You’ve probably heard the story so much you want to bury your head in the sand. “SpyGate” has been a buzz since September, plaguing the Patriots all through their run for a championship. The day before the biggest game of the year, the SuperBowl and a chance to do the unthinkable- 19-0, the Herald released the story that took it to the next level. They ran a story claiming the Patriots had taped the Rams final walk thru prior to defeating them in the SuperBowl.
You just can’t take something like that back. I don’t know if it affected the team. I know Tom Brady’s ankle and the Giants’ relentless pass rush were factors. This … hard to say. But slander and libel are still slander and libel. Real journalists should make sure their facts check instead of settling for the sensational. Tomase apparently didn’t, and neither did the editors. Other journalists caught doing such things in high profile situations (and this was very high profile) have paid the price. No word yet from the Herald beyond this short apology.
I’m not sure that cuts it. In the Old Testament, if you falsely accused another of a crime you received the punishment they would have received. You really can’t strip the Herald of a SuperBowl, but perhaps they should donate a few million to the NFL Players Association to help the retired players who don’t receive the benefits now enjoyed by players. Perhaps Tomase and the editors need to spend endless hours answering questions how they could to something so heinous and reprehensible, and then be suspended for a year or two. Perhaps Kraft and Belichik should be given the opportunity to investigate their lives and print up some tasty tidbits. What do you think would be just in this matter?
Annoying Update: Senator Spector apparently has too much time on his hands. The energy crisis and its ripple effect through the economy, the War on Terror, the Social Security crisis, our on-going infanticide (and I could keep going) don’t matter nearly as much to him as … football. There are serious matters that affect the country and he’s concerned about football. Someone please give him a reality check, like the daily paper or something.
Cavman Considers 
Been wondering about this:
Has the Herald announced who was the source for the supposed action the Pats did NOT take??
Nope, not to my knowledge.
Cavman, I think you’re right that the Herald was reckless in printing the story. I have huge doubts, however, as to whether the scandal caused some sort of confidence problem or major distraction for the Pats in the Super Bowl. The Giants simply brought it to ’em and were on a huge roll, brimming with confidence coming into the game … Hence, any penalty the Herald should have to pay in a just world would not, in my mind, have anything to do with this year’s Super Bowl.
Well, the accusation was regarding the victory against the Rams, and some claimed they should be stripped of it. That was my point there.
Yep, the Giants played a great game. No one can ascertain what effect, if any, the report may have had.
So, in your world, what should happen to the Herald?
Ok, I thought you were suggesting that the Herald’s erroneous accusations against the Pats just prior to this year’s Super Bowl had a negative effect on them, contributing to their loss. Since the Pats were not guilty of taping before the Rams game, it was of course wrong for people to suggest (sans any real evidence) that they be stripped of that title.
Not sure what should happen to the Herald. How does one undo the damage of a false accusation? But, it certainly was completely irresponsible. Unfortunately, too many media outlets are more interested in a big scoop than with journalistic integrity – i.e., getting at the truth.
Here’s his explanation:
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1094427&srvc=sports&position=0
Sorry, Cavman, but I think you’re being a bit hypocritical to damn Arlen Spector for bringing it up again (instead of focusing on other world issues) when you’ve brought it up again yourself.
I’m all for responsible journalism, but part of why sensational journalism is so successful is that people eat it up. If the majority of people didn’t buy into it (literally, BUY it), the papers would find no benefit in it.
I don’t pretend to be following this issue closely, but didn’t I read recently that someone brought forward more evidence of the Pats’ involvement in illegal taping? Isn’t that why Arlen Spector is bringing it up again? I’m sorry it’s your beloved football team, but I confess I’m a little fed up with with all the crap in the professional sports leagues – whether its drugs, taping, whatever! All these athletes being paid all this money has just made those involved desperate for success and more money. Inevitably, that leads to the temptation to step outside of bounds of legal behavior. If that happens, yes, the government needs to step in and make it right!
Yeah, I’d like congress to be able to deal with the war in Iraq, the economy, etc. But, the answer is not to ask them to ignore other issues. The answer is to condemn those who are doing wrong and trying to skirt the law!
Not sure how this is hypocritical. I’m talking about how the ‘smoking gun’ doesn’t exist and the Herald was wrong to run the story. My question was what should happen to the Herald for their unethical actions? Or are only the Patriots to be punished for unethical actions?
Sen. Spector refuses to accept reality – the tape doesn’t exist because they didn’t tape the walk thru- and press the issue.
The Patriots broke NFL rules, not US law. The NFL punished them for breaking those rules. The NFL should have punished them. Sen. Spector ignores both of these facts (and that Matt Walsh provided no new information about the Patriots’ rule violations).
Is this not gov’t trying to intrude into matters that don’t concern them- again? No one had to twist the NFL’s arm to deal with the situation.
Sen. Spector is now on a witch hunt, looking for the second shooter though no evidence exists for a 2nd shooter, or a magic loogie. All on our dime. I’m saying, “Case closed” and he’s saying “Conspiracy”. Those are 2 different things.
And … I didn’t damn him.