As we've been known to do from time to time here at Biblical Conservatism, we're going to take a little break from theology and politics and talk about sports. Enjoy!
Dear New England Patriots Fans,
The hammer has been dropped by the NFL and your star player is suspended for four games. You know, because he had, at best, knowledge of cheating by your team if not direct participation. Your team has been fined $1 million and lost a draft pick.
And what do you, Pats Fan, have to say about this?
"Haters gonna hate."
I'm sorry, but no. The above phrase suggests that people are just picking on your beloved team -- and evidence has already shown that this is simply not the case -- and maybe that these allegations are just a matter of jealousy. (Sorry but no, it's because they cheated.)
Remember -- eleven of twelve balls brought to the AFC Championship game by the Patriots were deflated. If it was one or maybe even two of twelve were deflated, one could believe that it was some sort of an accident. If all twelve were deflated, one could at least conceive a possibility that it was a matter of some sort of improper storage conditions that caused a more or less equal drop in air pressure.
But eleven out of twelve just doesn't sound like a mistake or an accident, ok? Clearly there was some attempt at cheating. Even if it didn't impact the result of the game, it's still not ok to cheat. Period.
The bottom line is this: just take your medicine here. Bills fans didn't say "haters gonna hate" (or the 1994 equivalent) when OJ Simpson was arrested. Falcons fans didn't say "haters gonna hate" (or the 2007 equivalent) when the Michael Vick dog fighting allegations came out.
(And those involved JUST ONE player, not the whole team.)
Patriots Fan, it's time to just say "yep, my team cheated." Quit making excuses and turning a blind eye. It's ok. We've all had issues with our teams.
My Syracuse University basketball team had to remove itself from the NCAA Tournament due to academic violations and accept some vacated wins for their coach and a suspension for Jim Boeheim. New York Giants fans had to accept that Barry Bonds was proven to be cheating when he broke Hank Aaron's All-Time Home Run record and Mark McGwire's Single Season Home Run record. Fans of Tiger Woods had to accept that their favorite golfer was a womanizer. Fans of Lance Armstrong and his wonderful comeback story had to accept that he had a little help from the Juice.
Heck, even YANKEE FANS (who I have no love for as a group, by the way) haven't tried to explain away the years of steroid abuse by slugger Alex Rodriguez or even far more popular players like Roger Clemens and Andy Petite.
Forgiving your team or favorite players is one thing. Making excuses is another. Don't make excuses.
The Patriots aren't being picked on. Nobody is "hating" on your team. They cheated. They're getting the criticism they deserve.
Sincerely,
Every other person on the planet who follows sports
PS: If the Patriots do well in the 2015-16 season, you do not get to say you "overcame adversity." )
(That phrase is reserved for people combating circumstances beyond their control -- not ones they caused -- you know, by cheating.)
Seriously. Just don't, ok?
(I don't want to have to write another one of these in nine months.)
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