SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE:

In baseball and football, the news off the field is sometimes greater than on the field.

Roger Clemens’ denial of using illegal substances to enhance his career leads many people to doubt how he reached his achievements.

Since 1994, like other baseball players, he miraculously became a better player. Why?

The influence of performance-enhancing supplements by many ballplayers has caused us to wonder about the ethics baseball players face. What angers us even more are the players’ denials of using these substances.

More than 80 players stand accused — who are they, and how should they be punished? What did baseball’s leadership and trainers know about their use and when? There should be universal outrage.

From the bleachers to the halls of Congress, one question demands an answer: How did baseball allow itself to become a sport that promoted fairness, but created such competition that led so many to steal glory from past athletes?

The Patriots have a perfect season, losing not even one game. Wow. Yet in their first game against the New York Jets, they were caught cheating and should have forfeited. Instead, they were fined.

The reaction of Randy Moss, one of their best players, was and still is four months later, “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.” How do we explain cheating to kids, who idolize athletes?

When a college football coach cheated last year by illegally moving the football marker, he was dismissed.

According to Biblical Law, if there are two witnesses testify in the lands’ highest court that a crime was committed that person should then be punished.

I think that in Mr Clemens’ case that either the witnesses or Mr. Clemens should be convicted and fined or kicked out of baseball for perjury. Only this can give us closure.

Other players too must pay. This applies to Barry “Bail” Bonds, who already testified and is accused of perjuring himself.

As to the New England Patriots, even if they win the Super Bowl and become undefeated, ethically and morally they are the worst team.

MARC RUBENSTEIN is Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach’s rabbi.