Pro Sports

Anyone that has known me over the years knows that I'm a sports junkie. I grew up about 10 minutes form Anaheim Stadium in Southern California. My mother would take me to baseball games a few times a year. I saw some guys play that you may have heard of, Nolan Ryan, Bobby Bonds, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson and too many others to mention. The doctor mom worked for had season tickets to the LA Rams. I know, I'm showing my age. The Rams had some decent guys too, Joe Namath, Merlin Olson, Jack Youngblood, Hacksaw Jim Reynolds and again the list goes on. Ah, wonderful times.

But over time, the shine started to come off. In the last few years there has been the steroid scandal in baseball and all the off field transgressions by football players. Between the both of them, I'm done with professional team sports. Yep, you read it right, I'm done with professional team sports. No more will I spend countless hours in front of the TV watching these children play their games. Never again will I spend $100 for my wife and I to go to a minor league baseball game here in Salt Lake City.

Let's go over some of the things that have made my decision for me. About seven or eight years ago a thug named Ray Lewis was attending an after super bowl party in Atlanta where two men were stabbed to death. Lewis was implicated, he was later allowed to plead to an obstruction charge and given probation. A few years later his team mate Jamal Lewis was indicted for brokering a cocaine deal while in college. He was allowed to plead the charge down and was told he could put off serving his sentence until after the season was over so he didn't miss any games. Unbelievable, a felon given preferential treatment so he could make his money instead of paying the penalty.

In more recent years it's been ilk like Adam "Pacman" Jones for trying to live his life like he's in a gangsta rap video, Chris Henry getting arrested every other day for DUI, Donte Stallworth killing someone while DUI, Steve McNair leading a sordid secret life that ultimately gets him killed by his mistress and to me the straw that broke the camel's back, allowing Michael Vick back into the game. Tonight is the final game of week four of the 2009 NFL season and I have not watched a single play.

Monday night, Brett Favre as a Viking playing against Green Bay and I'm not watching.

Baseball has been just as bad. How many "last chances" did Steve Howe get? If memory serves me right, seven. Seven death penalties overturned and he was allowed back in. All because he was a left handed reliever. His coke addiction finally got him killed in a car crash in Idaho or Wyoming.

The steroid issue to lengthy too type about here.

Today I see a story about Detroit Tiger's left fielder Miguel Cabrera has a run in with the police after being in physical altercation with his wife. Did I mention that it was about 6 AM and his breath alcohol was almost three times the legal limit? Can you believe it, a guy who just signed a seven year $140 Million contract acting this way? I do.

He is just another example of what is wrong with pro athletes. This idiot plays a game on Saturday night, goes on a bender and then gets in a fight with his wife while he's drunk out of his mind. His team was playing later that day and needed a win to ensure a place in the post season. I assume that was part of the reason the Tigers gave him so much money.

But what does he care? It's all about him, isn't it? If it's not, then it should be. Just ask him. Or any of the other spoiled brats making millions while the rest of the country struggles. I think the decent folks of Detroit should boycott the playoffs if the Tigers make it and the team doesn't suspend and eventually release Cabrera.

The advertisers will never get another moment of my time, nor a dime of my money.