Just a moment

Well, I think by now that it's obvious that I'm somewhat focused on the world of sports. And while it doesn't really bother me, this next topic does.

Yesterday was the biggest event in the yearly calendar of the US sporting world, the Super Bowl. It garners the most attention; the lead-up stories to the game ranging far beyond ridiculous. And yet there was one story yesterday that makes me mad: the fact that a US senator wants to question the commissioner of the NFL to find out what happened during the so called "Cameragate."

This angers me and not just because the story was overplayed when it came out and that punishment (perhaps not harsh enough, perhaps too harsh) has already been laid out on the matter. No, the real problem I have with the government getting involved here is that there are so many more important issues that they should be focusing on that it's a waste. Let's look at the simple facts here:

1 - The Patriots cheated.
2 - They were punished.

Case closed. What's the point of reopening this issue? What greater purpose does this investigation serve? What new evidence is there? What is going to change? Why is this issue so important that we have to schedule hearings and debate the issue on the radio and in committee meetings?

This isn't like baseball players and the steriod scandal where not investigating it was wrong and baseball wasn't planning on punishing its players. There's a moral obligation to stop drug use because of health reasons. It was the wrong image to send to people everywhere: cheat the system and you'll be rewarded with money and success. I can get that. I understand where they were coming from and a lot of "heroes" are getting a negative shade that I'm sure even children grasp. It's a polarizing issue and people needed a directive that major league baseball wasn't willing to give them.

And it's not like stealing signals is something new to sports. It's been around since the beginning. Ron Jaworski told a story yesterday about how one of his Eagle's teams had the signals for one of their games. It happens. The coaches are trying to take whatever advantage they can. I know it's not something society wants children to see, but it's not like the last few generations haven't had the same issues with atheletes.

Studying whether football coaches and players cheated after they've already been punished makes no sense on any level. You can't say that kids can look at the Patriots and say 'hey, if I cheat, I'll win and everything will be fine.' They were punished already and the two month long uproar over the issue was enough that even children in Cambodia have an opinion on the matter. Football came down on the Patriots and issued a penalty against both the team and the head coach. The head coach's penalty was much harsher (as a 10% of your salary and a damaged reputation mean more than a first round draft pick) but there was a penalty. Unlike baseball, football was willing to police its own.

Aren't there more important issues our senators should be looking into? Like the growing divide between the rich and the poor in this country? The failing economy? Poverty and hunger issues? I'm not much into politics, but even I'm tired of the issue and this just upsets me to no end. Seems like all those dollars every American worker gives to the government are wasted when stupid stuff like this takes the priority over the things that really should.