Just clicked on an AOL Sports article that listed the 20 top sports scandals in history. Guess who ranks Number One?
1. College basketball point-shaving scandal of the 1940s and 1950s
In 1950, City College of New York became the only team in the history of college basketball to win the NIT and the NCAA tournament in the same season.
The following year, seven players from that team were indicted in a widespread point-shaving scandal that involved 25 players from three other New York area schools, as well as Toledo and Bradley Universities and the reigning national champion Kentucky Wildcats.
While City College was at the center of the scandal, Kentucky was clearly the biggest name involved. They were led by legendary head coach Adolph Rupp, and had won three of the past four national championships. Two of their three players that were indicted, Ralph Beard and Alex Groza, were NBA stars and Olympic gold medalists. The Wildcats were suspended for the entire 1952-1953 season.
As a result of the scandal, the NCAA become so afraid of the potential influence of organized crime that the New York area did not host a tournament game until 1982, when the Nassau Coliseum hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Kentucky is the only program to survive the scandal, as the rest would permanently fall from college basketball greatness.
1. College basketball point-shaving scandal of the 1940s and 1950s
In 1950, City College of New York became the only team in the history of college basketball to win the NIT and the NCAA tournament in the same season.
The following year, seven players from that team were indicted in a widespread point-shaving scandal that involved 25 players from three other New York area schools, as well as Toledo and Bradley Universities and the reigning national champion Kentucky Wildcats.
While City College was at the center of the scandal, Kentucky was clearly the biggest name involved. They were led by legendary head coach Adolph Rupp, and had won three of the past four national championships. Two of their three players that were indicted, Ralph Beard and Alex Groza, were NBA stars and Olympic gold medalists. The Wildcats were suspended for the entire 1952-1953 season.
As a result of the scandal, the NCAA become so afraid of the potential influence of organized crime that the New York area did not host a tournament game until 1982, when the Nassau Coliseum hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Kentucky is the only program to survive the scandal, as the rest would permanently fall from college basketball greatness.
