There is a fine line between cheating and gamesmanship. We expect athletes to do everything they can do to win, and will often excuse our favorites when they do things that might be a little bit against the rules. At the same time, we scream indignantly when someone on an opposing team does the same thing. One of my favorite things about being a sports fan is that I feel like I am given a completely undeserved right to take self-righteous stands on things I often know little about, involving rules I have never before encountered. There is nothing quite like listening to sports radio, hearing Nick from Kensington proclaim that he clearly knows more about football than everyone involved with the Eagles organization, and that they should all be fired and run out of town.

This week, the baseball-watching public had one of these opportunities. On Wednesday night, Derek Jeter was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning of a game against Tampa Bay. Except he wasn’t. The ball hit the knob of the bat as Jeter turned away from the pitch, but you would never know that from the performance that Jeter put on, spinning around in apparent agony. From his actions, it appeared as if the ball had hit his hand. The umpire bought his act, and awarded him first base. This helped the Yankees greatly, as Curtis Granderson followed this up by hitting a two-run homerun. Later in the week, Jeter claimed to be shocked at the negative response to the play, and even admitted that the ball did not hit him. Despite the admission, he claimed that he was guilty of nothing, saying that this was normal behavior in baseball, and saying that the umpire’s call was not affected by his histrionics. His exact quote was, “I had nothing to do with the call. The umpire called it from the get-go. I didn’t do it. I didn’t tell myself to go to first base. I didn’t make the call. He didn’t ask me did it hit you and I said, ‘Yeah, it hit me please let me go to first base.’ It’s comical to me that this is really getting this much attention.”

I have to disagree with Jeter. I feel like sports would be better if players were honest. Even as I write that, though, I realize that it feels a bit pie-in-the-sky. Would I really want players on my teams to give up a chance at a positive play by coming clean with the official? Probably not. Was what Jeter did wrong? Sure. He cheated, plain and simple. Despite his claims, he clearly affected the way the play was called. Should he not have done it? I guess that’s the real question. I will go on the record as saying that yes, he should not have done it. Unless he were on the Phillies.

Bad sports, continued:

2) Chris Rainey, a wide receiver from the University of Florida, was arrested this week and charged with aggravated stalking after sending a threatening text to his ex-girlfriend. If you are going to text “Time to die, bitch” to someone, I guess you are looking for trouble.

3) Ronald Flemons of the Toronto Argonauts, a Canadian Football League team, made one of the worst plays I have ever seen last week. Check out the video. Now that’s embarrassing.

4) Reggie Garrett, a high school quarterback from Texas, collapsed and died on the sideline during a game on Friday. The reason for his death has not been released.

5) I guess it was not a good week to be associated with a football team. Mark Dantonio, the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, had a heart attack early Sunday morning, following the Spartans’ overtime victory over Notre Dame on Saturday night. His prognosis is good.

6) Tyler Colvin, an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, was hit by a piece of a bat as he was running home from third base after a broken-bat hit by his teammate, Wellington Castillo, on Sunday. The sharp bat shard actually punctured Colvin’s chest, and he is currently hospitalized in Florida, where he is expected to remain for observation for a few days.

Bad Sports, Good Sports appears every Monday.

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Alan Spoll

Alan Spoll is a software quality assurance director from the suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wonderful wife and children. He has spent his entire life as a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and Penn State. Recent Phillies success aside, you will understand his natural negativity. Follow me on Twitter - @DocAlan02

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