Big Fines For Sports Cheating

The New England Patriots and their coach are a little lighter in the pocketbook thanks to a cheating scandal:

NEW YORK — New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for videotaping an opponent's offensive and 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.

"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots.

As big as that fine was, it's nothing compared to this:

PARIS — The McLaren team was fined US$100 million and stripped of all of its points in the constructors' standings Thursday in the spy scandal that has rocked the sport.

Team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who are currently 1-2 in the championship standings, were not punished and can continue to compete for the season title.

McLaren could still be penalized for the 2008 championship, FIA said in a statement after a hearing.

McLaren, which leads the current drivers' and constructors' standings, was punished by the World Motor Sports Council for allegedly using leaked secret technical documents belonging to F1 rival Ferrari.

"We have never denied that the information from Ferrari was in the personal possession of one of our employees at his home," 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."

McLaren can appeal.

Wow. There must be an unbelievable amount of money in Formula 1. Too bad the races are boring.