Spike Lee On 'Deflate-Gate': 'Where There's Smoke, There's Fire'
PARK CITY, Utah (CBSNewYork/AP) — Spike Lee says that when it comes to the National Football League's "Deflate-gate," "where there's smoke, there's fire."
The filmmaker — a passionate New York sports fan — spoke out about allegations the New England Patriots deflated footballs to win the AFC Championship game last week and make it into the Super Bowl. He was visiting the Sundance Film Festival to promote his film "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus."
"I'm from New York, so you know that I don't like any team from Boston," Lee said. "Where there's smoke, there's fire, and they keep having a history of this behavior, and no one knows how 11 to 12 balls got deflated, and no one knows nothing."
Lee said he still has questions about "Spygate," in which New England videotaped the New York Jets' signals during a 2007 game. Coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, and the team was fined $250,000 and stripped of its 2008 first-round draft choice by the league.
Lee said he may attend the Super Bowl on Sunday in Arizona — and will be rooting for Russell Wilson's Seattle Seahawks.
"I was at the Super Bowl last year when Seattle destroyed the Broncos, and I hope it's more the same in Glendale, Arizona," he said.
Another high-profile New Yorker gave his two cents on the scandal earlier this week: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.
But de Blasio, a Patriots fan, backed his team: "I believe their story. And I'm obviously a fan, and I'm biased. And I really want them to win, and this obviously may be the last chance for Belichick and Brady to win."
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