Sports memories are heirlooms, cradled and passed down, and there’s something very American about that, something very father-son. But really, there’s nothing more American than this reality: Many of these same sports memories were tainted by athletes trying to get an edge.
We’ll never know which of our favorite memories are tainted. Which touchdown pass was aided by a deflated ball? Which strike three was affected by a foreign substance lathered on the seams? Which star returned early from an injury and led a team to a title, thanks to performance-enhancing drugs?
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We gather snippets of truth, here and there — it’s funny how some of the sharpest athletes are also the sloppiest cheaters. And so, when investigators stumble upon the truth, they must pounce. While it’s quite possible that numerous NFL quarterbacks have deflated footballs over the years, one lone quarterback was caught, and was rightfully busted Monday.
I’d written before that Tom Brady should be suspended for three games — and upon appealing his four-game suspension, it’s possible he will end up missing the three. I look at the point of this historic four-game suspension of New England’s reigning Super Bowl MVP (as well as the $1 million team fine and forfeiting of two draft picks) as twofold. One: to punish Brady for being “generally aware” of cheating, and for a lack of cooperation with the investigation (notably by not allowing the NFL to look at his texts). Two: to make it so other quarterbacks are shakin’ in their Nikes, afraid to ever tamper with a football’s weight.
Cheating will prevail in sports, because cheating has prevailed since sports became a thing. We, as fans, simply compartmentalize the offenses and cheer and boo accordingly. Some quarterback will soon discover the newest way to doctor a ball or enhance his throws or something we can’t even conceive in 2015.
But as for ball deflation, the NFL hopes this Brady suspension will nip this type of cheating in the bud. So that’s something.
Monday, many made a big deal about the suspension marring Brady’s legacy. This isn’t Barry Bonds, guys. As time goes by, sure we will bring up Deflategate and the suspension. But without statistical proof of how the deflated ball specifically aided Brady, I bet sports fans will still rank Brady high and applaud his induction into Canton, because he sure was great, despite Deflategate.
Look at it this way: When Spygate happened, many thought it would doom the legacy of Bill Belichick. But when he won his fourth Super Bowl this past winter, we seldom heard reliable chirps of: “Sure, he has four, but he’s a cheater and shouldn’t get all this credit.” Maybe now, the pattern of cheating will affect New England, but I sadly just think these will end up as football footnotes.
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Brady didn’t play by the rules and tell the truth. He got caught, and the NFL’s punishment is strong and fair. As of now, he will miss the four games — against the Steelers, Bills, Jaguars and Cowboys.
Monday, ESPN Stats & Info tweeted this timely stat and info: “The Patriots have started 2-2 or worse five times in the Brady-Belichick era. Three of those seasons ended with a Super Bowl win.”
But a day like Monday also is a sobering reminder of — what hasn’t the NFL caught over the years? Who hasn’t been punished? Surely, some pretty boy star of yesteryear is laughing in his rocking chair, saying: “Man, if they only knew what I did!”
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@ or
