Cheatin' rocks

[lawrocket 3]

"If you aren't cheating, you aren't trying."

So the Patriots are on the receiving end of questions after videotaping the Jet defensive coaches sending in defensive signals. It's the football equivalent of stealing signals in baseball.

But cheating has such a colorful history. And isn't it strange how some cheating is loved as adorable and fun while other cheating is despised?

20 years ago, minor league catcher Dave Bresnahan won minor celebrity when he threw a potatoi disguised as a baseball over the head of his thrid baseman. The runner on third base attempted to score but was easily tagged out.

Phil Niekro mastered his use of spitballs and nobody did the Vaseline ball better than Gaylord Perry. Joe Niekro (Phils brother) was caught tossing an emory board he was using to scuff baseballs. It was, for some reason, loveable. People like pitchers messing around.

And yet you've got guys like Albert Belle corking a bat. And allegations of steroids, etc. That cheating is bad.

In the world of football you had all kinds of cheating going on. My beloved Raiders were aces at cheatign with the nature of their pads (Note old films - if the Raiders opponent was wearing a dark jersey, the offensive linemens' arm and hand pads were always dark to hide things). You had Pittsburgh groundskeepers watering the field in the playoffs to turn it into a hockey rink, thus eliminating Oakland's vertical passing game. (Of course, oakland didn't hesistate to water the field a little extra when it was to their benefit).

Cheaters are everywhere. Go out golfing and findthe guy who doesn't try to change his lie by an inch. Look at auto racing - EVERYBODY pushes it.

So, what make cheating acceptable or unacceptable?

Edited to add: I personally find cheating unacceptable. It's neat to be the guy people ike to golf with becaus eI dont' take mulligans, dont' get mad, and play the game right.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[BillyVance 35]

Good question there. Cheating is going out the window in NASCAR I can tell you that much, with the Car Of Tomorrow being phased in this year in some races, and going to a full schedule next year, NASCAR is leaving very very little room for cheating. Penalties are severe enough to fuck up your points standings if you get busted fudging with the rules, plus your crew chief gets a 6 race suspension, your team a 100 point deduction and a $50,000 fine (I think) for a first time. I don't want to know what a second violation brings, but so far nobody's gotten there yet.

I really don't like cheating anywhere anyhow if it breaks the rules. It creates an unfair advantage.

The only time cheating is acceptable is in professional wrestling, or it would be boring as hell.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[-Scatter- 0]

Albert Belle's corked bat was a problem because Albert Belle is an asshole, not the other way around.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Cheating at strip poker is practically expected.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[willard 0]

The one good thing about competing against cheaters....There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you design, build, and drive your own car according to the rules and still beat those who are cheating. It really pisses 'em off.