The news from London about four teams being kicked out of the Olympics for sandbagging got me to thinking.<div>
</div><div>What would most people do?</div><div>
</div><div>Here's what happened. Four round robin pools. These teams had gone 2-0 and had qualified for the next round, regardless of outcome of their third match. In order to get a lower seed, and an easier route to the medal round, these teams started to lose on purpose. The top team in the world was making backyard mistakes like completely missing shots and serving into the net. The way the format was set up, it really didn't matter, and the opportunity to play a lower seed was there by losing.</div><div>
</div><div>I can't think of a way this could happen in major American sports. Maybe in youth sports, but once you get to the high school level, is there a system in place that rewards the loser?</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>
</div><div>What would most people do?</div><div>
</div><div>Here's what happened. Four round robin pools. These teams had gone 2-0 and had qualified for the next round, regardless of outcome of their third match. In order to get a lower seed, and an easier route to the medal round, these teams started to lose on purpose. The top team in the world was making backyard mistakes like completely missing shots and serving into the net. The way the format was set up, it really didn't matter, and the opportunity to play a lower seed was there by losing.</div><div>
</div><div>I can't think of a way this could happen in major American sports. Maybe in youth sports, but once you get to the high school level, is there a system in place that rewards the loser?</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>
