. And of course the Patriots win the game. We have all thought at one time or another our team was being cheated. But that game was more than that. It seemed as if the Rams just quit. It was like a movie. Seven SuperBowls have been played since that game and the Patriots have won more SuperBowls than any other team since the war began. I don't think that's a coincidence. There have been other fixes in sports. Most people don't enjoy professional boxing for this reason. How many times have you heard someone say "the fix is in"? As I watch all of the KOBE vs. LEBRON media hype sponsored by the NBA ans Nike, I remember that the game I was brought up to love has turned into an updated version of the Harlem Globetrotters. The Cavs are this season's "bum-killers" as Charles Barkley pointed out. They are in the role the Lakers were in last season, close but not close enough. The script will play out however the NBA wants it too. They pay the officials to make sure it does. People say, "cheaters never prosper", sure they do!