Word out of the NFL is that the Patriots of New England are getting fined and losing a draft pick. Punishment for what? Spying on their opponents; at least, video taping their defensive signs. That doesn't sound like too big of an infraction, to me, anyway. So you got their signals on tape. So would I, if I recorded the game from TV and the camera panned over to the signals being given. So, what's the big deal?

Still, the events of the NFL are not the topic of this entry.

Word out of the FIA World Motor Sport Council is that McLaren (my favorite team) are being penalized for being in possesion of technical data from rival competitor Ferrari. They have been fined $100 million (chump change, really, in the world of Formula 1), and the team are forbidden from competing in the constructor's championship for this season (the drivers, however, can compete for the driver's championship); they could also still face penalties for next season.

Now, I don't know all the details of what is going on. I've gotten the story in the bits and pieces that ESPN and Formula1.com feed us, but something doesn't feel right about it all.

First, a 780-page Ferrari technical dossier was found at the home of McLaren chief designer, Mike Coughlan, supposedly received from disgruntled Ferrari employee Nigel Stepney. McLaren have suspended Coughlan. In other words, McLaren were none-too-happy that they had a spy in their midst, and took steps to rectify the situation. Did they then go to the FIA and/or Ferrari and say, "Hey, our guy had this, but we didn't know it, and we want to make sure we're doing the right thing"? I don't know, but the suspension, in my mind, says they wanted to do the right thing.

Initially, the FIA simply found them in breach of competitive fairness for being in possession of the dossier. But, there was no evidence that they used the information, either in the design of the 2007 car (which was done by the time Coughlan got the dossier, as I understand) nor, yet, in the design of the 2008 car. So, no penalty was imposed at that time.

Now, some "new evidence" has come up. The drivers for the team were contacted to hand over any information they may have in exchange for immunity (hence, why they can still compete for the championship). I don't know what this "new evidence" is, but it seemed to be enough to impose those penalties; we'll find out Friday what they report.

But then, I read things like this:

"We have never denied that the information from Ferrari was in the personal possession of one of our employees at his home," McLaren team chief Ron Dennis said. "The issue is: Was this information used by McLaren? This is not the case and has not been proven today."

and

"Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged," the Italian team said in a statement.

Now, I have always believed that the FIA considers Ferrari the darling of Formula 1 (and McLaren seems to be the proverbial red-headed stepchild; just look where they are listed in the list of teams and drivers on the official Formula 1 site); and it is true that they have a storied and successful past in the sport (so does McLaren, for that matter, but that's beside the point). Ferrari was expected to dominate this year as they have in the recent past (the past two belong to Renault), but McLaren have been the team to beat this year. That doesn't sit well with the Scudieri. I can't help but think that they are playing the part of the sore loser: "We can't win the championship on the track, let's use this incident to win it in the courtroom." Case in point, this quote from an article on the official Formula 1 website: "Ferrari...are now all but assured of the 2007 constructors' title."