We hate sluggers on steroids because we can mathematically gauge the effects of their cheating by inflated home run totals.
We hate cyclists on performance enhancing drugs because, fair or not, we jump to the conclusion that they won races they might otherwise not have won.
But many of us are conflicted with Tom Brady. Yes, the Wells Report said he likely cheated, playing an NFL game with deflated ball that helped his grip. But there’s no easy, quantitative proof that Brady’s cheating led to particular successes. This is why few people condemn Shawn Merriman, one of the better players of his generation, for using PEDs (he was busted in 2006). We can’t simply say — he had 15 sacks, but would’ve only had 12 if he didn’t use the PEDs.
WATCH:
As time goes by, I believe Brady will not be deemed as a villain the way Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong are perceived.
In 2013, A-Rod was busted, so :
Does the NFL have an Alex Rodriguez?
Better yet, do you care if it does?
Is cheating cheating? Or does the gravity of cheating vary from sport to sport?
I get the sense that many NFL fans don’t care if a guy takes PEDs. Sure it’s a double-standard, because many of the same fans would say if a baseball player cheats, he’s disrespecting the integrity of the game. But people look at football as gladiatorial. As The Post’s Mike Klis described it on Tuesday, it’s “unnatural punishment.” So, if a dude needs a little something to get him going, eh, he needs a little something to get him going.
Brady should be suspended. Yes, it’s arguable that ball-deflating is “part of the game.” Yes, it’s possible that many other quarterbacks do it – and have been doing it. And yes, he’s the Zoolander-Blue-Steel face on the NFL, which will showcase Brady’s Patriots in its September season-opener. But he should be suspended three games (like, actually three games, so give him five and he’ll appeal it to three). He got caught.
But I don’t portend eternal vitriol for Brady from fans. Right now, fans might be infuriated by him. How dare he!? And yes, it’s quite possible there was a competitive advantage. There’s a reason why they have the rules regarding the weight of a football — to make it fair that both teams use the same equipment. It’s not apples-and-apples, but it reminds one of a baseball player corking his bat (but one must remember, he’s still got to hit the 95-mph fastball in order to utilize the corking, just like Brady still has to pinpoint the open receiver and avoid a pass rush before throwing the deflated ball).
And yes, people will always make bad deflated balls jokes regarding Brady. We’re stuck with the word “Deflategate” forever. But the weight of the word (pun — or an attempt at a pun — intended) will wilt. In due time, fans will come to the conclusion — Eh, maybe he cheated, but he still went to six dang Super Bowls and won four of them. These Super Bowls supersede and suspected cheating along the way, cheating we can’t pinpoint anyway.
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• On this day, 21 years ago, . The No. 8 Nuggets knocked off the No. 1 SuperSonics in the NBA playoffs. Dikembe Mutombo made his iconic pose — and he while visiting the Denver Post studios.
• Did you see Lionel Messi’s second goal Wednesday? He broke a dude’s ankles with a dribble! .
• And did Cleveland Cavaliers cavalier take on domestic violence? Yikes.
• Good lord. You can hate Chris Brown, but .
• One of my favorite athletes is Jimmy Butler, because he’s a self-made star. Today, .
• With David Letterman retiring this month, Rolling Stone took a look at the in the history of Letterman’s shows.
• And finally, happy birthday to !!!
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or
