When I was a kid, I heard something: “Cheaters never win.” I heard it with respect to golf, in particular. “Oh, they’ll cheat, but the cheating type never wins.”
That is a fine sentiment, and maybe even true as a generality. The problem is, it’s not strictly true. Cheaters do win, some of them.
I was once playing golf with a guy, for money. Betting, I mean. He threw the ball out of a bunker. I didn’t say anything. He went on to win. I still didn’t say anything. I just never played with him again, for money.
This same fellow — peach of a guy, otherwise — was known to tee it up in the rough. I mean, literally tee up his ball, with a tee.
Another guy I know — much better than I (indeed, a man who went on to be a professional golfer) — would often play this other fellow, for money. He knew the other fellow cheated. He simply figured, “If I play my best, I’ll beat him, cheating and all. It’s like an extra degree of difficulty for me. A higher bar.”
Why am I bringing up all this? I hope Tom Brady is innocent. I really do. Otherwise, it’s a real “Say it ain’t so” moment — a tragedy, and a betrayal (of fans). I wish it weren’t true that cheaters sometimes win. It’s such a wonderful statement, and concept: “Cheaters never win.” But it’s not true, strictly.
P.S. Cheaters, ultimately, get theirs. But the maddening thing is, it may take a while . . .