As a lifelong New England Patriots fan …
- It’s been a tough week. I still remember attending my first Patriots game at Fenway Park with my father. From that point on, I was hooked. I still get excited when they win, and upset when they lose. I free up my schedule to make sure I don’t miss a game on television. Many forget there were lots of bad seasons before the Pats started winning Super Bowls.
So it’s troubling to see my favorite NFL team punished for cheating. Sorry to say, I believe they did cheat. The circumstantial evidence is overwhelming: footballs missing before the AFC championship, those footballs taken to a bathroom by a Patriots locker room attendant, that same attendant writing about doctoring footballs in his text messages and calling himself “The Deflator,” and 11 under-inflated footballs supplied by the Patriots during the game. Meantime, the Indianapolis Colts supplied footballs that were properly inflated. Star quarterback Tom Brady hurt himself by refusing to provide the NFL with his emails and text messages. It’s hard to fathom the balls were deflated by two Patriots staffers without the encouragement and knowledge of Brady.
The NFL had to come down with a severe punishment against the Patriots and Brady, and it did. I was hoping for a two-game suspension for Brady, instead of the four games, but the alleged cover-up made things worse for him. The Patriots’ previous Spygate saga made things worse for them.
The absurd thing is, the Patriots didn’t need to deflate the footballs. Using properly inflated footballs, they trounced the Colts in the second half of the AFC Championship game and won the Super Bowl. I’m hoping Deflategate won’t diminish the incredible accomplishments of Brady and the Patriots over the past 15 seasons, but I suspect it will.
- Speaking of sports punishments, it’s time for major league baseball to lift the lifetime ban against Pete Rose. Rose was rightfully banished in 1989 after it was learned he bet on baseball games, including his own team, while managing the Cincinnati Reds. That was inexcusable, and Rose deserved a strong punishment to protect the integrity of the game and send a loud message to others. Indeed, Rose has paid a very high price for his serious misdeeds.
Now, 25 years later, it’s time to let it go. It’s like putting him on parole. Realistically, at age 74, he’s not going to be hired as a manager, general manager or coach. He would have a very limited role on any team that wants him. The most important thing is to make the all-time hits leader eligible for the Hall of Fame. If presumed steroids users Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens can be on the Hall of Fame ballot, then so should Rose. If I had a vote, I would vote for Rose.
- How do companies know when they put me on hold that my call is important to them?
Shaw, Fargo, is former WDAY TV reporter, and former KVRR TV news director. He can be heard Fridays 10 to 11 a.m. on WDAY AM radio. Email jimshawtv@gmail.com
