When cheaters are caught red-handed

Gaming the political system does not sit well with most Americans

Americans have always been for “fair play” and against cheating. It’s rooted in our heritage.

When pro athletes are caught using steroids or tilting the odds, the fans are not amused. It’s why “Deflategate” was such a big deal. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was fined and suspended for four games this season over improper inflation of footballs in a 2015 playoff game.

In 2008, baseball fan and fashion designer Marc Ecko underscored his own disdain for cheating in a big way. After bidding $752,467 at auction for the 756th home run ball hit by Barry Bonds that shattered the record of 755 held by Hank Aaron, Mr. Ecko conducted an online poll to determine the ball’s fate.

Fans had three options: Donate the ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame as is; put it into the Hall with an asterisk, since Bonds was suspected of using steroids, or shoot it to the moon. Almost half of 10 million voters urged him to place an asterisk on the ball. So Mr. Ecko did, using a laser.

More