Today there is a lot of stuff on the news about a basketball referee that may have been influencing the outcome of games. It is not surprising that such a thing could happen. I dont watch professional basketball because it has always appeared to me that the referee's influence the game. It seems that very often if one team begins to pull ahead, it suddenly gets penalties that even things up. That keeps the TV audience from changing channels. This is easy for the referee's to do if they want to since there is always some infraction of the rules at any tie. Football has the same situation. There is offensive holding on almost evry play, but it is rarely called. Baseball is the hardest game for the umpires to influence. I've played in some games where the umpires seemed partial, but they rarely made outrageous calls. Mostly they were loose in calling balls and strikes. When that happens the batters can adjust, and may still be able to hit the ball. The umpire may be able to make an outrageous call at a critical time in the game, but that opportunity is rarely there. In football and basketball a foul can be called at almost any time, and nothing may show up on the replay. In football the referee usually gives the number of the offending player, but often the replay shows that person is not the one who committed the foul. The instant replay has no doubt made it more difficult for officials to influence games, but I think it can still happen. I'm not a gambler, but if I were I don't think I would bet on baketball or football games.