J Fox "I Cheated!"

Unfortunately, I am embarrassed to admit that I indulged in Sports and Cheating! During the late 70's I played for the No.1 high school basketball team in the nation. In the early 80's I was a junior college All-American on a team that participated in the national tournament. I was also fortunate enough to play Division I basketball at a University that went on to participate in two NCAA tournaments.

While playing for a junior college I will not name, I accepted off campus housing, money, and a vehicle from the coach which is a violation of NJCAA rules. At the time I knew I was breaking the rules but I had myself convinced that because I came from a No.1 nationally ranked high school I was entitled. “Hmm… I know, confusing right?”

You see, for simplicity sake coaches and athletes convince themselves that it is okay to cheat. It’s that simple! The athletes simply feel they are entitled, and the coaches cheat to gain or maintain a competitive edge. I was one of those athletes that thought it was okay to cheat. It never bothered me and I never thought I would get caught.

When it was time for me to move on to the Division I level the stakes were raised significantly. My junior college coach and I were approached by many Division I programs seeking my admission to their university. All of the offers were full of NCAA rule violations of course, and the one thing I was really interested in, there was only one school willing to grant my request.

I needed a package deal, “My junior college coach and I?” No, more like my high school sweetheart and I. Along with all of the other enticements I needed the university to pay my high school sweethearts’ tuition. Deal! Off we went to a university I will not name. I received a lump sum of money to attend the university, monthly payments, tuition paid for my high school sweetheart and other considerations that were against NCAA rules.

I am certainly not proud about the fact that my entire collegiate career has been tainted by cheating. I am the proud father of 4 incredible children and they are a big part of the reason I felt the need to come clean and hopefully discourage other athletes from giving in to the dishonest temptation of cheating. I am withholding specific information because enough damage has been done, and I do not want to further hurt the honest individuals I had the opportunity to compete with during the years of my dishonest conduct.

Sports and Cheating

What is happening to modern day sports? Why is it so easy for today’s athlete to deceive the fans and compromise his or her integrity by cheating? Whether it’s Football, Basketball, or Baseball, cheating has enlisted a level of participation from athletes that could rival the last mandatory military draft registration. High school, college, and professional athletes obviously feel that the only way to gain a competitive edge is through the use of performance enhancing drugs. The use of recreational drugs by athletes at all levels of competition has been prevalent for many years. Drugs and sports go together like hot dogs and mustard.


Sports cheats not only engage in the reckless and dishonest use of illegal steroids and other drugs. There are other mechanisms used to perpetrate the fraudulent acts that have become so common place. NCAA violations, recruiting violations, and point shaving have also contributed to the downfall of many high school, college, and professional athletes. Unfortunately, the irresponsible behavior of some professional sports athletes has fueled the destructive behavior of many college and high school athletes.


New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez was finally forced to admit his use of performance enhancing drugs. His excuse was, and I quote, "When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day." Duh! Sports are all about fun and pressure on any level. And let’s not forget about the circus surrounding the Barry Bonds perjury trial. Unfortunately it looks like the government has a weak case so Mr. Bonds may very well be able to carry on his charade for a bit longer.



Cheating will remain a very relevant part of the sports culture. As long as the athletes can justify the dishonest actions in their own minds, the cheating will continue regardless of the consequences. There has been very harsh punishment given to some pretty big names in sports recently, but that will not be enough of a deterrent for the athletes to cease the dishonest behavior.