Former Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron and recently suspended Indian Premier League chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi are living proof that the phrase "absolute power corrupts absolutely" rings true.
And, like a dog that feels threatened, both Waldron and Modi have gone on the attack in an attempt to redeem themselves as leaders in sport and business.
Waldron briefly went into hiding but has come out accusing the NRL and News Ltd of turning a blind eye to institutional cheating with regards to salary cap rules in the NRL.
Likewise, Modi spoke soon after the IPL finals, claiming that the accusations against him were based on innuendos and half-truths.
The problem with half-truths is that half of what is said is the truth.
A quick look at Modi's past suggests you'd have to be pretty sure of your allegations before confronting him, because he has had kidnapping and assault charges laid against him.
In both cases, these men played a significant role in the success of either their team (Melbourne Storm won two premierships, in 2007 and 2009) or tournament (the IPL is now valued at more than $4 billion) but it seems this success has come at a high price.
Waldron has lost his post as chief executive of the new Super rugby franchise, the Melbourne Rebels, and may never regain trustworthiness as a chief executive if the claim that the Melbourne Storm's salary cap cheating is the exception rather than the rule is proved.
Modi also risks losing power over the IPL, his baby for the past three years, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sent Modi a 34-page letter outlining 22 charges.
These "improprieties" include accepting a million-dollar kickback while assigning the telecast rights for IPL matches, attempting to rig the bids for the two new IPL teams, holding a silent stake in three IPL teams, match-fixing, betting, and helping family and friends buy stakes.
Interim chairman Chirayu Amin has promised to make the IPL bigger, better and more transparent in 2011 but without the glitz, glamour and controversy.
Will the IPL still be as successful without these add-ons? Will Bollywood stars and rich businessmen still want to invest in a competition that is more Brady Bunch than Sex in the City?Luckily for the BCCI (which, ironically, is wealthier now thanks to Modi), cricket remains a religion in India and rival competitions have fallen by the wayside, so players will continue to be auctioned off to the highest bidder irrespective of whether there are post-match parties or cheerleaders.
In both circumstances, both men and their allies have not been able to resist the provocative mix of money, power and prestige in the heady atmosphere of professional sport.
Amin is right - the only way corruption can be controlled (rather than obliterated altogether) is to make business dealings as transparent as possible.
I'd suggest allowing one person to gain absolute power should be avoided under any circumstance, absolutely.
