Cheating works in NASCAR too

In 2006, Jimmy Johnson won the NASCAR championship. That season, his crew chief, Chad Knaus was caught cheating, was fined and sat out a couple of races but the car continued to pile up points. So what lesson did Knaus learn in 2007? He once again was caught cheating, was again fined and again sat out some races. And again his car won the championship. Patriot fans can rationalize Knaus' action and the ineffectual ensuing punishment because of his teams success. Anything can be rationalized when right and wrong and integrity are not part of the equation.

This is not a dead horse.

I am not a Patriot Hater. However, I do chuckle at the chips they have placed on their shoulders because of evil bastards like me.

But, for those concerned about the integrity of the game, the season ended a long time ago.

You might want to say that I am a rationalizer, in that I think the Patriots situation was different from that of the Johnson car. In car racing what is done to a car affects how that car races during that particular race. Therefore, if something that should not be done to the car is actually done, the car, the driver, and the car team benefit at that point. As a result, if it is proven that the car benefited during that race the points from that race should be taken away from the car, the driver, and the car team.

Things are different with football and with what Bill Billichik did. In the case of Billichik and the Patriots it appears that they were not able to benefit from what was happening in that what was done was only done in the first half of the first game. So, it seems that the commissioner of football did just about what he could. He fined Billichik and the Patriots team.

I contend that if this had happened anytime after the first game many Patriots fans would have been willing to have games taken away from their team. However, I contend that since what happened only happened in the first half of the first game fans will say that the team should not have been docked any games in that there is no proof that the team benefited from what Billichik did in that game.

for a reasoned response and not questioning my parenthood or calling me a hater or a sore loser. I hate no team and I've lost nothing and my parents got married six months before my older brother was born way back in 1949. I still would like to see a deterrent be considered when handing out sports "penalties." It seems the only way a sports figure actually receives punishment is if they lie to the feds or congress and then they are not being punished for what occurred on the field.

I appreciate your rationalization but if Pats fans, coaches, players had to sit back and see other teams go forward while they were at home this playoff season a higher degree of self-policing would occur next year. Who knows whats going to happen next season. As Per NASCAR knaus might start slashing the tires of his competitors. What's NASCAR gonna do? Fine him?

like making the Pats forfeit and suspending Belichick for an entire season. You can't compare the two. NASCAR never took cheating seriously until a few years ago. Them fining Knaus was a shock to all of NASCAR that cheating won't be tolerated.

Plus, when you talk about cheating in NASCAR, you are talking about someone adjusting the rear spoiler 1/16th of an inch more than allowed.

and due to the "penalties" imposed neither the 48 team or the Patriots or their fans have suffered at all. (Make that the 48 team and their fans haven't suffered at all two years in a row.) Why talk about discipline when it apparently means nothing? I suggest the Pats sit out the postseason. Maybe someone will think twice about doing "it" (whatever it is) again. Maybe someone watching will think twice about doing it at all. If billichick does it again next year what is the NFL going to do? Fine him?