As long as people have played games, there has been a temptation to win (or intentionally lose) by cheating. Infamous cases throughout the history of sport abound, from the "thrown" 1919 World Series to the recent doping confessions of track star Marion Jones. In this entertaining and informative book, sports historian Fran Zimniuch recalls the notorious scandals that have tainted our most popular sports, concluding that such incidents are often a reflection of the times. Benefiting from personal interviews with many figures either involved in or on the periphery of recent scandals, including BALCO's Victor Conte, Crooked presents a pageant of infamy as rich as the history of modern sports itself.

About The Author

Fran Zimniuch

Product Details

Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (April 16, 2009)
Length: 240 pages
ISBN13: 9781589793859

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Raves and Reviews

Whether it's the college kid trying to pick up a little extra pocket money or the multi-millionaire superstar seeking that elusive edge, cheating happens! In Crooked: A History of Cheating in Sports, Fran Zimniuch chronicles some of the most infamous cases of cheating in sports history. Zimniuch takes you onto the field and into the dressing rooms as he delves into the minds of those who choose to cheat. After reading this eye-opening and riveting account, you'll never watch sports again with the same innocence.

– Jim Evans, former Major League umpire

Crooked is a nice little surprise of a book. Using psychology, history, sociology and a fan’s love of the game, Zimnuich takes a hard look at duplicity in sports, both pro and amateur. His manner is folksy and fan-friendly as he examines dozens of unsavory scandals.

– Pacific Northwest Inlander

The soft underbelly in sports, the cheaters, the phonies, the point shavers, the money grabbers are examined thoroughly in Crooked: A History of Cheating in Sports. Fran’s book reveals that sports is not all romance and purity. It is as much cheating and fraud. It is, to put it more clearly, real life in sweat socks and uniform pants

– Maury Allen