Bah humbug, SI
Fans and media around the country are certainly entitled to their opinions of Belichick, but the cover of the current issue of Sports Illustrated, with a photo-shopped image of a dour-faced Belichick in a Santa suit, was inappropriate and over-the-top.
If nothing else, the decision to run the photo showed a profound lack of respect from the magazine to the coach.
And here’s a guarantee: If Belichick played ball with the publication and its reporters (i.e., fed them information or access, particularly during the videotaping investigation), then there’s no way the editors would have run that photo.
There’s little doubt the Pats have become the bad guys and the team everyone likes to root against, but, really, can you recall other such teams or players/coaches receiving that treatment? Can anyone recall a comparably unflattering portrayal of George Steinbrenner? Kobe Bryant? Ray Lewis? Pat Riley? Larry Bird?
Name a guy. It’s hard to find an example of someone else who was treated that way.
Of course, the situation only makes the victories more sweet in Foxboro.
