‘The Big Lebowski’ has long been an all-time favorite movie for me, one of those cult classics full of subtle humor that only gets better each time you watch it.

Given the recent ‘outrage’ that has emerged in light of the report that the New England Patriots used underinflated footballs in their game against the Indianapolis Colts — which the Pats won 45-7, by the way — I’m reminded of a scene early in the movie highlighting John Goodman’s over-the-top character, Walter Sobchak.

The scene is a league game at the local bowling alley in which an ancillary character, Smokey, may or may not have crossed the line on the previous throw. The disagreement that ensues leads Walter to pull out a handgun from his bowling ball bag, point the gun in Smokey’s face and utter the ever-quotable line, “has the whole world gone crazy?! Am I the only one who gives a (bleep) about the rules?!”

Well, if Thursday’s press conference from New England quarterback Tom Brady was any indication, yes Walter, the whole world has gone crazy.

Look, I’m not saying the Patriots aren’t guilty of certain funny business but holy blow things out of proportion Batman.

What was the lead story on NBC Nightly News Thursday? Deflategate.

The BREAKING NEWS banner at the top of CNN.com — at least before Saudi Arabia’s king died? Deflategate.

And would you like to guess how many questions were asked during Brady’s press conference? Correct answer: 61. The thing went on for 30 minutes, even after the Patriots’ public relations representative tried to end it in the 18th.

“I wanted to give you guys the opportunity to ask questions if you want,” Brady said before the onslaught began.

Hah! Boy, did they ever. The problem was many were exactly the same just phrased slightly differently. Look, I’ll be the first to admit I’m far from the best interviewer and it’s easy to criticize from the comfort of my couch.

That being said, am I the only one who cringed more than a few times in the middle of questions from members of the media?

I’m not ready to say the Patriots are definitely guilt or definitely innocent — or definitely anything, for that matter, but I knew I was in for an excellent adventure in ‘journalism’ though after the very first question, “when and how did you supposedly doctor the balls?” The very first question! What do you expect him to say, that it was Professor Plum, in the library, with the candlestick?

Next up: “This has raised a lot of uncomfortable questions from people around this country who view you — a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP — as their idol. The question they’re asking themselves is what’s up with our hero? Can you answer right now, is Tom Brady a cheater?”

First off, I’ve got a big issue with those who throw words around like “idol” and “hero” at sports figures. You want to idolize someone? Idolize the single mother who works three jobs to provide her kids a better opportunity or those in public service (firefighters, armed forces, etc.) who put their lives on the line to help others.

And given the lead up to the actual question, it might have as well just read, “So you’re a cheater, right?”

That was the biggest thing I took away from Brady’s press conference — it didn’t matter what he said because in the court of public opinion he and the Patriots are already guilty.

Why else would you ask over and over again how could Brady have not known the footballs were about two pounds per square inch under 12.5 PSI? Like if you kept asking he was going to change his answer?

By far my favorite along that line of questioning was this little gem: “Should you have tried to find out why in the last three days why the balls were so underinflated? Obviously it’s important to you and the reputation of the Patriots, but have you tried to find out or should you have tried to find out why the balls were underinflated?”

You’re absolutely right, rather than spending his time with his kids, supermodel wife or practicing for the Super Bowl, Brady should have been out there trying to solve the mystery of the missing air. I’m sure he’ll get right on it, and after he’ll figure out what happened to the Lindbergh baby and who killed Nicole Brown Simpson.

No matter what the Patriots or NFL say the overwhelming stigma will be that they’re guilty of cheating and they very well could be, but either way you can thank social media for the premature verdict. The desire to have information immediately has made it a world in which what is right is not necessarily important, it’s what’s trending.

As of 7:30 p.m. Thursday #Deflategate was the top trend on Twitter with more than 123,000 tweets on the subject. The public has already decided — for better or (likely) worse — that the Patriots should be punished, despite little verified information being readily available.

I just hope the NFL levies a punishment fitting of the crime laid out in the rule book and not one overinflated by speculative popular opinion.

Until that ruling comes though, the public will continue to point their fingers at the Patriots and say, ‘that’s the bad guy.’

Brady, Belichick and the rest of the Patriots might as well get used to doing your best Tony Montana impression from here on out because this isn’t going away any time soon. From here on out even when they’re telling the truth, they’ll be lying.

So say goodnight to the bad guy.

Evan Crawley — 621-5640

ecrawley@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @Evan_Crawley

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