THE ROOT OF EVERY GREAT CONSPIRACY IS A SIMPLE TRUTH. Consider: Russia hosted its first Winter Olympics in February and led all countries with 33 medals. But wait! That’s 10 more than it has won in a Winter Games since 1994, a 43% increase. That would be like Usain Bolt running the 100 meters four seconds faster just because the Olympics were held in Jamaica. And consider: Five of Russia’s medals came in figure skating, a sport with some—how shall we say this?—history of corruption. And Russia is a country with some—how shall we say this?—significant history of corruption. So let this be a lesson: Nothing is ever quite as it seems. Not Mike McQueary’s squeaky-clean image (page 50) or Aaron Hernandez’s slam dunk case (page 62) or those college hoops games we hold so dear (page 72). The truth is out there? Possibly. But some might be in here too.
illustration by MATT LEHMAN
03/17/2014 ESPN The Magazine
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