The Mag Sheds Light on the Various Scandals Rocking the World of Sports and Why We Just Can’t Seem to Get Enough  

¹scan·dal noun \ˈskan-d^əl\: a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions or disgraces those associated with it.

Winners never cheat? That might be wishful thinking in a world where high stakes often beget low morals. Whether on the field or off, all we want is justice. While most lack the authority of the officiating trade, it does not stop many from weighing in on those who violate the codes of sports or offend one’s sense of fair play. There are certainly plenty of opportunities to act as judge and jury – and we do – often. In this week’s “Busted” issue, ESPN The Magazine highlights the cheaters, hooligans, smugglers and others who populate the games we follow.  Cover  |  Photos

ESPN The Magazine’s “Busted” issue features a compelling compilation cover story and illustration (Tressel’s scarlet vest) about the scandals in college football and basketball within this last year alone. The piece also explores how Twitter, Facebook and other online sources have made the whole world the circle of control that coaches and schools face once a scandal breaks. While there is specific focus on the likes of Bruce Pearl, Jim Tressel, and Cam Newton, the story takes a deeper dive into such scandalous waters, providing a breakdown of the various NCAA violations and when did it all go so terribly wrong? Why now? Are schools cheating more, or is there just more scrutiny? With the eyes of the world watching within keystroke distance, where do they go from here? And more importantly – is this fixable?

Also in The Busted Issue, on newsstands Friday, May 20, ESPN The Magazine’s Kenny Mayne chats with five frequently penalized athletes (and one frequently penalized owner) about rules – and why they break them in “Whistled While They Worked.” And if you’re curious to see which athletes paid the price for being naughty in sports, check out “Grab Some Bench,” which outlines the suspensions and recent fines levied by the four major leagues.  

Busted Issue Features:  

The Good Fight
UFC champ Jon Jones and other MMAers used their fighting chops to take down bad guys.    By Alyssa Roenigk

“…When We’re Bad They Never Forget.”
Have the British Police Gone Too Far in the War on Soccer Hooligans? By Shaun Assael

259,200 Minutes for Smuggling
Hockey Bags are Perfect for Skates, Pads and Pucks. Also for Sneaking Potent Canadian Pot Across the Border. By Luke Cyphers

Guide to Not Getting Caught
A Cheaters’ Guide to Not Getting Caught. Learn how NFL Teams Manipulate Substitutions to Get Mismatches, How Players Date Cheerleaders, and How Pitchers Doctor Baseballs.

Repaying by the Hour
Community Service May Seem Like a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card, but Marion Jones Makes her Postprison Work Meaningful. By Carmen Renee Thompson

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