When is cheating ‘OK’?? That’s a question I’ve been asking myself all day long. Now I’m not talking about cheating in a relationship…I’m talking about cheating in sports, especially professional sports. Its running ramped in many of the professional sports, yet not much is done to stop it. It seems that as long as there is a ton of money floating around, it’s ok to do whatever the heck you feel like doing. Some sports are better than others at policing the issue. So why can’t they all be like that??
Like it or not, agree with it or not, the people playing these sports are HUGE role models for kids, and what the kids see, the kids are going to do. Take steroids, become Johnny Fabulous Baseball Player, Wrestler, Football Dude, Hockey Dude…whatever. Even if the guy eventually gets caught, it’s not until he’s become richer than Midas, and has become a hero to his team’s fans. Basically the kids are seeing that even though Johnny got caught and everyone’s horrified now, he still made it to the big leagues and he still is loaded. It’s not really all bad is it??
The Olympics are held up as our great ideal and best example of what the true meaning of sportsmanship and friendly competition is. They tolerate no cheating of any kind, and if someone is caught out it becomes a very serious matter. So why can’t this ideal be upheld in all sport?? One word….money. Add that into the mix and sportsmanship, fair play, and integrity fly out the window.
I don’t want to get heavy into the drug issue. Some sports are very intolerant of the use of any illegal substance, and take extreme action should someone be caught using something they shouldn’t. Other sports, well…not so much.
Let’s pretend for a moment….
Its game seven of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Team Wonderful is playing Team Fabulous. Unknown to all, Team Wonderful has discovered some new propulsion technology. The all have little hidden jet-like propulsion mechanisms in their skates, enabling them to skate circles around Team Fabulous. The game ends 10-0, but later, during the celebrations someone lets slip about their secret and they are discovered. The team is fined, the coaches reprimanded and fined but the result of the game still stands. In spite of everything Team Wonderful still goes home Stanley Cup Champions. Fair?? Hardly. Something you’d want your kids to think is OK?
Now let’s pretend that it’s the Super Bowl. Team Wonderful and Team Fabulous are playing. Team Wonderful is your ultimate favorite team and you’re sure they’ll win, but the game is a total blowout with Team Fabulous victorious. But alas..Team Fabulous is discovered to have been cheating. They rigged the football so that it would give electric shocks and was activated remotely every time your team got the ball. Team Fabulous is fined, reprimanded, put on probation..blah blah blah, yet the game still stands and they are Champions regardless. How happy are you as Team Wonderful was pretty much shafted and nothing was done about it?? Is it ok that Team Fabulous was cheating?? I didn’t think so.
Now let’s move to NASCAR. Yes you knew I’d get there eventually didn’t you? LMAO. 3fan's blog about Jack and the sway bar got me to thinking. Is it cheating? Now I say no. NASCAR has so many restrictions on these guys lately, it's amazing they can find anything at all to gain an advantange. And NASCAR has been built on Crew Chiefs always pushing the limits to find that extra edge.
But when does it go too far?? And when does the whole penalty situation start to become consistant. NASCAR has so many rules now that I doubt anyone knows even half of them anymore. And when they find something they dont like and cant find an appropriate rule already in place they fall back on the granddaddy of them all; "incidents detrimental to stock car racing"....The ultimate Golden Rule. It cant be agured with as the folks up there in the board room have become deaf dumb and blind.
So again we imagine, lets go back to a couple years ago.....
So #### has the points lead. But should he?? Earlier in the season…oh let’s see..at what race again?? Oh yeah…DAYTONA…the FIRST race of the bloody season, the 48 team was caught CHEATING. Their car did not pass inspection. They were fined..($50 grand is pocket change to these people) and his crew chief was suspended and 25 whopping points were taken away…yet the #### was still allowed to race (in the same car) and win the race, giving him 100+ championship points. Should his victory have stood? Damn right it shouldn’t have.
NASCAR has some great things. They have zero tolerance for drugs. They try to police the crew chiefs and their actions but they are lacking woefully in the punishment department and your punishment for anyone who gets caught seems to depend solely on WHO you are.
I seriously think that Hendrick has some kind of deal with NASCAR officials and Mike Helton. There are kickbacks or a lot of other money exchanging hands there I’m thinking. Cos Hendrick cars can get away with pretty much anything. Jimmie and Chad have been caught cheating several times in the last few years, yet receive barely a wrist slap and are sent out to do it again. Kyle Busch threw a glove out his window during a race this in order to bring out a caution and during another race, a piece of his roll bar foam mysteriously flew out a window. Did he get punished or slapped with any fines etc?? NOPE. Nothing. “ The evidence was inconclusive” says NASCAR. Yeah ####. Everyone and their dog knew who it was. But it was a Hendrick car again. Don’t wanna make poor Rick cry. Robbie Gordon threw a piece of his roll bar foam out his window in Atlanta. He needed a caution to get himself back on the lead lap. Was he punished??? Damn skippy he was. He got 50 driver and owner points taken away. Fifty is a lot of points…but hey he’s not a Hendrick car is he? Now this year Denny gets black flagged for basically the same thing (although I still have my doubts as to purposely give KB an edge..but thats another blog in itself). He gets black flagged but no penalties. Mikey goes psycho and nothing. Is it now Toyota with some serious pull??? Who knows.
So why aren’t these cheaters DQ’d for the race they cheat in? I guarantee they’d think twice before doing it again if that’s what happened when you do. Their sponsors would be livid…and let’s face it, the sponsors are where A LOT of the big bucks come from. No sponsors=no money=no team=no job for driver and crew. That year Jimmie Johnson would have 100+ less points because he’d have 0 for Daytona cos he’s a cheating ####. He’d not be on top of the standings.
But apparently it’s OK to cheat in NASCAR. Let's go back to Infineon last year shall we? JG and JJ parked for practice and qualifying...better but still not enough in my opinion. The 100 point thing is getting better too but is it still enough??
It’s still A-OK that the guy who cheats the most becomes the Champ. You may dislike drivers because of perceived personality traits or faults…God knows I do….but I think the best reason of all to dislike a team is because they CHEAT. They need an extra edge to play with the big boys and apparently it’s ok. After all, money talks……I hope your kids aren’t learning their value systems from these guys. That’s scary.
I'm 36, single and a professional. I love writing, love to blog and am a huge huge fan of NASCAR. If ya cant already tell by the prevailing orange theme...Smoke 's the man! But I like a lot of other drivers and some of their fans! If you're passionate about this sport then let's get at it! I'm here to have fun, have some great debates and to learn. I'm not interested in 'Hooking up", nor am I interested in slinging insults with a bunch of haters. I'f thats your thing then just please move along. Otherwise stick around and lets talk NASCAR!
Let's go back to Infineon last year shall we? JG and JJ parked for practice and qualifying...better but still not enough in my opinion. The 100 point thing is getting better too but is it still enough??
That’s scary.
