I just want someone to be straight with me.  What is the sports world coming to?  I see that the Florida Gators have suspended linebacker Brandon Spikes for half of their upcoming game against Vanderbilt.  Did they say half of a game?  Are you serious?  Why not just tell the dude that he can’t have the pregame meal and just let him play?  I know all about the “you wouldn’t believe what goes on that the bottom of a football pile” theories, and I agree that it is no place for the faint of heart.  I’m not disagreeing with that.  My point is, you either suspend Spikes or you do not suspend Spikes.  If the Gator brass feels that no suspension is warranted because Spikes’ only crime was getting caught, then say so and move on.  Don’t give him a suspension for suspensions sake and make him sit for a half against a team that your third-string could beat.  Simply say that it was a “heat of the battle” mistake and tell your detractors to kiss your National Championship ass.  Just be straight with me.


I also saw where the University of Oregon is considering lifting the year-long suspension of running back LeGarrette Blount after he was given the hook for the entire season for delivering a sucker-punch to the chops of Boise State defensive end Byron Hout.  The Oregon staff cites Blount’s excellent behavior and his “I’ll be a good boy” attitude for the reasons behind his potential reinstatement.  I say hogwash!  There are no do-over’s in football…there is no time off for good behavior.  This isn’t the Federal Pen we are talking about here, it is the NCAA.  Blount socked a guy in his face on national TV and the team responded with a season-long suspension.  You don’t get to just decide that this guy has suffered enough because you are having a great year and wouldn’t a pre-season All-American be a nice addition down the stretch.  Just be straight with me.   


All of the talking heads were positive that Mike Vick would get at least a six game suspension before being allowed to participate in an NFL game again and they were foolish for wasting their breath.  Not only did he only get two games, but the sissy-ass, politically correct NFL made an official statement saying that Vick would be eligible to play in Game 3.  Why didn’t they call it what it was; a two game suspension?  They didn’t call it a two game suspension because the number three is bigger number than the number two and somewhere, somebody is dumb enough to see the number three and figure “at least he got half of what we thought he would”.  Somebody please be straight with me.   


Maybe I’m a little bit salty because most of my fantasy football teams are taking a collective dump this season and the only good thing I got going for me is some recent success in the RapidDraft USA Today Weekly Draft game, but this sugar-coating crap has just got to stop.  The NFL and the NCAA have the keys to the castle.  They hold our sports entertainment soul in the palm of their hand and there is nothing we can ever do to change that.  Make your lame rules adjustments, decide who plays and who sits, put who you want in your championship football games and I’ll watch it just like you want me to, just please be straight with me.