PLOT TWISTS
During Game 1 of the NBA Finals the air-conditioning at San Antonio's AT&T Center went out, causing Heat star LeBron James to cramp up and miss almost all of the final 7:31, during which the Spurs came back to win. Afterward social media was alive with unsavory suggestions, but AC-gate hardly ranks on the list of alltime sports conspiracy theories. They're listed below, along with their level of believability on a scale of 1 (meh) to 4 (very likely) LBJs.
1951
SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD
WHAT
Bobby Thomson hit a walk-off home run to win the NL pennant for the Giants.
THEORY
New York stole pitches at the Polo Grounds.
LBJ SCALE: 3
The Giants admitted doing it during the season, but Thomson swore he wasn't tipped off that day.
1965
THE PHANTOM PUNCH
WHAT
Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston with a blow that barely seemed to make contact.
THEORY
The Mafia ordered Liston to take a dive.
LBJ SCALE: 2
Liston was an ex-con with mob ties, but Ali was better and had TKO'd him in '64.
1973
THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES
WHAT
Billie Jean King routed Bobby Riggs in a made-for-TV tennis match.
THEORY
Riggs threw the match to cover his gambling losses.
LBJ SCALE: 1
Riggs was 55, while King was 29 and had just won her fifth Wimbledon singles title.
1985
NBA DRAFT LOTTERY
WHAT
The Knicks won the No. 1 pick, which became Patrick Ewing.
THEORY
The team's envelope was doctored so David Stern could find it.
LBJ SCALE: 3
There was upside for the NBA in having the country's most famous collegian go to New York.
1993
MICHAEL JORDAN RETIRES
WHAT
His Airness walked away at 30 after a three-peat.
THEORY
Jordan was facing a suspension for alleged gambling debts.
LBJ SCALE: 1
Jordan didn't have anything more to prove, though he returned in 1995 and led the Bulls on another three-peat.
2004
THE BLOODY SOCK
WHAT
Effects from Curt Schilling's ankle surgery were evident as he beat the Yankees in 2004 ALCS.
THEORY
Orioles broadcaster Gary Thorne said on air that he'd been told it was paint, not blood.
LBJ SCALE: 1
Thorne quickly backed off his comments.
SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
An unidentified fan wore a full bear costume to the Padres' 4--3, 11-inning win over the Nats.
PHOTO
UPI/BETTMAN/CORBIS (THOMSON)
PHOTO
NEIL LEIFER/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (ALI)
PHOTO
JERRY COOKE/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (RIGGS)
PHOTO
NOREN TROTMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (EWING)
PHOTO
JOHN IACONO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (JORDAN)
PHOTO
CHARLES KRUPA/AP (SCHILLING)
TWENTY FOUR PHOTOS
JOHN W. MCDONOUGH/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (JAMES HEAD SHOT)
PHOTO
MLB.COM (BEAR)