Bad Sport - Episode 1, Hoop Dreams

This week I watched the first episode of the Netflix series Bad Sport that details the story of point-shaving by college basketball point guard, Stevin "Hedake" Smith, at Arizona State University in 1994. This episode was excellent and opened my eyes to something I've never thought about that much - fixing games.

Hedake was an incredible basketball player, destined for the NBA, when he was put in touch with a high-roller gambler to earn some serious cash. This would be done by shaving points during two games. Point Shaving is a process where instead of throwing a whole match, an athlete will alter the way they perform to influence the margin of winning or losing. By doing this, Hedake earned himself 20,000 dollars after his first time!

What's remarkable about this story is what led this star athlete to take this risk. Despite the high amount of money Hedake and his teammates were bringing into the University, they were never paid beyond their college scholarships for playing. At one point, Smith and his teammate Isaac "Ice" Burton, describe getting food from other people in their dorms because they were so strapped for cash.

Stevin "Hedake" Smith

Knowing this, it should be clear right away why someone with so much potential might take the risk to participate in point shaving. They were hungry. They were broke. By the end of the documentary, you really feel for Stevin and the tough position he was in at the time. It also got me thinking. How do we best support elite college amateur athletes to have financial security? How do we prevent college athletes from point-shaving or fixing games? To me, the answer is obvious: compensate them better.

I'm glad this episode was made because it highlights a serious issue that still plagues many college athletes. Financial insecurity in these performers is not new. Many athletes under the NCAA umbrella come from disadvantaged backgrounds, living without the privilege of additional financial support from family. Even though their college fees are covered, often times their living expenses are not.

A report from The Hope Center (2019) reminds us that not only do many college athletes receive less than full scholarships, but they are also often restricted from working other jobs to support themselves during their sporting season. According to the report, 14% of Division I athletes had been homeless at some point during the previous year. It is important to note, however, that this rate of homelessness was similar to that of non-athletes. Nonetheless, 24% of Division I college athletes also had experienced food insecurity and it's possible that the COVID-19 Pandemic exacerbated this issue even further (Coronavirus Pandemic Magnifies an All-Too-Real Issue for Some NCAA Athletes, 2020).

"If student-athletes are going to win games and succeed in college, then those basic needs for food and housing must be met first." (The Hope Center, 2019)

From a sport psychology perspective, the lack of financial support for college athletes is particularly frustrating. Things that take place off the pitch, such as financial distress, can affect an athlete while they are on the pitch. When athletes are under chronic stress, it can make our jobs harder. I can ask an athlete to develop their goals and pre-performance routines, but it will be a lot harder for them to carry out those goals and improve their attention when all they can think is, how am I going to pay for my gas this week?

This documentary also raised another question for me, are elite college athletes at increased risk of gambling difficulties? According to the scientific literature, the answer is they just might be. Gambling in college athletes has been documented. A recent study of elite athletes and their coaches in Sweden (2019) suggested that up to 13% of male athletes were at risk of gambling difficulties. Another U.S. study (2019) found male Division I and Recreational college athletes had higher rates of gambling behaviours compared to non-athletes. So, it appears that college and elite athletes, particularly males, may be at more risk for gambling behaviours.

Here in Ireland, sports gambling is very normalised in the culture and this country is not immune to potential match fixing. In 2020, an investigation was started looking into unusual betting patterns on Limerick FC matches. Though, given the differences in sporting structure in Ireland, there is less focus on college athletes in relation to gambling.

One can only imagine how point-shaving, fixing matches and general gambling on sports will evolve alongside changes to the laws, NCAA rulings, and technological advances. Interestingly, in 2018, the U.S. supreme made a ruling that allows for single-game wagering across America, which will likely result in significant changes to how Americans consume sport. As such, a fascinating study from Hill, Rasmussen, Vittorio and Myers (2020) predicts that NCAA American Football, Basketball, and Baseball will be at most risk for gambling-related corruption, further underscoring the importance of providing financial support for college athletes.

All in all, Hoop Dreams shed light on a serious issue in athletics where preventative work could be further developed. It was fascinating to gain insight to the pressure of Division I athletes in the U.S. and it's well worth a watch for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes of sports gambling.