Coaches cheating: No place for cheating in sports

This past week has had all the sports casters up in arms with two events by two coaches who were trying to get an unfair advantage for their teams. In the NBA, the struggling Nets led by first year head coach Jason Kidd were on the brink of another defeat when Kidd tried to give his club an edge. With no timeouts left Kidd called for his player to "come hit me" in order to purposely spill his soda and by time to draw up a play. The "SODA GATE" worked because Kidd and the Nets did get a play drawn up, only to have THE TRUTH revealed; cheaters will never win in the end. Pierce missed the game tying three just before time expired. Coach Kidd was questioned after the game about the incident and denied the account. Clearly he cheated on purpose, some would say a crafty move and heady decision by a rookie coach, others would say pure cheating. Either way there is no room for that in sports and the Nets still lost and continue to be at the bottom of the barrel despite a "All Star" lineup. Kidd was fined over $10,000 for his actions.

Furthermore, Thanksgiving evening issued in an even more sever cheating incident by Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Steelers. On a kick return by Ravens wideout, Jacoby Jones, Tomlin was looking at the jumbo tron and strategically place himself on the field about a yard in play and then jumped out of the way just before Jones would have collided into him. This bought enough time for the Steelers defender to catch up to Jones and save the touchdown. I watched this play unfold live as well and could not believe it. Tomlin said after the game that coaches have been caught on the field before. When watching the replay you could see a smirk on his face that his actions were intentional. Now, again an unfair advantage was gained, however the Steelers would later fall to the Ravens and rightly so. No one is debating this one, it was blatant cheating and now Tomlin and Pittsburgh are paying the pri$e! The NFL is reviewing this play and are talking about a six figure fine as well as a possible draft pick being taken from the Steelers. Is it worth it? The answer will always be no because cheaters don't win in the end and if they do come out victorious their "W" is stained with poor sportsmanship and lack of class.

It is inevitable that an other cheating incident will take place. By whom and when is the only question. What we do know is that the consequences far outweigh the situational advantage and those who cheat ultimately compromise the integrity of the game. So coaches and player give your all on the field, play hard and clean, and may the glory go to the better team. There is no place for cheating in sports!