Current Events > Is "tanking" a problem in sports?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Is tanking - deliberately losing to stockpile high draft picks - a problem in sports?

In soccer if you are at the bottom you get demoted to the next league down. Too bad we dont have that here.

Not sure how much I buy into it. Last game of the season and a loss gives you a better pick? Sure.

Coach going in the locker room and telling his players they need to lose all season? Probably not.

Yes. It does fans a disservice when not all teams are trying to win

SauI_Goodman posted...

In soccer if you are at the bottom you get demoted to the next league down. Too bad we dont have that here.

I'd support a relegation/promotion system in U.S. sports.

I worry about it more now that gambling has proliferated and leagues cozy up to bet on fantasy sports.

Players, coaches, and management don't intentionally tank, as they all have too short of a shelf life to do that. Ownership absolutely sets parameters that bring about tanking however, as they're in it for the guaranteed long haul. Not many GMs and coaches survive multiple bad years and get additional shots, and the average player career can fit within a rebuild cycle for a team, and even if a career lasts longer that's a fundamentally long period of their career wasted away.

furb posted...

I worry about it more now that gambling has proliferated and leagues cozy up to bet on fantasy sports.

Yeah, the inspiration for the thread was something on SI's (sports illustrated) website about how "Vegas" is concerned by the allegations from the NFL. Tanking will kill the sport with serious bettors.

K181 posted...

Players, coaches, and management don't intentionally tank, as they all have too short of a shelf life to do that. Ownership absolutely sets parameters that bring about tanking however, as they're in it for the guaranteed long haul. Not many GMs and coaches survive multiple bad years and get additional shots,

I'm with you on players and coaches, but GMs? We've absolutely had "Trust the Process" types like Sam Hinkie, or the current Orioles management, who punt a few years in the hopes of striking it big in the draft.

brestugo posted...

I'd support a relegation/promotion system in U.S. sports.

IMO, college football would be perfect for this. Have a few different divisions where three or four teams move up to down each season and then there will be meaningful games each week.

MabusIncarnate posted...

Not sure how much I buy into it. Last game of the season and a loss gives you a better pick? Sure.

Coach going in the locker room and telling his players they need to lose all season? Probably not.

This. The human dynamic and not to mention business proposition. If you can't even pretend to be competitive you can't push merch, concessions, or ticket sales. Nobody wants to sponsor the team so there's denied revenue there as well.

Too much money denied to be intentionally bad. Jaguars notwithstanding.

MabusIncarnate posted...

Not sure how much I buy into it. Last game of the season and a loss gives you a better pick? Sure.

Coach going in the locker room and telling his players they need to lose all season? Probably not.

This.

Also most guys who have the drive and competitive nature to get that good are the kinda dude who aren't gonna roll over and they're gonna fucking hate losing.

Theres the odd dude who's just crazy skilled and just doesn't gaf, but mostly you don't get to the top if you're not really driven and competitive.

Kovalev was both depending on the year. Lol. His 84 point season for Montreal was awesome but other times he'd float most of a season and just shows the odd sick skills.

Individual players have incentives to play well for future contracts.

Unless

Payola or under the table rewards seepin

8 men out prove this can happen

Antifar posted...

I'm with you on players and coaches, but GMs? We've absolutely had "Trust the Process" types like Sam Hinkie, or the current Orioles management, who punt a few years in the hopes of striking it big in the draft.

Yeah, if tanking is a problem, it's at the GM/Ownership level.

And I'd add that GMs like the prospect of these "rebuilding" projects because
1. You get a few years before any expectations are placed on you
2. You get to tell the owner you're saving them money.
3. If it works out you get called a genius, the way Astros' management was.

Antifar posted...

And I'd add that GMs like the prospect of these "rebuilding" projects because
1. You get a few years before any expectations are placed on you
2. You get to tell the owner you're saving them money.

Well no cause if you're the gm who is responsible for the need to tank you are gonna get fired. Usually.

The replacement gm has a window but by the time he's in the team is probly shit and unless you have supreme confidence in your scouts or theres just some can't kiss stud its probly best to get cracking.

The Lions have been running the long con for 70 years.

brestugo posted...

I'd support a relegation/promotion system in U.S. sports.

Relegation won't work in North America because of the whole draft system.

ShineboxPhil posted...

Relegation won't work in North America because of the whole draft system.

The draft system is the root problem.

Tanking is too safe, DPS is way more fun

brestugo posted...

I'd support a relegation/promotion system in U.S. sports.

US dont have that? Like that the actual fuck??

Antifar posted...

Yes. It does fans a disservice when not all teams are trying to win

tbh, i'd rather have them not compete than play losing

Cobra1010 posted...

US dont have that? Like that the actual fuck??

I shit you not.

I some cases teams have been abysmal for decades. Good - sometimes great - players come and go through their team but they never get better. Year after year.

i don't understand

brestugo posted...

stockpile high draft picks

what does this mean?

BeesKnees posted...

i don't understand

what does this mean?

The worst team gets the top pick in the draft. Which mean the best rookie will go to the worst team.

I really wish the US had a relegation and promotion system. It would largely solve the problem

SF_Okami posted...

The worst team gets the top pick in the draft. Which mean the best rookie will go to the worst team.

wtf. that's pretty weird

BeesKnees posted...

wtf. that's pretty weird

And some teams "tank" (stay purposely non-competitive) to get high value draft picks year after year. They're cheap to pay, sometimes exciting and usually gone after 3 years or so. Rinse and repeat - but the team usually never gets better.

In what timeline does this event just continue forever, lol

MedeaLysistrata posted...

In what timeline does this event just continue forever, lol

It seems like it's getting worse to me. Analytics people in particular seem to see it as a viable strategy. It's somewhat justifiable on paper.