This is a comment I did today on the 6:00 pm sports. I knew it would get reaction.
First, the comment.
THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND,
PATRIOTS FANS AND THEIR KIDS.
IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
DAD, WHO’S THAT GUY EVERY BODY’S CHEERING FOR?
BILL BELICHICK? ISN’T HE THE COACH WHO WAS CAUGHT CHEATING?
SO WHY ARE ALL THOSE PEOPLE CHEERING, AND CLAPPING FOR HIM?
I THOUGHT CHEATING WAS WRONG,
AND WAIT A MINUTE, ISN’T HE THE SAME GUY, WHO RIGHT AFTER THEY FOUND OUT HE WAS CHEATING, GOT A NEW CONTRACT AND BIG RAISE FROM HIS BOSS?
BUT I THOUGHT CHEATING WAS WRONG.
BUT IF PEOPLE ARE CHEERING AND APPLAUDING AND TELLING HIM THEY LIKE HIM SO MUCH.
AND HE’S GETTING A LOT MORE MONEY TOO?
WELL THEN WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH CHEATING?
SO THEN I SHOULD CHEAT TOO, RIGHT, LIKE ON MY TESTS AT SCHOOL AND IN GAMES I PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS?
WELL HOW DO I KNOW THE OKAY CHEATING FROM THE NOT OKAY CHEATING?
YOU SAY I’LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT FOR MYSELF AS I GO. OK.
AND YEAH, DAD, I KNOW, PATRIOTS #1.
And the emails I received.
You asked last night how do you feel about the Pat’s Cheating.
I am very disappointed, ashamed, and also a bit mystified by this action. I just can’t get my head around why they would do something so stupid. The Pat’s are a great team, with a great deal of very talented people. They proved last night they can certainly win with out cheating. I think that they should volunteer to do some commercial TV spots for young fans that lets these young fans know it is never ok to cheat. That is the least they can do to make up for letting the fans down, and the least they should do to correct the message they sent to young fans about honesty and fair play.. Paying a fine is no big deal as far as punishment goes but losing a 1st round draft pick now that might just hurt enough to keep them and other teams (I am sure the Pat’s aren’t the only team to use extremely poor judgment) more honest. I hope they will never use that kind of poor judgment again, and if they do they will deserve whatever punishment they get. Professional sports teams and players should hold themselves to a high standard. If they don’t, they should be held accountable for their actions.
Carla
Putnam CT
Joe,You are such a New York sports homer. Where were you when Giambi admitted using steroids to cheat? What about Sheffield when he was with New York? What about A-Rod yelling “Mine!” in Toronto? All cheats in one way or another but because Belichick coaches the hated Patriots and not your beloved New York teams, he is being reamed daily by the likes of you. He did wrong, he admitted it and paid the price. But he is no worse than your beloved New York stars. Do us all a favor and go and work for a New York station. Belichick proved last night that he doesn’t need tapes to beat the supposed best in the league. Your whining only proves that you are not a fan of New England sports. The Patriots got caught doing what every other team does. Does it make it right? No..but if it had been Mangini or Torre, you would be defending them on a daily basis.
And of course, my response:
Paul,
You’re so off base, you sound silly, and pathetic. But I’ll clear up a couple of things for you any way. First, when Giambi admitted to the steriods, I was the FIRST guy to critisize him, and admonished any fans who cheered for him, for the same reasons. The message it sends to our kids.
Next, Belichick admitted nothing. He said he misinterputed the rule. Only an idiot, and I’m pretty sure he isn’t one, can misinterput, “No video cameras of any kind are allowed on the field during the game”.
Next. Only someone who does cheat defends it by saying everyone cheats. Not everyone does.
Finally, it’s fans like you I’m scared of. Fans like you telling your kids it’s ok to cheat, at school, at work, in sports.
That to me, is what’s very sad.
