Join us at this week's meeting of the Philosophy Club in Auerbach 320 on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. as David Porter, author of Fixed - How Goodfellas Bought Boston College Basketball (2000, 2002), an account of the infamous 1979 NCAA point-shaving scandal exposed in 1981, discusses the question of truth in sport.
In the wake of recent reports of a new point-shaving scandal involving prominent NBA players and coaches and in light of the new sports betting craze, it seems time to revisit the issue of why tampering with or manipulating the outcomes of sporting events and games is not just petty crime but a matter to be taken as seriously as we so often have in the past, when Congress itself would from time to time intervene.
From the point of view of the betting industry, it is easy to see how the threat of this kind of cheating could hurt revenue, just as the threat of insider trading can discourage investment in the stock market. But is there a greater harm than that, the violation of some sacred innocence that sport is supposed to represent, the virtues of good sportsmanship?
David Porter is an award-winning reporter covering major news stories from fires and floods to political scandals, sports, and criminal trials. His work is published in major outlets worldwide.
To join meeting online, click here.
Questions? Contact Brian Skelly at bskelly@hartford.edu or 413.273.2273.
An ongoing weekly tradition at the University since 2001, the University of Hartford Philosophy Club is a place where students, professors, and people from the community at large meet as peers. Sometimes presentations are given, followed by discussion. Other times, topics are hashed out by the whole group.
Presenters may be students, professors, or people from the community. Anyone can offer to present a topic. The mode of presentation may be as formal or informal as the presenter chooses.
Come live or join online! Invite friends. Suggest topics and activities. Take over the club! It belongs to you!