By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
"Win if you can, lose if you must -- but always cheat."
-Legendary pro wrestling manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The NFL slapped Bill Belichick for being a bad boy on Thursday.
By now, you have all heard that the Patriots mentor was fined the maximum of $500,000 by the league for the use of equipment to videotape an opposing team's offensive or defensive signals.
In addition, commissioner Roger Goodell also notified the Patriots that they would forfeit their own first-round draft choice in 2008 if they reach the playoffs, or their own second-round and third-round picks if they do not qualify for the playoffs. The club was also fined $250,000.
This all stems from the Pats 38-14 thrashing of former Belichick lemming Eric Mangini and the New York Jets on Sunday when an employee of the Patriots was caught filming the Jets' sideline and had the video equipment confiscated.
"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," commissioner Goodell wrote in a letter to the Patriots.
Wow an NFL coach in a deliberate attempt to avoid the rules. What's next? Players using performance enhancing drugs for an edge?
The fact that Belichick was caught against the Jets was not surprising, since rumors are swirling that Mangini, who got his start as a low level assistant on the Pats, used to be the guy doing the filming for Belichick.
Think about that and Mangini sure looks like nothing more than a loser and a crybaby. Sure the whole episode validates reports of Belichick's legendary arrogance, but it also underlines the fact that the Man-Genius is not in Belichick's class.
Mangini could have used Belichick's methods against him, sending in fake signs and setting up New England for the teams' second matchup in mid-December.
But, after getting spanked, Mangini stomped his feet like a spoiled child, exposed the evil Belichick and forced the epitome of haughtiness to swallow his pride and apologize.
"I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling,"Belichick said in a statement. "Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career.
"As the commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress.
"Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the constitution and bylaws was incorrect."
It's not the first time the 36-year-old Mangini, a baby by NFL coaching standards, has acted like an immature lout this year. He embarrassed his starting quarterback, Chad Pennington, on the sidelines after a poor preseason performance against the Minnesota Vikings, and virtually shoved his opinionated left guard, Pete Kendall, out the door when he failed to fall in line.
And at the end of it all, Mangini accomplished only one thing. On December 16, the Patriots will rout the Jets...Guaranteed.
If Nascar has given American pop culture anything, it's this -- If you ain't cheatin...you ain't trying.
In Mangini's world, If you ain't winning...You are cryin'.
1 comment:
Actually, while Bobby Heenan said your opening quote, the future governor, Jesse Ventura popularized it. Both of them got it from the late Sputnik Monroe, who was a wrestler who wrestled mostly Southwest promotions in the 60's and 70's. Sputnik's main claim to fame, besides being the most ripped-off promo guy ever, is that he was wrestling legend Terry Funk's first opponent.
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