Cheat cheat or don’t get anywhere?

The northern hemisphere summer/southern hemisphere winter is coming to an end and that means FOOTBALL is just around the corner! I have long been an American fantasy football player — started the habit back in 2001 or 2002, I think. And I’ve already signed up with my usual league. Here’s hoping that I can finally get the time and date right for our live draft (I’ve missed it the past two years).

But, for the very first time, I’ve also just signed up for my very first English Premier fantasy football team! Very exciting, I must say. In contrast to my American football league, there’s no draft and, much to my dismay, I discovered that I don’t get a chance to change players once I’ve selected them. Oops. Surely there’s a way to trade at some point? This is what happens when I just go and do things without reading instructions. Sigh. I am more than willing to take any and all recommendations on who I should put on my team!

Anyway, since this weekend brings us the beginning of the English Premier League, I’m finally getting around to sharing a commentary on cheating in football. As many of you no doubt witnessed, there were quite a few dubious acts committed by players during this year’s World Cup. Peter Singer asked back in June whether it is Okay to Cheat in Football:

… in a game between France and Ireland that decided which of the two nations went to the World Cup … the French striker Thierry Henry used his hand to control the ball and pass to a teammate, who scored the decisive goal. Asked about the incident after the match, Henry said: “I will be honest, it was a handball. But I’m not the ref. I played it, the ref allowed it. That’s a question you should ask him.”

But is it? Why should the fact that you can get away with cheating mean that you are not culpable? Players should not be exempt from ethical criticism for what they do on the field, any more than they are exempt from ethical criticism for cheating off the field – for example, by taking performance-enhancing drugs.

I love this sport and I love the dedication of the fans and the way this game unites people of all backgrounds and nationalities. But cheating cheapens all sports, regardless of the game’s intensity or the history of rivalry. And it’s not as though soccer is the only sport suffering from cheating — I’m reminded of Bill Belichick’s decision in 2007 to “spy” on the New York Jets, which resulted in the largest fine ever imposed on a coach. Whether in American or English football, let’s hope we see more honor in the game this season.

 

Make Every Play Clear the Way to Victory

My fantasy football team for the 2009-2010 season is set! Not bad, I must admit, especially given that for the second time in a row, I missed the live draft. This year, I messed up the calculation on time difference between the East Coast and Lesotho. ARGH. Luckily for me, I had first pick – which saved me from the debate between my heart (Matt Forte) and my head (Adrien Peterson).

STARTERS

QB:  Matt Ryan ATL

RBs: Adrien Peterson MIN, Brandon Jacobs NYG, Thomas Jones NYJ (ugh, I know! but someone had to take him)

WRs: Terrell Owens BUF, Calvin Johnson DET

TE: Dallas Clark IND

D/ST: Dolphins

K: John Kasay CAR

BENCH

QB: Caron Palmer CIN

RBs: Ahmad Bradshaw NYG, Fred Jackson BUF, Rashard Mendenhall PIT

WRs: Lee Evans BUF, Devin Hester CHI, Torry Holt JAC

I want to drop an RB to pick up a sleeper WR, but just can’t decide who to drop. I’m considering letting Mendenhall go, since Pittsburgh seems to be pretty set on Willie Parker? But shoot, Parker could very easily injure himself again. I could also let Fred Jackson go after Marshawn Lynch comes back in Week 4.

Or maybe I drop a WR for a WR — Lee Evans could be a good hold, since I’ve never been a TO fan and only the football gods know what that loose cannon might do. But maybe TO will do fine (yeah right), in which case Evans is deadweight and I can pick up one of my favorite sleepers instead …. decisions decisions. Any advice?

 

Music to My Ears

“Jay Cutler shines in his Bears home debut, passing for 121 yards and one TD vs. the Giants.” — NFL.com

See the bright Chicago star in action. Now I’m really getting excited for football season! Soon, I’ll be all set to watch every NFL game live through the internet and my fantasy football draft is scheduled for Sep 7.

 

USA! USA!

Went to see the U.S. national team play the Spanish national team in the 2009 Confederation Cup semi-finals last night in Bloemfontein. There are four reasons that going to the game was the best decision ever:

1. McDonalds in South Africa still serve apple pies that are FRIED not baked. I almost had two.
2. The stadium in Bloemfontein sells Budweiser!! You can’t get that in any bar or liquor store in South Africa or Lesotho. Mmmm…bad beer on a freezing cold night never tasted so good.
3. Spain lost.
4. America won!!!!

And, yes, my group of Americans (that’s us to the right) came with a gigantic U.S. flag that was frequently and jubilantly waved throughout the 92 minutes of the game. USA! USA! (Said one of my friends: “It’s a good thing Obama won; otherwise I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be doing this.”)

It was my very first live football/soccer match in Africa and it certainly did not disappoint. All kinds of people were there, blowing on these stupid plastic trumpet things, chanting their painted faces out, and waving flags.

Tonight will tell whether the US faces South Africa or Brazil in the final match on Sunday night in Johannesburg. I am really really really tempted to go to the game, despite the $200 ticket price. But it would require driving the 4.5 hours from Jozi at 4am and going straight to work. Those days are over for me.