Who are you cheering for in the Super Bowl?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Roger

The cheating scandal? Like politics, I am sure if the Patriots did it (and got caught, and sucked up to it and paid the fine for it rather quickly if I remember) what makes you so sure no other team does it too? I don't know why they did it and I don't think any of you do either.

This is more of an ethical indictment than anything. You're saying it's ok to cheat as long as you a) get caught b) admit you got caught cheating c)other people are doing it and d) you have a good reason for cheating?

I cannot see why people are trying to rationalize the Patriots cheating. They flat out got caught cheating. Whether everyone else is cheating or not is irrelevant. They did, and it's no less wrong because "everyone else" is doing it.

Suggesting it's OK if they had a good reason (we don't need to know why they did it; they CHEATED. That's all that matters! Besides, this is a professional sporting event. For what reasons would you cheat, besides to gain a competitive advantage?) is one of the most ludicrous ideas I've heard in a long time

Now you can argue the Patriots shouldn't be the only ones being ripped on for cheating, that the entire league should be under scrutiny, but that's something different altogether.

[Jethr0]

m goin 4 the Pats cause i live in NE

[Amanda Morrison]

Originally Posted by Cory

I cannot see why people are trying to rationalize the Patriots cheating. They flat out got caught cheating. Whether everyone else is cheating or not is irrelevant. They did, and it's no less wrong because "everyone else" is doing it.

Cory is exactly right. It doesn't matter whether or not it is football or FIRST, 'everyone else does it' is NOT an excuse to break the rules. The Patriots were busted because they were doing something wrong. A spectator may be right in saying that the whole NFL is corrupt and every team breaks the rules for their competitive advantage. If that's true, why do we bother to watch? That corruption takes away from the game and the players who truly are incredible athletes. It overshadows the close wins and the tough losses. It's no longer a game - or a competition - at that point.

Just like football, we've all heard rumors about teams cheating in FIRST, 'creatively' bending the rules to give them the competitive edge that puts them over the top and into the winners' spot. That isn't winning. When you are playing in a sport (or any competition, for that matter) where a winner is to be determined, the true winner is the person or team that follows the rules and still manages to best their opponents.

I do not root for football or FIRST teams that cheat. If someone told me tomorrow that my favorite sports teams cheated, I'd find another team to root for. Whether its steroids, videotapes, or whatever it is, "everyone is doing it" is NOT acceptable. It does not make you a role model.

You aren't a winner in football - or FIRST - unless you walk off the field knowing that you followed the rules completely, did your best, and still managed to eek out the win. Knowing that you were truly chosen as the best of the best, without having to resort to petty or foul play to win; walking off the field with the respect (no matter how begrudging) of your competitors; picking up that trophy or having that medal placed around your neck, and knowing that you've earned it - THAT is winning.

[Ian Curtis]

Perhaps what the New England Patriots did isn't justifiable by the fact "that everyone is doing it," but I think that they did the best they could. They got caught cheating. And they fessed up and payed the price. None of this "I swear I didn't do steriods!" business that pervades professional baseball. I'd be willing to bet that everyone (from pro sports teams to regular old individuals) has cheated at one point, in some way, be it small or large. So, in that respect, at some point you have to "forgive and forget" and move on, if the offender has recognized what they did was wrong, and moved on.

Anyway, I'll be rooting for New England (so, I suppose I am biased), but this is Eli Manning's big chance. If he goes without meeting his game breaking interception per game quota (as he has been doing through the playoffs), they'll give the Pats a run for their money, just as they did at the end of the regular season. Eli has to prove that he can play football. And this Superbowl would certainly do that.

[Roger]

Y'know, this is another reason why I don't like sports, and politics for that matter. I am neither a good debater nor follow sports and politics, but I just call it as I see it. I try to give my reasons on a variety of points, and everyone jumps on only one part and misses the others.

The "Like politics, I am sure if the Patriots did it ... what makes you so sure no other team does it too?" statement is more of cynicism than "ethical indictment" (whatever that is). I did not say it is okay to cheat. (It isn't okay to cheat -- is that plain enough for you?) I am not "rationalizing" or "justifying" why they cheated. (I don't know why and neither do you -- it was never publicly explained.) I also did not "suggest" it's okay to cheat if they had a good reason. (They never gave a reason at all.) And yes, as my "local" team, I was embarrassed by what happened and angry that it did happen. (Only a little -- I don't bask in their glory, so I can't be personally embarrassed by their stupidity either.) I was also surprised it did happen, why a team such as the Patriots needed to do this.

And I certainly did not mean to imply that they should do it because (as you say) "everyone else is doing it." That is not what I said. Quite the opposite. I'll repeat my statement: If they did it, what makes you so sure no other team does it too?

What you also seem to be missing from the rest of my statement is that the Patriot's coach -- whatever his name is -- got caught, and he admitted to it right away and paid the fine. He didn't deny it. He didn't cover it up. He didn't point fingers. And it was the coach that did it -- not the team. Not the quarterback, not the waterboy. Nobody else. Don't blame the team for what one person did. Do you like getting blamed because of something your friends did?

My cynicism may go on to say that "they cheated" on the first game, they got caught, and now everyone is watching them carefully for any more cheating -- and yet they still win. It seems to me that that alone says a lot.

This year the Patriots happen to be a powerhouse team. Last year they were good, but didn't get to the Super Bowl. A couple of years ago they were a joke. Big deal.

When you're talking sports, talk about how team A has a better QB , or team B has better defense, or whatever sports people talk on about. Talking about how the team owner screwed my city so the whole team must be bad doesn't convince me that either team will play better on the field.

In this case, to get this thread back on track, from what I've seen of the Patriots (meaning when I stay awake watching their games), I think they have a good QB with good protection to throw the ball to what-ever-his-name is (Moss?). They also have some oddball plays that are unusual enough to get them ahead. (That's about the only good reason to watch football, anyway.) They also have a defense that keeps the other team (at least the one from last week) from scoring touchdowns but not the goal kicks. I'd point out all the things about the Giants (and I only know that it's the Giants from reading this thread!) but I have enough to do I can barely remember what my local team has done.

[Jay H 237]

I'm not really into sports and don't follow football but everyone in my family is hoping for the Giants to win. The Patriots aren't a bad team (I'm not getting into the cheating thing) but we're not from CT or even the New England area originally, so being a born New Jersian is why my family likes the Giants.