If you follow football, it’s been difficult this week to escape the news coverage of possible cheating on the sidelines of the New England Patriots. I can’t believe it. I refuse to believe it even though the coach has all but admitted it by referring to an issue with the “interpretation of rules”. I’ve always said that Bill Belichick is on my top 3 list of famous people whom I’d like to invite to a dinner party…along with Jon Bon Jovi and Emeril. All three men have achieved huge success in their careers, yet fail to have developed a “celebrity ego”. They don’t forget where they came from and they use their success to help give back to society. They don’t seem to do it strictly for publicity sake (unlike the majority of celebs out there!). They seem to genuinely acknowledge that they are blessed with financial gains from their success and they are driven to share with those whom are less fortunate. They put a lot of positive energy out into the world.
I coach high school softball and have always had huge admiration for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. They come across as an organization run with dignity and class, led from the top. They seem to embody everything that I preach to my girls. Plan ahead, work hard, treat others with respect and success will come. In fact, our varsity team won the NHIAA Class I State Championship this year for the first time in the school’s history. Cheating was in no way part of the game plan.
According to Jimmy Golen, an AP Sports Writer, “Belichick issued a one-paragraph statement apologizing to his team and confirming that he has spoken to Goodell about an "interpretation" of league rules that ban videotaping of the opposing sideline.”
IF found guilty, how can his players possibly have any respect for the man going forward? They see him as THE Greatest Defensive GENIUS of all time. I truly believe that IF he authorized the videotaping of opposing team signals, his own players have no knowledge of it. They will be disappointed in him as a person. If I were a player, such as Tom Brady, I would be completely pissed off. Throwing the word “cheating” into the mix of the Patriot’s successes over recent years would raise questions about the validity of their Super Bowl wins. How crazy is that?!
Check out this Boston Globe article by Jackie MacMullan. It says everything far more eloquently that I could…yet echoes my sentiments exactly.
THE Mommy
Crap! Apparently it is true...I'm sure they can handle the hefty fees, but I'm not sure they can handle their new reputation as "cheaters" now. That totally sucks. I feel bad for the players involved.
Also, can I just say that I totally love Christian Fauria...no longer a Patriot. He is with the Panthers now and still cracks me up. I've seen him pre-game and he always looks like he's the class clown.
THE Mommy
Kraft's statement, well said.
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