Thursday, September 13, 2007
'Spying,' Part II
From Reader No. 1:
Hub Blog's response -- Sideline signal stealing is part of the game. Some coaches brag that, with only binoculars, they routinely crack an opposing team's signals within a few series. During my old high-school football days, teams used to routinely figure out the other side's coded audibles and make adjustments. Still, prohibiting use of electronic equipment for spying purposes makes sense to me. What next? Bugging locker rooms? Hacking into computers to get game plans? Banning electronics covers a wide assortment of potential abuses. It also keeps costs down. ... My general response to Deval's remarks can be found below. ...
From Reader No. 1:
1- RE Coach Belicheck, this is NOT a defense of rulebreaking but... has anyone written why 'stealing signs' are against the rules as opposed to breaking down coaches' film for player tendencies/formations; positioning coaches in skyboxes high above the field with headsets to the sideline? If the answer is that all games would end in scoreless ties (except for goofs/errors/blown coverage), that's reasonable. Just want some elaboration on the issue. If the answer is that it's 'unsportsmanlike,' that has a different meaning.
2- Darn that mean and nasty state GOP for calling attention to Governor Patrick's public remarks on 9/11. Any chance that a careful local reporter like Jon Keller or Joe Battenfeld might get the Governor to elaborate exactly what he meant by his remarks?
Hub Blog's response -- Sideline signal stealing is part of the game. Some coaches brag that, with only binoculars, they routinely crack an opposing team's signals within a few series. During my old high-school football days, teams used to routinely figure out the other side's coded audibles and make adjustments. Still, prohibiting use of electronic equipment for spying purposes makes sense to me. What next? Bugging locker rooms? Hacking into computers to get game plans? Banning electronics covers a wide assortment of potential abuses. It also keeps costs down. ... My general response to Deval's remarks can be found below. ...
