There’s a phrase going around since the University of Michigan was caught cheating (allegedly) in a major way. To football fans, it seems pretty obvious that they definitely cheated. The same way everyone and their mother knows OJ Simpson is guilty. OJ slithered by on a technicality and then a phrase was forever etched into American history.
“If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
The gloves, for whatever reason, didn’t fit. In similar fashion, Michigan football fans could say the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. The punishment so far is that their football coach has been suspended for the remainder of the season. The crime, they’d say, doesn’t even exist! But more disciplinary action is most likely on the way as investigators dig in for more evidence. It’s obvious to everyone, just like OJ’s guilt.
The phrase popping up on football Saturdays is this:
“Michigan Against the World” or “Michigan Vs. Everybody.”
There are at least two problems with this. One, they’re portraying themselves as the victims, the underdogs, the unfairly punished. Reality paints a different picture. The real victims, if or when Michigan is found guilty of cheating, are the teams who were cheated on. How many games did Michigan win because of the advantage gained by the illegal spying? Those teams are the victims. The Michigan football players who had no idea this was going on but will have their legacy, their memory erased or tainted, they are victims.
Two, to elevate yourselves so high that you think the entire world is against you is the most arrogant move. Not to burst your bubble Michigan, but no one outside of upper North America has even heard of you or any other college football team, for that matter. The phrase reeks of elitism and a puffed up image of one’s self. Arrogance. Ego. Pretentious a-holes.
I reminds me a little bit of the NFL and Major League Baseball. When a team wins the Super Bowl or the World Series, they’ll call themselves world champions. Ok, sure you won the highest challenge in your league but most other countries don’t even have American football leagues. Other countries play baseball but I didn’t see the Texas Rangers playing against any teams in Japan, Cuba, or even Canada. So calling yourselves “world champions” is a stretch.
Thinking it’s you against the world, Michigan, is a stretch, too. If anything, it’s you against Ohio State fans who relish in your demise. Plus other football fans who don’t appreciate that you cheated… allegedly.
-Out of the Wilderness
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