Fascinating #DeflateGate Racing Parallels

I must say I am having a hoot reading the media (and social media) regarding DeflateGate - the fact/rumor that the New England Patriots (illegally) deflated balls in their last game (they are easier to grip and throw).

What's making it extra-special is that the stories and tweets sound almost exactly what happens in horse racing when some winning trainer gets nabbed. It's uncanny.

The Washington Post today has some prose up that could be on the Paulick Report or the DRF.

•  “The Patriots are suspected of cutting so many corners, their home field should be an oval,” -  (aka "pushing the envelope")
• But numerous coaches said they don’t trust how the Patriots go about their business — complaints that go back to the beginning of Belichick’s tenure as head coach in 2000. - (we can't catch him, but we're pretty sure)
• Belichick, for his part, claimed he had misunderstood the NFL rules. “The rules are very, very clear,” former Tennessee Titans Coach Jeff Fisher told the New York Times in 2008. “There is no need to be more specific or clarify any rules whatsoever.” (the kicking, cut off times, overages, rules are unclear, I had no idea I could not bring Air Power into the detention barn!")
• The Patriots’ reaction to such allegations has been to chuckle. Other teams are just grasping, the thinking goes. They’re just jealous. (aka he's just jealous that I win)

On social media we see similar.

After a dude gets a soda positive, often times, it's "the horse didn't even win" defense. In this case, the Pats won by so much, they didn't have to cheat to win, even though they probably cheated to win. This is a form of social media and chat boards' NYRA-Apologist Disease ® where they might've done something wrong, but it does not really matter:

#DeflateGate take it easy Colts players, you lost 45-7, I don't think Blount running with deflated ball affected you. Please stop...
— Jason Perschetz (@chetz99) January 21, 2015

Then we have the classic horse racing line "Everyone does it!"

Trending - Patriots fans standard answer: "All teams cheat" #NFL @nfl #DeflateGate #Spygate
— ravenfanat!c (@fanaticraven) January 21, 2015

And, well, neither here nor there, but kind of witty, I thought.

BREAKING NEWS: The New England Patriots have hired Roman Chapa as equipment manager for the Super Bowl

— Mike Hünt (@TheRaiderFan) January 21, 2015

I suspect the biggest difference between this Deflategate and horse racing is that 1) The investigation will be over in 48 hours and 2) if found "guilty", the punishment will be done quickly, and hurt quite a bit.

Have a nice Wednesday everyone.