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Rock: Manti Te'o, Lance Armstrong, Wilt Chamberlain and other hoax sports stories

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By Brad Rock, Deseret News

Published: Thursday, Jan. 17 2013 3:40 p.m. MST

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In this Nov. 10, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o waits for the snap during the second half of their NCAA college football game against Boston College in Boston.

Associated Press

Summary

I'm having a hard time trusting anyone these days, and it's only partially due to election-season fatigue. More recently, a couple of high-profile athletes have bombed the John Q. Public lie detector test.

More Coverage
  • Was Manti Te'o hooked by a catfish?

  • Hawaii hometown backs Te'o after girlfriend hoax

  • Story of Te'o girlfriend death apparently a hoax, Twitter reacts heavily to the news (+video)

SALT LAKE CITY — I'm having a hard time trusting anyone these days, and it's only partially due to election-season fatigue. More recently, a couple of high-profile athletes have bombed the John Q. Public lie detector test.

One is Manti Te'o, the Notre Dame linebacker who says he was duped into believing a girlfriend he met online had died. Apparently she never existed; it was a hoax perpetrated by a friend of Te'o, or maybe Te'o himself.

While details are fuzzy, one thing is obvious: Someone was lying.

Then there's Lance Armstrong's admission — after more than a decade of denial — that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France seven times.

This has discouraged but not deterred me from seeking the truth. In fact, it has motivated me. In my research, I've discovered some shocking facts on other enduring sports tales.

Now the truth can be told: Begin Slideshow

Related Stories
  • Was Manti Te'o hooked by a catfish?

  • Hawaii hometown backs Te'o after girlfriend hoax

  • Story of Te'o girlfriend death apparently a hoax, Twitter reacts heavily to the news (+video)

Featured Comments

See all 2 comments »
Mount Olympus
Salt Lake, UT

Re:ThomasJefferson

Even Manti Te'o isn't stupid enough to believe that Bronco Mendenhall is the reincarnated Jesus.

  • 5:32 p.m. Jan. 18, 2013
  • Top comment
ThomasJefferson
WELLSVILLE, UT

WOW, I am so glad this guy didn't go to BYU. However, he would have been a good Pac 12 candidate.

  • 6:35 p.m. Jan. 17, 2013
  • Top comment
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About the Author
Brad Rock

Brad Rock

Brad Rock, a.k.a. "Rockmonster," has been a sports columnist at the Deseret News since 1994. Prior to that he worked as a beat writer, covering the Utah Jazz (1990-94). He has covered the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, NBA more ..

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