There IS a difference between cheating and breaking a rule, I agree. But is there a difference in the ethics behind either? No. Do I think CEA should be banned from worlds for having an athlete compete on 4 teams? No. Do I think all 4 of those teams should have to give their jackets and trophies back? Yes. Do I think CS should be punished as well? ABSOLUTELY! No matter how it's worded, what was done was wrong, by all parties involved. CSP should never have asked that girl to compete on the 4th team KNOWING the rules say no and CS should never have told her to go ahead acting as though they are above the rules themselves...
You make good points. All of you have made great points in a lot of aspects. I just want to say, thank you to those of you who can and have pointed out good, valid points, without being biased. Over the past several days I have seen and heard people make unreasonable statements against CSP, CEA, etc. and then start attacking said parties further and even begin attacking other users and making it appear personal. But I have also seen a handful of others who make very valid points in a respectful manner.
Thank you to everyone who was and is, able to make their points without going over the top.
I agree, both parties are to blame, but the horrible, hurtful, malicious, rumors about CSP and CEA are completely uncalled for, unnecessary and are heartbreaking. Like several people have pointed out, CS is just as much to blame, if not more.
In my opinion the way I see it I don't view what they did as "cheating". I see it is as breaking/bending a rule. I agree, with Just-A-Mom when she said, quote: "What I really care about is that someone is owed some jackets and a title (and a banner). And if I was a gym owner of any 2nd place team in any of those divisions I'd be screaming for someone's head on a platter (I don't know that they're not, I assume they are)."
If CSP did in fact try to go exhibition but was told not to, then I do feel like her intentions were good. Someone pointed out that it was not okay for her to have allowed that athlete compete 4 times because she knew the rules. I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe, (just like all of us did) she got confused with the wording of rule, which again, states: "
For the 2011-12 season, an all-star cheerleader is limited to
crossing over to 2 (two) additional cheer teams from their gym per competition. Therefore, an athlete may compete on one team and crossover to two more teams from the same gym during the competition." and that she possibly thought (again, much like many of us did) that the rule said "may not
compete or perform" not crossover. If that's the case, then her trying to go exhibition was her trying to not break the rules, cheat, etc. I don't view that as a bad thing. I think the fact that CS took the rules into their own hands is worse than (theoretically) an unintentional violation of the rules. I understand there are other "facts" and suggestions that make some of this seem far fetched and a little sketchy, but again, that theory is just that. A theory. If she did in fact know that the rule specifically said "crossover" and not "compete" or "perform" then I do feel that was poor judgement on her part. I agree, crossing over is crossing over, exhibition or not.
Also, like it was pointed out, the girl was on all 4 rosters which is also another reason why I don't view this as "cheating".
Okay, I hope this makes sense and......*stepping off soapbox*... lol
ETA: I am not being biased with this post, I would honestly give any other gym/person the same benefit of the doubt in this situation.
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