Fake teams colluding with real ones--the new cheating

[l.strether]

Has anyone else noticed the disturbing trend of the incredibly low-rated teams with terrible records who give away players to certain teams in lopsided trades, dump all their players throughout the season to throw it, or both?

This seems to be the new trend in cheating that has replaced the managers with two or more teams that Bernie and the league stopped years ago.

Bernie, if you have also noticed this, or received similar complaints, can you do anything about it?

[LMBombers]

No I have not. If you have examples of this you should email stratomatic@sportingnews.com and report it.

[RICHARDMILTER]

I HAVE NOTICED WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES!!! I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE MORE THAN ONE TEAM IN A LEAGUE, AND THAT IS CHEATING. I HAVE NO PROOF, BUT I HAVE NOTICED VERY QUESTIONABLE MOVES DURING THE SEASON AND THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO HAPPEN RIGHT BEFORE ONE TEAM PLAYS ANOTHER!
UNCLE MILTE

[RICHARDMILTER]

I HAVE NOTICED WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES!!! I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE MORE THAN ONE TEAM IN A LEAGUE, AND THAT IS CHEATING. I HAVE NO PROOF, BUT I HAVE NOTICED VERY QUESTIONABLE MOVES DURING THE SEASON AND THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO HAPPEN RIGHT BEFORE ONE TEAM PLAYS ANOTHER!
UNCLE MILTE

[DONALDFOSCOE]

I'm in this league. I don't think there was any intentional collusion, just what looks like a poor trade. This does bring up a point that should have been addressed long ago though. Maybe adding a function where 2 or 3 other teams have to approve a trade for it to go forward. That said the current system is generally fair, having to match salary and stay under the cap usually keeps too many weird things from happening. If one of the trading teams didn't start acting like a jerk immediately and explained his side, it probably wouldn't have been much of an issue.

[chasenally]

That's why I never take a mulligan while golfing. Wow I shot a 79. What would I have had if I didn't take a mulligan. Althought when playing golf, 3 other guys are right there. This '86 game will have many wierd things happen as it is free and you can log in under different names. I am taking it for what it is worth, nothing. Let the games begin, all of them. Oh by the way I am Beaver Repeaters for the '86 games.

[DONALDFOSCOE]

this is in a 2007 league, but you have a point.

[chasenally]

I see very few trades during the season. I don't know that I have ever seen more then 1 after the season starts.

[elpasopesos]

when I was new to the game I created two teams in the same league just to try two different philosophies, not to cheat. It was reported I was penalized and I sent an apology to Bernie. It could be the same situation with some rookies.... Maybe we should have a general policy statement for all to read.....

[teamnasty]

I've been in 5 leagues during 2007 and there hasnt been anything close to a collusive trade in any of them. The fact that a salary cap exists and that there is a drop penalty severely limit the ability for any trades to occur, let alone extremely imbalanced ones that imply collusion. It's not to say it cant happen, but I have a hard time buying the premise of this thread; that it happens often.