Sports have no shortage of stories, and stories are one of their main attractions. Sure, sports aren’t technically anything more than two teams or competitors facing off to see who is better at a recreational activity, but it’s the metadrama that unfolds during and in between that’s the real selling point. Don’t believe me? Turn on Monday Night Football this NFL season and see what all the chatter is about before kickoff, or tune into Sky Sports if you’re in Europe and see how the talking heads handle the Erling Haaland-Kylian Mbappe debate.
Whether you’re firing up College Football 26 today in early access or playing another season of Road to the Show in MLB The Show 25, there are certain things and storylines that aren’t possible, be it due to league rules, licensing, or various other reasons.
Gambling Controversies
Ever since sports gambling became legal in most states, it has become one of the most prevalent (some might even say intrusive) parts of modern sports broadcasts. And with sports athletes no longer needing to visit some shady, underground gambling place run by unsavory characters in order to bet on the spread of whatever primetime football game is on that day, it can be tempting to participate, even if league rules prohibit that.
Pete Rose notoriously bet on baseball while manager of the Cincinnati Reds, and was subsequently banned for life. Shohei Ohtani got caught up in a controversy when his longtime interpreter was using his bank account in order to make massive bets with a Southern California-based sports book. Former Brentford talisman Ivan Toney received an 8-month ban as a result of multiple violations. And right now, NBA player Malik Beasley is in the thick of one of the most bizarre gambling scandals ever seen that goes way beyond making prop bets when he’s not supposed to — the guy got an entire paycheck garnished due to a five-figure debt to a dentist.
I doubt any kind of sports video game will ever have a high-risk, high-reward gambling minigame in which you can double your bankroll at risk of league suspension. Or having your entire operation blown up by a disgruntled dentist.
Illegal Gear
Earlier this year, controversy struck when the “torpedo bats” became a thing in baseball. And from the rip, fans debated whether or not they were legal. Within hours, the league determined that they were completely legal to use. In turn, MLB The Show 25 introduced torpedo bats into the game shortly after. But what about illegal or legally ambiguous gear?
Let’s provide an example. One thing that some College Football players have wondered is why above-the-knee pants aren’t allowed in Madden? Well, the answer is simple: It’s not allowed. While the NCAA allows players a bit more freedom when it comes to gear, the NFL is notoriously pretty strict when it comes to on-field (and sideline) apparel. This includes pants being required to cover a player’s knees.
That hasn’t stopped some of the jokes, though.
Star Players Going Rogue
Now, this is technically in some sports video games. For instance, in Football Manager, regen players (or generated youth players) can have personalities that will cause them to skip training or become a nuisance in the locker room. However, existing players don’t cause such chaos as it could violate licensing agreements or even be seen as some kind of slander. Therefore, players spiraling into headaches isn’t typically seen in games.
Let’s use Antonio Brown as an example. Once one of the best wide receivers in football, the former Steeler slowly turned into a problem in Pittsburgh before being traded to the Oakland Raiders. There, he didn’t even make it through preseason due to a grievance with the NFL over an outdated and illegal helmet, as well as skipping practices. Subsequent stints with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were short-lived and ended in drama as well.
What makes this all the more bizarre is that AB was once the farthest thing from a problem in the locker room and seldom made headlines outside of his excellent play on the field. After several injuries mounted, the guy became a bona fide locker room cancer.
I doubt Madden would ever have a similar mechanic of a star player going rogue, as it would require it to acknowledge a painful truth — head injuries could be to blame.
Tragedies
On Thursday, July 3, 2025, the world descended into shock when it was revealed that Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother had tragically passed away in a car accident. It was a grim reminder that, no matter what, life is unpredictable and often unfair.
After a few days, it got me thinking about something: Our players in sports games will always be there. I have a Football Manager save that is about to hit 2030, and Jota is still there, playing at a high level for Liverpool and his home nation of Portugal. As ridiculous as it sounds, it made me feel even worse. Even though these players are guaranteed to be present next season for us in games, there are no such guarantees in real life.
Sports video games will never simulate real-world events, nor should they. We are reminded every day how fragile life is — the last thing we need is a video game driving the stake even further.
