Sportspiracies

In 1973, legendary retired tennis player Bobby Riggs challenged two of the top female tennis players to a game. In Fall 1973, Riggs faced Billie Jean King - who was at the top of her game - and lost. Fast forward to 2013. ESPN investigative reporter Don Van Natta Jr. published a wild story about gambling, the mob, and a man who had kept a secret for 40 years - all about Bobby Riggs rigging that fateful Battle of the Sexes. Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

In 2010, LeBron James took his talents to South Beach and joined the Miami Heat, leaving the city of Cleveland and the Cavaliers organization in shambles. While he would eventually find his way back, perhaps that wouldn't have been possible without the convenient bounces of a few unlikely lottery balls. What do we mean by this? Tune in to find out! Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

In the mid-80s, Pete Rose was accused of betting heavily on various sports matches during his time as a player-manager for the Cincinnati Reds. He received a lifetime ban and his name was removed from consideration for a Hall of Fame induction. Was this punishment justified? Should the league have gone a little easier on Rose? Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

January 1994, Tonya Harding's ex-husband and friends facilitated an attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. In this episode of Sportspiracies, we talk about Tonya Harding's rise to fame, the attack, and Harding's life in the aftermath of the controversy. Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

The Boston Red Sox own the 3rd longest championship drought of all time. The franchise went a total of 86 years without a title, while the rival New York Yankees went on to capture 26 of their 27 titles in that span. Was it purely bad luck, or did a questionable transaction in 1920 involving the Yankees purchasing the contract of the great Babe Ruth cast a cloud of misfortune over the city of Boston for years and years? Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

In this episode, we talk about the infamous Deflategate. Also, monkeys come up. Somehow. Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

Michael Jordan is regarded as one of the greatest and most marketable athletes of all time. He also had a horrible gambling addiction. After winning his 3rd straight championship in 1993, he abruptly retired from the game he loved. Did he retire on his own terms? Did he and David Stern have a secret agreement that would cover up Michael's gambling problem and help preserve his reputation as well as the league's? Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

During the 1997 season, the Baltimore Orioles experienced an unexpected malfunction of the lights, causing the game to be postponed to the next day. Cal Ripken Jr. was in the middle of a record-breaking game streak. Did the Orioles postpone the game to keep Ripken's streak alive? Or was it all just a normal blackout? 

Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

On this episode of Sportspiracies, Chris and Maria recap the suspicious ending to the 1965 Heavyweight Boxing match between Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali. History may tell you that Liston was knocked out in less than 2 minutes, but was he really? Was Ali's famous knockout hook merely brush contact? Did Liston lose on purpose? Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.

Chris and Maria discuss Game 6 of the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers. Was the game fixed in favor of the Lakers? Did David Stern's bias toward the Lakers have something to do with it? Hosted by Maria McNamara and Chris Coakley. Produced by Chris Coakley.