The old saying is “Cheaters never win.” In sports however, I don’t believe that is true. For example; in football if you look at Super Bowl winners, a lot of them have cheated. The New England Patriots have had Spygate and Deflategate on their record. Yes, they were caught but they still have four Super Bowl wins that the NFL won’t take away. Most of the players and coaches probably got bonuses for winning the Super Bowl so there is no losing in that situation even though they got fined and a draft pick taken away. They probably made more money going to the Super Bowl then what the fine cost and let’s face it, any player would take a Super Bowl ring over a first round pick for their team.
In 2002, Marshall Faulk accused the Patriots of cheating and spying on them after the Super Bowl loss. 2007 was officially when they got caught with Spygate and it was discovered that they had been taping opponents from 2002 to 2007 winning three Super Bowls. Even with Deflategate, Tom Brady will still be a first ballot Hall of Famer. That being considered, I don’t see cheaters not winning in this situation.
The New Orleans Saints had Bountygate the year they won the Super Bowl. This wasn’t really cheating but more of a scandal type situation. Just another team doing something that the NFL doesn’t like and winning. Everyone kept their super bowl rings; personally, I would take a suspension for a Super Bowl ring. In 1998, The Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl, and in 2004 it was leaked out that they paid John Elway and Terrell Davis under the table to put together an incredible team. The NFL stripped them of their back to back Super Bowl wins. SIKE!!!!!!! They only got fined. Most their O-lineman were fined in ‘98 for putting Vaseline all over themselves. Losing $5000 dollars to win a Super Bowl isn’t so bad. In the 80’s, the 49ers used silicone on their jerseys and Jerry Rice came out and said he used stickum on his gloves. In the 70’s, The Pittsburgh Steelers were full of steroids but still Super Bowl champs.
In Baseball, the 1919 White Sox threw the World Series after mobsters offered them money and the owners screwed them out of their bonuses. Even though they got kicked out of baseball for life they still made tons of money doing it. Chick Gandil made nine times his salary for throwing those games. In the 90’s there were tons of players on steroids and lots of them got big contracts for hitting the long ball during those years. These players will struggle to get in the Hall of Fame, but sooner or later those players will make it in. Lance Armstrong cheated and won all of those Tour De France races while making millions. USADA stripped his titles and Lance was sued numerous times, but overall he financially he came out on top.
So pretty much what I’m saying is if you’re not cheating you’re not trying. In sports, if you use an advantage on the field all you get is a slap on the hand. However if you gamble on a sport you get the death sentence. If you’re making your league money by enhancing the performance of the team or yourself its fine. But if you do something that doesn’t bring in money for them, you’re gone forever.
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