From F1 to Football to Good News

First, Formula 1 Racing:

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, Sept. 13 — McLaren Mercedes, the leading auto-racing team in the Formula One world championship, was fined $100 million today and excluded from the constructors championship this season, after the International Automobile Federation found the team guilty of cheating by using data obtained from Ferrari, its main rival, to improve its own car.
--NYT

Then on to football:

Belichick Won't Discuss Alleged Spying
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- .... New England beat the New York Jets in last Sunday's season opener in which an on-field video camera allegedly focusing on Jets coaches was confiscated from a Patriots employee.

The New England coach was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for stealing an opponent's defensive signals.

Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.
--Associated Press

When winning becomes the only thing- any way to win becomes fair game. What a commentary! There's lots and lots of money in winning, too, which just adds to the pressures- both internal and external. Somehow we lose perspective. These are only games.

But at least someone is working on the important things in life- the things that really get you upset and ready to even say bad words. So with all the news of spying on games, here's some good news of a truly important move forward.

Stepping in gum on the sidewalk won't be such a sticky situation anymore—scientists have invented nonstick gum.

Clean Gum, as it is called, supposedly can be easily removed from shoes and pavement (as well as from hair, skin, and clothes). So walk down the street without fear of ruining your favorite shoes.
--LiveScience