Ohhhmmm...Ohhhmmm... Yup, he's off his rocker again. The guys are coming with a new white vest that's just the right size and buttons in the back. They have a room reserved and it has nice, soft walls. Ahhhhh....
Truthfully, Spygate has exhausted me. Writing about it has consumed me and frankly, I've grown a bit tired of it. From a ridiculous number of articles to too many press conferences, I've grown weary. I'm sure you've grown tired of reading about it, too. This story is my attempt to bring some kind of closure to it, at least for now. I'm sure the fires will burn on and many more articles will be written. At any rate, I'll try my best to stay away from this subject and get back to what this blog should be concentrating on: football and the New England Patriots.
I am caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. I have come to believe continually writing about Spygate is merely feeding the wheel; it's perpetuating the very thing we don't want perpetuated. However, it is necessary to report on the goings on and provide as much information as possible so we are as aware as we can be.
A scathing article by Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan starts off:
Here is what Bill Belichick has done: He has placed Patriots fans on the defensive for the rest of their lives.
Fairly accurate, in my mind. How many words have us Patriots fans written on our own blogs and those of rival fanbases, trying our darndest to explain away what has happened? He goes on to write:
The sports community now associates the Patriots with cheating. The three Super Bowl championships are, and forever will be, under suspicion. The thought will never go away.
Not so easy to read, is it fellow Pats fans? It's a jagged little pill to swallow. Like visiting a kid brother in jail, we are torn between scorning him for putting us in this position and hugging him in support during a difficult time. He is, after all, family.
In another piece by Peter King, the tone is ratcheted down a bit, but no less critical:
It is inconceivable to me -- and, obviously, to Roger Goodell and former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, too -- that Belichick would misinterpret the rule about videotaping.
In a somewhat more positive vein, veteran QB Trent Dilfer had this to say:
I don't take one thing away from them. Not at all. I'd have zero bitterness toward them as an opposing player. The Patriots have been the best-coached, most-talented team of this era, and they deserve to be thought of that way.
Chargers Defensive Lineman Luis Castillo says:
I'd never, not for one second, put an asterisk next to what they've accomplished. This game can't be planned or orchestrated just because you might know what our defense is going to do on a particular play. Would it help? Of course. But it takes a lot more than that to win any games, and to win a Super Bowl.
As I've written before, all of this leaves me angry and confused. Angry because he didn't need to do this. He had the talent on the field to pull off win after win; 2007 proved that. Confused because I don't know how I'm supposed to feel.
Patriots Fans - In most every instance, especially this one, there are two opposing viewpoints or two sides to every story. While our emotions drive us to unconditional support, it is vital that we keep an open mind. While a position in support of our views makes us feel warm and fuzzy, a well articulated, negative view is far more valuable. It will make you think in a different way. It will create a few more synapses than just agreeing with the masses, like lemmings walking off of the cliff. I once read a great quote and I paraphrase, "The definition of a wise man is one who can hold two opposing viewpoints in his mind at the same time."
Rival Fans - Please be patient with us. We are trying to work this out. Our knee jerk reaction will be to defend that which has brought us so many great moments, so give us a little breathing room. I certainly understand if you feel, in some way, like your team may have been cheated and would've had a shot if not for the taping. But, please excuse me if I think getting an edge through questionable practices is more prevalent than the NFL and other teams are willing to let on. It's what keeps me sane when thinking about this. It's not much, but it's what I have to cling to.
Now that I've slayed the demons and expunged my soul, it's time to talk about football. It's time to start throwing around some X's and O's, to talk 3-4 defenses and figure out what Belichick's up to with our draftees, UFAs and FAs.
Thanks for indulging me. The fat lady has sung. Ohhhmmm...Ohhhmmm...