The New England Patriots are on their way to their seventh Super Bowl of this short century - but now sadly, we know they did it by cheating. They deflated the balls in the conference championship game, breaking the rules to give their offense a secret and unfair advantage against the Colts. It was a dirty win, and not what Indianapolis fans deserved - or New England fans, for that matter.
This is not the first time the Patriots have cheated under head coach Bill Belichick. He was fined $500,000 in 2007 for spying on the team's opponents.
This cheating puts all of Belichick's Super Bowl appearances under a cloud, which is too bad. Not only do I love the city of Boston, I also really like Patriots star Tom Brady. He seems like a class act, a hero for all of New England, and a legendary quarterback. But as much as I love seeing Brady and Boston win championships, no one should root for a cheater like Belichick.
Cheating is wrong, pure and simple. It taints the wins and sends the wrong message about success and morals to the game's youngest fans. In baseball, Barry Bonds smeared the game and Roger Clemens broke my heart when they cheated with steroids, and this is no different. If cheating tarnishes your win, you don't deserve it. Ethics, and the children watching and learning, are far too important. If children and high school athletes see cheating, they also need to see the cheaters get what's coming to them.
Sign the petition to the Patriots owner: BILL BELICHICK MUST GO!
