Why ‘Deflategate’ upsets us

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

 Some people are making a ton of money from Deflategate.

 Online retailers are reporting record sales of legitimate Tom Brady gear while others hawking “Cheater 12” jerseys are also doing a brisk business.

 The underinflated football scandal dominated the headlines last week, with Internet page views often surpassing the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory articles.

 In context, Brady’s involvement in Deflategate isn’t even close to the crimes committed by Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Adam Jones or Michael Vick.

 So why are the average – and even casual – football fans upset?

 I think it all boils down to trust or lack thereof.

 Basically, when we see a baseball hit out of Fenway Park, a soccer ball drilled through a defensive wall or a 60-yard touchdown pass, we assume that neither the ball nor the player is juiced up.

 Sure, we cheer the underdogs like players called up from Portland or Pawtucket who belt a game-winning home run. We also enjoy upsets in the NFL and college football.

 By and large, however, we want to see the highest-paid quarterbacks, pitchers, midfielders or NASCAR drivers perform at the highest level without cheating. When someone like Brady lets us down, we start having doubts about the integrity of the sport.

 It was only a few years ago that home run records were seriously scrutinized by Major League Baseball. As it turned out, super sluggers like Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa and Jose Canseco were either accused of – or admitted using – performance-enhancing drugs.

 Now we’re wondering if the New England Patriots is the only team that has used an elaborate scheme to soften up footballs. Excerpts from the investigative report indicate that it didn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to figure out how to beat the system. So if the Pats can do it, why can’t the Miami Dolphins or the Atlanta Falcons?

 However, I seriously doubt if the Patriots will suffer any long-term repercussions over Deflategate, no matter who starts at quarterback this year. Season ticket-holders aren’t going to stay home. Gridiron fans will continue to watch the Pats on TV, even if it’s just out of morbid curiosity. But I don’t expect to see robust sales of Jimmy Garoppolo game jerseys, either.

 For some of us approaching our golden years, watching major league sports can be the highlight of the weekend. We forget about the deck that needs painting, the lawn that needs cutting or the dental appointment we’ve postponed for three months. Our minds concentrate on one thing: watching the good guys win.

 Unfortunately, evidence now shows that the good guys in Patriots gear are led by someone we can’t trust anymore.

 Yes, Brady and the Patriots could win their appeal of the fine and suspension and die-hard fans will say “I told you so.”

 I’d like to believe it will happen. But I won’t bet the family farm on it.

 Mike Lange is a staff writer with the Piscataquis Observer. His opinions are his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of this newspaper.