While we view the looming potential constitutional crisis in Washington, let's not forget that professional sports are broadly involved in scandal. Not forget? Hell, we can't avoid it.
Major League Baseball seems positively embarrassed by Barry Bonds. He's about to break Hank Aaron's all-time home run mark, and only San Francisco Giants fans seem the least bit excited. MLB plans no commemoration if/when Bonds passes Aaron, and fandom has passed judgment on the BALCO-fueled superstar. Someone give him a t-shirt that reads "World's Biggest Asterisk" and be done with it.
The NFL has its own headache with Atlanta Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick, who has been indicted on federal dogfighting charges. With his reported involvement in both dogfights and the cruel execution of losing dogs, few people want to wait until his trial to kick him out of football.
Perhaps the worst scandal is just breaking with NBA referee Tim Donaghy accused of betting on games he officiated. The league's first point-shaving scandal, as the sports press is viewing it, has commissioner David Stern spinning like crazy, calling Donaghy a "rogue, isolated criminal" and hoping the NBA can ride out the storm. Stern has cause to worry, as Donaghy's Pete Rose moment, for which he is being investigated by the FBI, strikes at the very integrity of the game.
Speaking of integrity, don't get me started on the Tour De France, which is seeing doping scandals this year that make last year look like an expedition of Boy Scouts trying for their cycling merit badges.
Throw in NASCAR Nextel Cup crew chiefs that have been suspended for bending rules that got caught in inspections (is Dale Jr.'s chief Tony Eury back yet?) and you have a season of athletic cheating that makes it seem that the halls of Washington have integrity.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
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