I can't believe I did it again. For the umpteenth time since the whole Spygate story broke last September, I thought we had reached the end.
For many, May 8 was the end. Matt Walsh finally delivered the much anticipated tapes we have been hearing about since days before the Super Bowl. But shockingly, there was no tape of a Rams' practice from before Super Bowl XXXVI. No such tape exists because it never happened.
End of story, right?
Not if you have an agenda like Sal Paolantonio and other reporters who thought finally you were going to get to celebrate while Bill Belichick went down in flames.
They can't let it go. Their obsession with getting Belichick leads these reporters to continue to come up with convoluted theories why we still need to dig deeper into Spygate.
To be honest, most of the so-called investigative reporters and columnists who are doing this, I understand why. They are nobodies. They were before, and I am sure many of them saw Spygate as a chance to make a name for themselves.
Do as much over the top reporting as they can, write outlandish theories and make accusations based on no evidence—and if by some chance it comes true, maybe it can be their turn to appear on the sports talk radio shows. If very fortunate, maybe even an appearance on Around the Horn, so they too can yell and scream while making fake arguments.
Of course, if none of it is true, so what? There are no repercussions for making carefully crafted accusations based on zero evidence. Journalism 101 to many.
But Sal Paolantonio? Really? You aren't better than this, Sal?
His article from yesterday reached the point that he clearly has no credibility on this issue and is willing to sell his soul in the hope that, maybe, there is a way he can still get Bill Belichick.
The article is such a disgrace. I do not even know where to begin.
Paolantonio starts by writing that some in the media have made a "hasty" conclusion that Spygate is over? Hasty—is that the correct word to describe a story that has lingered for over nine months?
The reason the story persisted was because of an article based on false accusations printed in the Boston Herald and adopted by ESPN and others, that a former Patriots' employee had a video tape of a Rams' practice.
A story by the way that ESPN and other media outlets refused to run on their own because they did not at the time find it to be credible. Good thing then they followed up by spending months talking about the not credible accusations.
So Sal, it is not the end when we finally learn definitively that no such tape exists?
Not to Sal. Belichick said that he did break the rules, but he did so unknowingly and had interpreted the rule differently. Sal therefore wants Goodell to ask "tough questions" and to "grill" Walsh on this issue because he doesn't believe Belichick. If it isn't true, then Sal for the good of the game wants to see more punishments.
A few points.
First, could a video assistant, one way or the other, be able to honestly tell Paolantonio what he wishes to learn?
10 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Frank Wrench about 1 year ago
hopefully this is the end of the story. maybe tomasse, paolantonio, greg easterbrook, mike fish and all the other idiots in the media who attached themselves to matt walsh can do the same thing walsh is about to do - go away forever, never to be heard from again.
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Max Iascone about 1 year ago
absolutely fantastic work, this article has been written many times in various forms but yours is the best I've seen on the subject so far.
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Anthony Canale about 1 year ago
Hey, Sparky, I guess you haven't yet faced the brutal REALITY that the Patriots are CHEATERS. FACT. They have been blatantly cheating since Belichick took over. FACT. All the fancy arguments you want to make can't hide the truth. They won (*) three Superbowls, each by a field goal, and they were cheating all this time.
Sorry to be the one to break the news to you that the Patriots are CHEATERS. Tommy Brady didn't look so good in this Super Bowl when he didn't have the defensive calls in advance, huh?
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Stew Winkel about 1 year ago
Anthony, did you really just write that "Tommy Brady didn't look so good in this Super Bowl when he didn't have the defensive calls in advance, huh?" Because that makes sense. If only Brady could have had the greatest season in NFL history for a quarterback in 2007, with 15 of those 16 games coming after the Patriots were caught.
who isn't facing reality either? i don't ever write the Patriots didn't cheat - i actually wrote the opposite, twice. but they were caught, they cheated, they were punished. Time to move on.
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andy miller about 1 year ago
anthony, your comments are so dumb, they do not merit a response. but i will anyway. i noticed in your one patheitc article you managed to write, you accused the patriots of filming the rams walk through. care to print a retraction and an apology to the greatest franchise in sports. because, you, like so many other fools out there, put your eggs in matt walsh's basket. the pats and all their fans, sat back, said nothing, confident this guy was a first class chump. you fools all believed in him, and were let down so badly today. it must hurt, anthony. what's the matter anthony, do not have enough guts to list your favorite teams on your little page?
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Gary Garrison about 1 year ago
Anthony could be the dumbest person ever. What a clown!
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Patrick SJ Read about 1 year ago
I would guess that as long as Boston can go after Clemens, then Philly should be able to give it right back. Spector won't let it go either.
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Maureen Nielsen about 1 year ago
ESPN should consider changing their name to TRU-Sports, since their sensational reporting (and I am stunned that Sal Palentino is even considered a reporter since he is clearly biased against the Patriots) has been given so much time by the network on the subject. This morning on Mike and Mike, the whole freakin show was dedicated to a story that they acknowledged is "over". In the meantime, they sloughed over a couple to terrific NBA playoff games. Oy!
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Roger Marcotte about 1 year ago
Yes, the Patriots were caught doing something wrong, but I believe they were wrongly punished. The punishment did not fit the crime. Under the "an eye for an eye" rule, all of their upcoming opponents this new season should be allowed to video tape all of the Patriots signals: defense, offense, special teams, calls for Gator Aide, whatever.
If the results are that they do not make the playoffs, well they were thought a lesson. One that all other teams would take note of. ( Although I think the Patriots coaching staff would take full advantage of knowing that the other teams are taping them. This could be used to their benefit. Fooled you!!)
On the other hand, if they did make the playoffs, and, maybe even go further, then all this taping advantage is much to do about nothing.
I say, return that fine money and give them an extra 1st round draft pick next year, and give them a punishment that fits the crime.
Roger
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Let me lend I non-Patriot fan point of view. First of all, I'm a Lions fan, so it should be noted that I couldn't really care who wins the super bowl, because it will never be us. But the reporting on "Spygate" has been consistent with the reporting on all sports scandals. First, the credibility of the accusers:
1) Kobe Bryant accused of rape by a woman with three different mens sperm in her panties.
2) Duke Lacrosse team with a similar charge recanted by street hookers.
3) Clemens and McNamee. Enough said.
4) Jose Canseco
So it should be no surprise that we once again have a less than credible source. Second, the denials of the accused:
1) Not sports related, but somehow "I did not have sexual relations with that women" (old slick willy) comes to mind. lol
2) Clemens, Bonds, Rose, Vick, etc.
I agree that we should move on from "spygate." I think the media, in general, has much to answer for in the quality and legitimacy of its reporting. Do I believe that Belichick knew he was cheating? Yes, I think he knew, and I think he wasn't completely honest about that. But the team was punished. Now move on! If he is caught in the future, THEN, we may have a story, but for now, let it rest.
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