Cheaters never prosper.
Word?
Doubtful.
After watching a weekend filled with football and a week filled with controversy, cheating – and more specifically, cheaters – seem to be prospering just fine. Just find Barry Bonds’ bank account.
Every NFL team has been cheating since the invention of the snap. Baseball players have been cheating since the invention of the curve ball. And cyclists have been cheating since the invention of the cow.
But they are all still prosperous.
Bill Belichek still has his job (read: filming opposing sidelines), Roger Clemens still has his house (read: steroids), and Alberto Contador still has his bike (read: bad meat).
In fact, finding a cheater that isn’t prosperous may be much harder. The only place cheating really counts against you: taxes.
In sports, the idea that every child is taught that cheating is the evil of all evils is curious. Because eventually everyone cheats and finds cheating acceptable. At times.
During the Alabama-Arkansas game last Saturday, after a questionable play, the Crimson Tide ran up to the line of scrimmage and attempted to get the snap off before the booth could review the play. The announcer calling the game said with nonchalance, “Alabama, doing the right thing here, getting up to the line to hike the ball as fast as they can.”
Doing the right thing?
It may be in the best interest of the team in regards to winning the game, but it is far from the right thing. Granted, winning the game is important, but perhaps this situation should be rephrased.
The right thing is admitting it wasn’t a catch, or the ball came out before a knee hit the turf. The right thing is to apologize for the confusion and run back to the original line of scrimmage. The right thing is not acting as if a catch was made, followed by trying to cheat the other team out of the opportunity of calling that player unscrupulous.
It was further from right than left.
But football isn’t alone. In baseball, God do they know how to cheat. Baseball may have been invented by cheaters. From pine-tar to steroids, stealing signs to stealing bases. There hasn’t been an honest baseball player since Walter Alston. And he might be the only one.
The list of baseball’s liars and cheaters makes War and Peace look like a Post-It note.
Then again, perhaps I’m being too ideological.
Jim Rome, a man I have great respect for, says it best:
“If you’re not cheating,” he says, “you’re not trying. And it’s only cheating if you get caught.”
And when they do, they rarely admit it. It took a pile of evidence before Alex Rodriguez would admit to cheating. Roger Clemens still won’t admit to taking performance-enhancing drugs. And Lance Armstrong is his own debate.
When players do admit to wrongdoing, an apology is offered. It’s trite and rarely accounts for more than a small blemish on the face of their work. Some return to cheating like nothing ever happened. And they prosper again.
In sports, cheaters always prosper – regardless. It’s seen all of the time. Every day of the week. Every week, every year. Not a day goes by in the world of sports that an athlete isn’t trying to get a “competitive edge” on the opponents.
But does that make it okay?
Doubtful.
Does that make it prosperous?
Yes.
I find it funny that you bring up a play where Arkansas tried to snap the ball before a play was reviewed. Apparently in college football it doesn’t matter if another play has been run. Of course that was Pac-10 officiating.
Against Nevada Marvin Jones of California made an incredible catch dragging his foot in bounds before his other foot stepped out of bounds. Great catch, the Bears got a playoff because it didn’t seem like there would be a review.
California ran a run play up the middle, but on the next play the officials decided to review to see if it was a catch.
I’m curious what about referees who botch calls? Should they be just as accountable while it’s not cheating per say, there seems to be obvious calls that are missed.
I find it funny that you bring up a play where Arkansas tried to snap the ball before a play was reviewed. Apparently in college football it doesn’t matter if another play has been run. Of course that was Pac-10 officiating.
Against Nevada Marvin Jones of California made an incredible catch dragging his foot in bounds before his other foot stepped out of bounds. Great catch, the Bears got a playoff because it didn’t seem like there would be a review.
California ran a run play up the middle, but on the next play the officials decided to review to see if it was a catch.
I’m curious what about referees who botch calls? Should they be just as accountable while it’s not cheating per say, there seems to be obvious calls that are missed.
Was it Arkansas that was trying to get the play off? I thought it was ‘Bama. My bad.
As for the Pac-10 refs. Good Grief those guys struggle. I try to not heckle refs because its like running up an ice covered hill, barefoot, but sometimes I wonder with those guys.
Thanks for the read.
Was it Arkansas that was trying to get the play off? I thought it was ‘Bama. My bad.
As for the Pac-10 refs. Good Grief those guys struggle. I try to not heckle refs because its like running up an ice covered hill, barefoot, but sometimes I wonder with those guys.
Thanks for the read.
1st off, did Morgan Freeman say the first line? Just saying… lol.
It is kind of amazing that cheating is looked at as a part of the game in most sports, and is frowned upon in all other areas of life (rightfully so). And there are levels to the cheating… there’s flat out cheating (steroids) and then there’s gamesmanship. This is where the “run up and get the ball snapped” aspect comes in. It’s not “cheating” but it’s also not honest.
Definitely a good read and look at the whole dynamic of it.
In regards to that Cal game, I think all that matters is if the head referee gets the signal from the replay booth before the ball is snapped… so in a loud stadium, the next play can be “run” but would be nullified because the ref should have blown it dead anyway. But yes, Pac-10 has the same replay rules… and they still struggle… that’s a big ice-covered hill!
1st off, did Morgan Freeman say the first line? Just saying… lol.
It is kind of amazing that cheating is looked at as a part of the game in most sports, and is frowned upon in all other areas of life (rightfully so). And there are levels to the cheating… there’s flat out cheating (steroids) and then there’s gamesmanship. This is where the “run up and get the ball snapped” aspect comes in. It’s not “cheating” but it’s also not honest.
Definitely a good read and look at the whole dynamic of it.
In regards to that Cal game, I think all that matters is if the head referee gets the signal from the replay booth before the ball is snapped… so in a loud stadium, the next play can be “run” but would be nullified because the ref should have blown it dead anyway. But yes, Pac-10 has the same replay rules… and they still struggle… that’s a big ice-covered hill!
B12.. glad you got the reference. That one was for you. Ha.
B12.. glad you got the reference. That one was for you. Ha.