FOOTBALL, DISCOUNTED TATOOS AND ROSE COLORED GLASSES

by

JC Sullivan

Five Ohio State football players have been suspended for five games next season for selling autographs, OSU sports paraphenalia, i.e., rings, uniform parts,etc. Feedback has been from two sides - the "So what, it's not like they were selling drugs or buying hookers" to "they have classes about NCAA rules yet they broke them."

If these college guys have been caught breaking the rules for money, what can we expect from them as players in the National Football League? That's big money, not sporting goods. Games and money can be won and lost.

The late Joseph J. "Sport" Sullivan was the guy who talked several 1919 Chicago "Black Sox" players into throwing the World Series. Ah, but then, I hear readers saying "Why, that can't happen today?" And didn't we recently see an NBA referee named Donaghy make calls to benefit one team over another?

Many professional fans today believe that some select NFL games are run by Las Vegas interests. This writer doesn't like to think it but, "It ain't true,is it, Joe?

Sullivan is an internationally-published writer residing in northeast Ohio.