At what cost?

Belichick. Sampson. Bonds. Our kids.

What do they all have in common? Cheaters. Unrepentent cheaters. Oh, sure, it's alleged. Nothing is ever proven anymore. Belichick and his Patriots taped other teams' practices and sidelines. Everyone thought he was a genius. "It seems like he was in their huddle!" Well, maybe, he was! Yet, the NFL allowed him to continue on with a mere loss of draft picks, which the Patriots always trade for mature players anyway.

Barry Bonds...right, twiggy becomes Heracules in a few short seasons. Despite being on confiscated lists and a client to steroid producers, he still was able to play. What a shame that a record will be held by a known steriod user.

Kelvin Sampson gets to play Purdue this week even though he's going to be fired soon. "It was only cell phone calls!" Right, about 577 prohibited ones that he was already on violations for breaking. His recruiting practices are shady, and he seemingly can't tell the truth according to the NCAA and IU. I loved his interview after the IU-MSU game. When asked if this win meant anything to him personally, he said, "No, it's not about me." Right. Is that why he was jumping up and down nearly crying and punching the air when IU took a commanding lead? Integrity 0, win at all costs 100. Yet, he is allowed to coach one more week at IU...a week that just so happens to include Wisconsin, MSU, and Purdue. The three schools locked in a struggle for the Big Ten with IU. Coincidence?

Cheating seems to be all the rage. Sure, we say it's bad, but apparently, deep down, we think it's OK. Look at the number of Patriot fans on Superbowl Sunday. Look at the Barry Bonds fans cheering for the record*. Did you hear the IU fans chanting "Sampson! Sampson! Sampson!" when IU pulled away from MSU? After the Wiscy loss, he was a goat...now he's a savior. What's the deal. Winning. Well, more precisely, the money and prestige from winning.

It's encouraging to see that some things turn out right, though. I've never rooted or cheered for the Giants like I did when they beat New England. Though the season isn't over, IU isn't leading the Big Ten, and Sampson appears to be gone (once IU plays Purdue, of course...due process).

If it were just sports, it'd be one thing, but it's not. Enron rings a bell, too. Cheating stock holders and employees. How many cheat the IRS? How many folks cheat their employer?

One of the saddest parts of being a temporary youth pastor for about two years was hearing the kids talk about cheating. Great kids spoke of cheating as if it were chewing gum. Bright kids. Honor roll kids. Assanine school policies and pressure for success are creating an academic environment where what you know isn't as important as filling in the right circle on a scantron sheet. 97% of kids that I have asked point blank about this issue have responded that they cheat REGULARLY at school! When I asked if they felt guilty about it, to a person, they responded, "No."

It's easy to go off on the kids. "They know better." Perhaps they don't.

As you're cheering on your favorite sports team, as you're filling out your taxes, as you're thinking about that gorgeous coworker, maybe it's time to wonder where our kids might have learned that cheating is OK. Maybe it was us.