Today's Yahoo front page links to this article (actually titled "On verge of state history, Oregon golfer loses state title to scorecard violation") with two misleading headlines: "Error leads to lost golf title" and "Heartbreaking error takes title from golfer".
Basically, it's a story about how hot-shot high-school golfer Caroline Inglis was disqualified from a state tournament for signing off on a scorecard that credited her with a par on the final hole instead of a bogey.
The actual headline is "news" in the sense that it relays true facts. The other two headlines are "spin" in the sense that Yahoo should be ashamed of itself for lack of journalistic integrity.
Where I come from, giving yourself an extra point, a point that you didn't score, whether it's in golf or any other game or sport, is considered CHEATING. It's not "heartbreaking," it's dishonest, unsportsmanlike, and disgraceful. Of course if you get caught doing it, you never own up to it -- you say "Whoops! I didn't mean to! It was a mistake!"
The thing is, rules don't (and shouldn't) impugn motive. Either you follow them or you break them. Intent doesn't enter into the equation; neither do rule violations distinguish between transgressions of commission and omission. Justice is blind.
Anyway, I for one refuse to have any pity for athletes of any age who get caught cheating and are punished accordingly.
--Dan Colgate
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