INFLATEGATE. So, are you worked up about the boiling controversy over under-inflated footballs? Its hard to separate big deal ethics from trivial ethics - it all is a matter of perspective. A month ago it was confirmed that the U.S. in the pursuit of terrorist information engages in what most people regard as torture though its disguised by the euphemism enhanced interrogation. Whats more the majority of folk support this. It is certain at least some people subjected to this were completely innocent and some info is false or insignificant. The focus of the discussion was not whether its right, or whether its who we want to be but whether it works. In that context the fact that pro athletes and coaches may be willing to break the rules to win is trivial but given the enormous role of sports in formation of our national culture and values it actually is a pretty big deal. Its just hard to take seriously the self-righteous huffing and puffing of critics that the NFL culture, as represented by the Patriots, embraces the whatever you can get away with standard of morality. The problem gets murkier when someone is caught doing what they shouldnt (SOMEONE deliberately under-inflated the balls and SOME other folk (e.g., pros who handled it) knew it and then they lie or get evasive about it. I think we are more comfortable with the cheating than with lying about it though it is irrational to think a cheater would admit it. Bottom line: I still think cheating is wrong. its wrong whether it works or not. If this were a real crime, investigators could absolutely get to the bottom of this - who did what and who knew or passively condoned it but i dont think that is going to happen. I think most of the sports journalists who are treating the story like Watergate are just pretending to care because its a great story to beat to death. I wish we really did care more about cheating. What do you think?
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 06:25:51 +0000