This is the only time I'm going to write about the Patriots videotaping opponents signals. I will not write a follow-up post. I will not call it "Spygate" (adding -gate to the end of anything does not make it a controversy and I hate it that people do that). I am not a Patriots fan. I was, however, rooting for them in the Super Bowl because (a) I hate the Giants and (b) I wanted to see a perfect season in my lifetime. I will not expand on either of those two points, though.
What finally prompted me to write something was Arlen Specter's asinine interference in sports while the US economy crumbles around him. This man is a United States Senator from Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania economy hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire since, oh, the 1970s. It's not part of the Rust Belt for no reason. But that's not the point. The point is that a United States Senator during a recession (or at least a pre-recession) while gas prices skyrocket should have better things to do than worry about whether or not his favorite football team was screwed by the Patriots. You know what? I hope the Patriots stole every single Steelers and Eagles sign and used them to clobber both teams, simply because it would make Mr. Specter angry.And you know what? There are, shockingly, more important things than sports.
I've got a newsflash for Mr. Specter: every single team in the NFL cheats; the Patriots got caught. Every team cheats because the NFL is a league of maniacal micromanagers. The NFL has created a culture where coaches need to spend 20 hours a day at the office or else they're perceived as not trying. The tragic results of this can been seen with Andy Reid's kids (I'm not saying they wouldn't have done drugs, but maybe if he was around more it would've been caught sooner). This sort of pressure breeds burn out and, surprise surprise, cheating. Hasn't anyone in the NFL head office seen that Saved By The Bell episode where Jessy takes drugs to stay awake studying because she can't handle the pressure? There's a lesson there, ladies and germs.
Back to the point: the NFL has created this problem and it can fix it. The easiest solution? Add four more network cameras and say those are the only videos any team can have. Have the league control all communications equipment (the league is swimming in cash, I think they can afford to hire 30 nerds to monitor all communications; I'm available). Mr. Specter's whining, though, isn't helping. He's undermining his position as a United States Senator. He's going against everything he, as a Republican, believes in (namely, no government interference in private enterprise). And, most tragically, he's looking more and more like a senile old man. This is tragic because his mind is sharp. He simply needs to focus on the things that matter in the real world: the economy and good government.
Kim Cloutier
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A Saved by the Bell reference? Sir, you have my upmost respect. But, seriously great blog you make some great points..there are thousands of more important things he should be focused on rather than the NFL's handling of Spygate
badgerfan07 back in…
Whitewater , WI
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Finally, someone who wants to see and hear about something besides the Patriots and Arlen (Disre) Spector. My God, let it go already. The Senator needs to be voted out of office. He is a disgrace. People act like this is some kind of revelation. Teams have been trying to gain a competitive advantage since day 1. Football is orchestrated war on the field. If you want to talk about something wrong in Pro Football, lets talk about the Officiating crews. I have seen WAY too many games where the outcome was impacted by the Officials. Just watch a few Colts games from an unbiased view. The refs are just dying to give them the game EVERY WEEK! Gee, Bill Polian sits on the Competition Committee doesn't he?
Hoodatjones
Oldsmar , FL
Total Comments (2)
Finally, someone who wants to see and hear about something besides the Patriots and Arlen (Disre) Spector. My God, let it go already. The Senator needs to be voted out of office. He is a disgrace. People act like this is some kind of revelation. Teams have been trying to gain a competitive advantage since day 1. Football is orchestrated war on the field. If you want to talk about something wrong in Pro Football, lets talk about the Officiating crews. I have seen WAY too many games where the outcome was impacted by the Officials. Just watch a few Colts games from an unbiased view. The refs are just dying to give them the game EVERY WEEK! Gee, Bill Polian sits on the Competition Committee doesn't he?
Hoodatjones
Oldsmar , FL
Total Comments (2)
Thank God there won't be a follow-up from you. This was pretty much a waste of time all around. You wanted to see a perfect season? Fine, which sport? There have been a number of perfect seasons in the last few years. Certainly you don't mean American Football? You don't even mention a favorite NFL or college team but do say that you hate the NYGs-for no reason apparently.
Personally I wanted the NYGs to win because I pull for the underdog, not the league bully and did not want to have to hear from NE for the next 30 years as they toast to the last unbeaten team losing each year a la the '72 Dolphins. The surviving Dolphins are insufferable, (but time will take care of them), so I can just imagine the smug self-satisfaction of the Patriots each year if they had gone 19-0. Quite frankly their "no one respects us" act has gotten so old.
You don't like Arlen Spector? T.S. This is still a democracy, in most ways. The people of Pennsylvania will decide if he stays in the U.S. Senate , not you. Why don't you mind YOUR own business? Are there more important issues? Yes, absolutely. Africa is in terrible shape. Iraq is a mess. The economy is slowing down. Our education system is failing. However, your implication that until he solves all the important issues of the day he can't look at a peripheral issue is ignorant at best. News Flash: Neither he singlehandedly nor the Senate as a whole will be able to solve some problems such as high fuel prices, etc. the key is how best to adjust to adverse circumstances.
It is akin to telling the cop on the beat that until he has solved all murders and rapes he shouldn't waste time on lesser offenses such as domestic violence and assault. That old lady being beaten up for her purse-can't be bothered-got to solve the important crimes. Should there be priorities? Yes, but your absolutist reasoning is the same sort of nonsense people put forward to suggest that the U.S. can not comment on the abuses of other regimes because the U.S. is not perfect. If the U.S. waits for perfection to arrive before acting and the cop waits for all the IMPORTANT cases to be solved to intervene in the purse snatching, nothing would ever be done.
By the way, the rather specious argument that everyone cheats is intellectually dishonest. 'Everyone else is doing it!' Are you 15? Or are you just psychologically and mentally immature? Did you stamp your feet when you wrote that? Provide proof or please take your poorly thought out defense of the indefensible elsewhere. Somewhere, where such childish reasoning will fit in. Perhaps on Saved by the Bell. Unlike the original post, my first reaction was: A" SBTB reference? What a ****!" ...Are you one of those creepy middle-aged losers who lives in his parents' basement?
Michael Zhivago
Columbia , SC
Total Comments (1)
Wow. Way to miss the point, dude.
Also, I'm honored that you created a profile just to comment on my blog. I wonder how many people can say that about their commentators.
naxself
Fort Worth , TX
Total Comments (913)
I am so glad there are others that find the use of the term "spygate" to be downright absurd and incredibly idiotic. Can't people be a bit wittier than that?
Obviously not...
Big Ben68
Total Comments (20639)
Oh and by the way, I'm in complete agreement with the statement that I'd like to see a perfect season in my lifetime. I'd also like to see an 0-16 season, but the Ravens messed that up...
Big Ben68
Total Comments (20639)
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