Elliott Kalb - The 30 greatest sports conspiracy theories of all time: ranking sports most notorious fixes, cover-ups, and scandals

My wife, Amy Kalb, brings to mind the lyrics of an old song by The Band. Up on cripple creek, she sends me. If I spring a leak, she mends me. I dont have to speak, she defends me... I dont know how I deserve that treatment, but my kids and I sure are the better for it. Amy is perfect. Well, shes not perfect . A perfect wife would be a Honeymooners aficionado, not an I Love Lucy devotee. A perfect wife wouldnt complain that it poured buckets of rain on her throughout Super Bowl XLI in Miami. A perfect wife wouldnt occasionally complain about my insistence to watch Howard Stern on-demand late at night, every night. Then again, Im so far from perfect that Im the wrong one to do any complaining.

Lenny and Phyllis Kalb are wonderful parents that truly make a difference in the world. Lenny, by teaching boating safety and finding jobs for hundreds and hundreds of people through the years, has made the world a far better place for so many. Phyllis has brought together diverse lecture subjects for book discussions, concerts, and town meetings at the South Orange library for more than two decades. As for their contributions to this particular book, they have an abject hatred for lying and liars and cover-ups.

How lucky am I? I own a baseball glove and a ball, and I have sons to play catch with. A man doesnt need much more than that. I know I dont. I have several passions, and each of my kids has grabbed hold of one that Im able to share. Wyatt is the sports announcer and/or talk-show host for the next generation. His life, like mine, has been blessed by our love for sports, and were bonded by a devotion to a certain baseball team in pinstripes. Heath loves playing and watching all sports, but there is no greater NBA fan at any age (hes only seven). My stepson Jordan is a fine athlete who has embraced football, and has the will and the skill to excel at it. And Alissa, with realistic dreams of being a screenwriter or playwright, loves New York City, and devours the New York Post each morning. I will be a lucky and rich man if I am able to negotiate any of their future contracts. Heath also would want me to mention our beautiful chocolate lab. The dog has provided Heath and his siblings with daily love and security; and me with the ability to recall the more than 300 passwords needed for my daily life.

My brother David and sister Randi are huge parts of my life, no matter how busy all of us get. They are compassionate and loyal, and better siblings to me than I am to them. My in-laws Irving and Barbara not only buy my books, but also actually read them (cmon, say it: So theyre the ones, youre thinking). They are solidly in my corner, as are my aunt and uncle, Barbara and Jimmy DeNoble. There are a pair of supporting brothers-in-law (Billy Edelman and Roy Levinson), and a pair of sisters-in-law (Susan Kalb and Eilene Levinson, both of whom recently went back to school to earn Masters degrees). And then theres my team of nephews and nieces, including Sammy, Danny, Jacob, Sara, Jessica, and Lindsay.

Mark Weinstein is my editor, and the reason that youre reading this book. Hes the best kind of sports fanhes passionate and intelligent and he knows so much about a lot of different sports. Carol Mann must dread each and every one of my phone calls. Thanks to a great agent. Jim Gallagher led me in the right direction regarding Japanese ballplayers. I was so lucky to be able to work with him beginning in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics. Phil Harmon read several chapters of mine, as I pestered him with first-hand accounts of the 1946 NFL Championship Game. Of course, he was only in elementary school at the time, but he should have taken notes, figuring the information would come in handy one day. There are my friends and colleagues at NBC SportsI am so lucky to have a chance to work with men like Dick Ebersol and Tommy Roy and Sam Flood and Joe Geshue. The Peacock has been like a second family to me, and I have to mention longtime associations with Cathy Crowther, Arnie Marshe, and Gil Capps.

Dennis DAgastino is a sports historian and author who happens to be married to Helene Elliott, who is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thanks to both for setting this hockey puck straight. Howie Deneroff would have made a great investigative journalist. Instead, he chose to be the best radio producer and executive I know. I cant thank my manic friend enough for support, phone numbers, and his memory. Brian Tuohy is a thoughtful and provocative author that I came across on the Internet. I contacted him and got his permission to share some of his musings with my audience. Thanks again, Brian. I work with great colleagues at HBO Sports, including Rick Bernstein, Brian Hyland, and the ever-caffeinated Peter King. And then there is the great Cris Collinsworth, whom I cant say enough good things about.

John McCarthy has been a friend long enough for me to consider him family. Thanks to Dave and Ruth and Maris and Rachel Harmon for letting us into their ski house each winter and for letting us into their hearts. Thanks to Lisa Kalb, who shared many earlier important moments in my life. There are plenty of conspiracy theories about my close friend Steve Horn. Before you sleep tight, Mr. and Mrs. America, remember this: Horn probably does have something on each and every one of you.

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