The worst part about the cheating scandal involving the Patriots was knowing that Shank would inevitably weigh in, bringing all his tired tropes into action.
He does not disappoint.
This statement pretty much sums up the column and Dan's view:
"There's a legion of people waiting to harpoon the arrogant New England organization, and this episode has armed Patriot critics with weapons they can use forever.
After the introduction, Dan "starts at the top" with Bob Kraft. Why? There has been no evidence that Kraft even knew of what was going on. But Dan has to use his lame "Amos Alonzo" bit.
Dan starts off asking, "Where is Kraft now?" He wastes a couple of paragraphs implying that Kraft should have stepped forward. It is only later that Shanks admits that "We can't expect Kraft to come forward during Rosh Hashanah." THEN WHY ASK WHERE HE IS, YOU SNAKE?
Next up Dan talks about the players. He states:
"Patriot players have long been reminded that their skills are almost irrelevant to the brilliant system that enables them to succeed. The message has been "most of you are interchangeable parts and we can win with other people if you choose to leave." Their achievements are minimized.
Dan, simple question: When has anybody in the organization made any such claim? It is sportswriters like you who state "In Bill We Trust" that have created and perpetuated this myth. If the players are unimportant, why did Belichick and Pioli completely overhaul the wide receivers this past offseason, getting one of the most talented receivers of all time? Why did the Patriots get the best defensive player in free agency? And where is all that money going? If the players are irrelevant, they shouldn't be paying them much, yet the Patriots are routinely at the cap.
More of the same bullshit when Dan writes:
"It's residue of seven years of coaches being reminded that they are stooges - they will lose to the Patriots because Belichick and his guys are smarter than everybody else.
It is this madeup bullshit that infuriates me when I read CHB. He falsely attributes some media created attitude to the teams or players themselves to get a better story.
Towards the end, Dan adds to the putridness by contradicting himself.
Paragraph Four:
"There is no more gray area now. Those claims that "everybody does it" and "the Patriots didn't need surveillance to beat the Jets" ring hollow."
Paragraph Seventeen:
"It's not fair, of course. Videotaping the other sideline is probably a tactic used by a lot of teams and no doubt it's been done for a long time. The competitive gain is certainly debatable and the punishment seems excessive, given that the Patriots had the misfortune to get caught."
Do the claims "ring hollow" or is it not fair? I'm confused.
And the cherry on top: A Nixon comparison. Yes, because compromising the integrity of a Presidential election and flouting the Constitution is comparable to stealing signals in a sporting event.
"It's a sad chapter in the long history of New England sports."
Something we can agree on. Although it would have been clearer if he had written "This column is a sad chapter in the long history of New England sports media."
So ... my gripe is, why is Shank actually happy
ReplyDeleteabout this? I can understand objectivity, even mild
scorn, but flat-out glee? WTF? His pettiness and
staggering insecurity are on display for all to see.
BTW, did anyone else hear Borges on 890AM yesterday? Castigating the Patriots for cheating?
Hello, Pot? This is Kettle.
Felger and that idiot Borges are made for each other. Felger has been screaming about how he knew the Pats were cheating. Somehow he forgot to mention it before this story broke.
ReplyDeleteAs for Borges, someone called him on it. Borges responded "Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper?" continuing his "There is something else going on" theme. Which is perfect for him because there must be a confidentiality agreement between him and the Globe and he can imply anything he wants knowing that the Globe cannot do anything to correct the perception.
Where was Bob Kraft on Rosh Hashana? In a very embarrassing place
ReplyDeleteI'm just shocked that there was any room left for one more reporter to pile on...
ReplyDeleteOne thing i don't understand is that two miami dolphin DB's admitted to buying game tapes that helped them decipher Brady's signals during the 21-0 in Miami last year. If the Patriots were basically doing the same thing (using the tapes later on down the line), then why weren't the Dolphins punished as well?
You know who is loving this the most? Mike Vick. Look media, its another bright shiny story!!! Go chase!!! Get it!!! Good! now rip it to shreds! That's a good media, good boy!!! Doggy treats for you.
Average attention span of a reporter= oh, three and a half seconds
Shame on Dan. Shame!! Shame!! Mr. Kraft is good!! The Patriots are good! We only want to hear good things! Shame! Shame!
ReplyDeletePerhaps the coach's problems can be boiled down to two words: Diminishing Skills.
Bernie Kosar must be roaring.
Hey OB: Where was the great CHB when all this cheating was going on?
ReplyDeleteHow did the self-styled Spokesperson/Hero for Integrity, Tenacity, Heart, Ethics And Decorum (SHITHEAD) in miss the omnipresent cameraman on the Pats sidelines?
Too busy soaking up the "atmosphere" at The Fours, maybe?
Why is it that The CHB is the sole columnist in town who can't break a story? Even Howie Carr does that once in awhile. Typical CHB: Passing judgment after someone did all the legwork.
Drink up, everyone!
obtusebruce,
ReplyDeleteWhen will you learn that the problem isn't the criticism it is how the criticism is presented?
The "Amos Alonzo" bs, calling out Kraft before acknowledging that he better things to do, claiming that the Patriot organization believes the players are unimportant, all that is underhanded and classic Shank.
Why don't you address any of the issues raised in the original post?
OB:
ReplyDeleteIt comes down to this: Dan Shaughnessy adds nothing to the quality of life in New England. Nothing. He spouts his own opinions just to hear
himself.
Bill Belichick DOES add to the quality of life in New England: He coaches a football team that wins a lot of
games, which makes a lot of New Englanders happy.
No one would miss Shaughnessy if he was abducted by aliens tonight. Lots of people would
miss Belichick. Simple.
Tim
Felger's non-credibility came out when he ripped the Patriots for the Deion Branch contract issue and kept quoting Schlereth claiming opposing teams would press the line and get to Brady; they went 12-4 with their receivers scoring in the regular season and the playoffs. Felger then flip-flopped and began saluting the receiver corps.
ReplyDeleteFelger and Borgie are ignorant here - the Patriots weren't doing anything wrong; that rule they "broke" is vague enough that the NFL was not even enforcing it. All they did was compile scouting footage - scouting, as Keyshawn Johnson has noted.
So Shank, it is not a sad chapter in New England sports, it's a sad chapter of jealous rage driving opposing teams and putting the league in a bad position.
ReplyDelete"Felger and Borgie are ignorant here - the Patriots weren't doing anything wrong; that rule they "broke" is vague enough that the NFL was not even enforcing it. All they did was compile scouting footage - scouting, as Keyshawn Johnson has noted."
ReplyDeleteTake off those rose colored glasses for once. How vague is sending out a memo to the entire league before the beginning of the season warning teams to NOT do this? The Pats broke the rules. Belichick cheated. I don't see how anyone can argue that they didn't do anything wrong. Yes, it probably didn't make a damn bit of difference in the outcomes of the games and yes there is a good chance that a good number of other teams in the NFL did the same thing, BUT the fact remains that they blatantly ignored NFL rules in order to gain a competitive advantage. I understand where you're coming from but there is a distinct difference between saying that the Patriots cheated in a very popular way and saying that they did nothing wrong.
I'm not comparing BB to Barry Bonds or this whole incident to use of PEDS. But, I will say that the reaction of Patriots fans has really shown me the how S.F Giants fans can actually attempt to defend Barry Bonds without realizing how full of shit they are.
dubegedi,
ReplyDelete"How vague is sending out a memo to the entire league..." If the rule was either serious or clear-cut, the NFL would have had security people patrolling sidelines at every game. So how were the Patriots breaking the rules other than other teams whining to the league?
Videotaping is not cheating. It cannot be argued that videotaping constitutes cheating, especially when the argument is pushed that decifering opposing signals - it's time to stop using the term "stealing" because it never once applied - is fine when done visually or through binoculars, but if you videotape signals it's crossing some line. To advance such an argument only shows the utter lack of credibility in the issue.
I also find it strange that with all the reckless and inaccurate charges of cheating being thrown out there, no one asks why the Patriots don't deceive on the injury list, an important source of information - witness the Eagles stupidly giving out their injury list four days before Superbowl 39 and the Patriots thus using that information to improve their game plan.
The fact remains that the rule the Patriots "blatantly ignored" is neither serious nor clear-cut and that videotaping opposing signals is only legitimate scouting. Saying they did nothing wrong is the only credible argument that can be made on this issue.
As for comparison to SF Giants fans defending Barry Bonds, don't insult people's intelligence - Bonds is a cheater. Belichick isn't.
Belichick cheated, period. Doesn't matter
ReplyDeletewhether everyone was doing it or whether
videotaping and stealing signals and all the crap
the teams have been doing to each other throughout
the years. The league sent the memo and BB
went ahead and did it anyway and for that he deserves punishment and he received it.
What gets me is the glee with which people are piling on! The frigging delight that Paul Zimmerman, Chris Collingsworth, Mike Greenberg, Peter King, et. al., are taking in trashing the Patriots! Evidently, the Patriots have amassed a large group of enemies over the years. But these
pussies have kept their mouths shut until now.
"Videotaping is not cheating. It cannot be argued that videotaping constitutes cheating, especially when the argument is pushed that decifering opposing signals - it's time to stop using the term "stealing" because it never once applied - is fine when done visually or through binoculars, but if you videotape signals it's crossing some line. To advance such an argument only shows the utter lack of credibility in the issue."
ReplyDeleteThis is the memo sent out:
"Video taping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent’s offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches’ booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."
That is vague to you? This wasn't the first time the Patriots did this and they had been warned repeatedly. They blatantly broke rules in order to gain a competitive advantage, ergo they were cheating.
"The fact remains that the rule the Patriots "blatantly ignored" is neither serious nor clear-cut and that videotaping opposing signals is only legitimate scouting. Saying they did nothing wrong is the only credible argument that can be made on this issue."
How the fuck can you possibly say they did nothing wrong when they were repeat offenders, were given multiple warnings, and even had that memo above sent out? I'm 100% sure that there's no way the signal stealing made any significant difference on the field, but why would they steal signals for future scouting when the signs are changed all the time? Was the rule they broke not really of great importance? Absolutely. But they still broke it after being warned not to.
If you hear King or Greenberg pile on about the Patriots, remember this, Mike Greenberg-- self-admitted HUGE Jets fan. Peter King is from New Jersey.
ReplyDeleteI have also noticed the past week the way that WEEI so vigorously is attacking other media members, especially on the Big Show in the afternoon. They are so shocked that the media is blowing this so far out of proportion. My point is, in the last five to ten years has any sports talk radio station and specifically show in New England done more to take the tiniest point and blow it up into a gigantic issue than the Big Show?
Also, I am at the point where I could care less about what Belichek did or didn't do. With all the crap that goes on in the sports world right now, why are we so outraged by this happening. If they cheat, then just make it all legal and lets not worry about it anymore.
And yes, I am using the same argument that many bleeding hearts make to legalize many illegal practices and products. I officially don't care right now. The way people fake acting shocked by these things now a days is worse sometimes than the crimes that are committed. Come on down from your Crosses, people. Stuff Happens. Grow up and deal with it.
dubegedi, you keep quoting the memo - the actual rule can be found at the NFL website, and it is not worded the same way as the memo.
ReplyDeleteYou alos ignore that "the Patriots were given multiple warnings" yet the league never sent security people to actually patrol sidelines of every game. The rule was not serious enough to warrant enforcement, otherwise the first "warning" would have been followed by security people assigned to every sideline to look out for this.
And I ask again - where is the "cheating" in videotaping opponants' coaches and their signalling to their players?
"Why would they videotape for future scouting?" Because coaches and coordinators change teams and videotaping them allows the Patriots to discern tendancies in coaches and coordinators. That's what scouting is supposed to be about.
The Patriots "broke" a rule that was vague and not being enforced to start with. The whole brouhaha stems from ignorance of team videotaping procedures, jealous hatred of Belichick in the media and from other teams, and a new commissioner throwing his weight around despite not knowing football as much as he should (he didn't know the Patriots have two first-round picks?) and displaying mind-boggling arrogance, clumsiness, and a complete lack of street smarts.
anonymous #15, I don't pay any more attention to Peter King because his credibility was destroyed in his coverage of this non-scandal.
ReplyDeleteDon't compare the hyperbole that comes out of Ordway's show with the Main-Stream Sports Media's coverage of this incident with its endless peddling of ignorant gossip about jamming opponants' radio frequencies or stealing opponants' playbooks (activities the NFL actively monitors for, plus they control the radios teams use in games) and general ignorance of team videotaping procedures - Margery Eagen and those other idiot columnists at the Herald topped Ron Borges and actually made Michael Felger look restrained as they wallowed in their own stupidity.
BTW, did Shank, Felgie, Borges, Eagen, and company ever ever read this?
ReplyDelete