Blame it on tabloid coverage, the ubiquity of drugs, or a shift in entitlement culture, but it seems that crime and sports are more linked these days than ever. Today’s headlines aren’t about players conspiring to throw a series, but about men and women charged with breaking some pretty serious laws and threatening the lives and livelihoods of everyone around them. The 10 infamous names on this list are just the tip, too. You think athletes would’ve learned by now that their job’s profile pretty much guarantees someone will see them doing dirt, but they never do.

1. O.J. Simpson: Far too famous not to make the cut, O.J. Simpson was mainly known as a pro football Hall of Famer and occasional actor (his credits include the Naked Gun series) before the 1994 murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, plunged him into pop culture infamy. Simpson was charged with the murders and opted not to turn himself in, instead leading law-enforcement officers on the most famous car-chase in history. The nine-month “trial of the century” ended in acquittal for Simpson, though in 1997 he was found liable for the pair’s wrongful death in a civil trial. Things got somehow worse in September of that year when he was popped for robbery with a group of men ripping off sports memorabilia in Las Vegas. He was convicted and sentenced to 33 years with a possibility of parole after nine. Right now, he’s behind bars in Nevada.
2. Pete Rose: “Charlie Hustle” is one of the most lauded baseball players ever, and still holds MLB records for hits, games played, outs, and at-bats. He’s got two Gold Gloves and three World Series rings, and he’s not in the Hall of Fame because he’s been permanently banned from baseball. He ended his playing career back with the Cincinnati Reds in 1986 but managed until 1989, when word began to get out that Rose had bet on games during his time as a player. He agreed to being banned but didn’t come clean until 2004 in his autobiography, My Prison Without Bars. He admitted to betting on Reds games but never against the Reds, drawing an arbitrary line in the sand to save some face. He’s made a few ignoble appearances at WWE events since, but he remains a controversial and criminal figure to baseball fans.
3. Michael Vick: Currently with the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Michael Vick spent six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before taking a detour to prison. After a few brushes with criminal elements throughout the early 2000s, including allegations of connections to illegal dogfighting rings, searches in spring 2007 as part of an investigation into his cousin Davon Boddie’s potential drug use led investigators to the discovery of dogfighting facilities on Vick’s property in Virginia. Vick and three others were hit with federal felony charges of operating a dogfighting ring. Vick copped a plea and admitted to financing the operation, profiting from it, and to being involved of the euphemistically phrased “destruction” of between six and eight dogs. He served 23 months and paid almost $1 million to an escrow fund used to care for dogs confiscated from the ring.
4. Maurice Clarett: Maurice Clarett started out as a promising running back at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes to a 14-0 season in 2002 and the BCS championship. After disciplinary issues led to a suspension from the school during his sophomore year, he sued the NFL in an attempt to challenge their rule that a player has to wait three years between leaving high school and entering the draft. He initially won, but the decision was overturned on appeal. He was selected the following year, 2005, by the Denver Broncos, but released before the season started after clashing with coaches. Out of football and with mounting personal problems and debt, he robbed a couple of people at gunpoint in front of an Ohio nightclub in January 2006. Shortly before a court date, he led cops on a high-speed chase that ended in a brawl. The cops also found weapons and liquor in his car. He went to prison for a while, but in August 2010 he signed with the United Football League’s Omaha Nighthawks.
5. Lawrence Taylor: Linebacker Lawrence Taylor was a celebrated member of the New York Giants, but his off-the-field exploits were enough to rival those of any other player willing to break the law. A frequent coke user, Taylor went to rehab twice in 1995 and was arrested twice during the next three years trying to buy coke from undercover officers. He was inducted to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1999, and in 2003 admitted in an interview to spending thousands a day on drugs and occasionally call girls while he was a player. In 2009 he was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, and in 2010 he was arrested again for allegedly sleeping with a 16-year-old girl in New York. He’s charged with statutory rape and third-degree patronization for offering the girl money. In July he pled not guilty; if convicted, he could do time and be registered for sex offender status.
6. Rae Carruth: Former wide receiver got a good start with the Carolina Panthers in 1997 before he got injured and missed most of his second season. This is pretty much where the wheels came off the wagon. In November 1999, Carruth’s girlfriend — eight months pregnant — was shot four times in a drive-by after Carruth stopped his car in front of hers, and she fell into a coma shortly after being admitted to the hospital. Doctors saved the baby, but the woman died a month after. Carruth, a suspect, posted bail but hit the road, and was eventually caught hiding out in Tennessee. He was foung guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and a couple other charges, earning himself a prison sentence of 18-24 years.
7. Mike Danton: Mike Danton played for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues in the 2000s before his career took a turn for the criminal. In 2004, he was arrested on the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, with authorities alleging that Danton had hired a hitman to kill his agent, David Frost. The hitman turned out to be a cop, and Danton pled guilty, though he’s recently stated that the target wasn’t Frost but Danton’s father, Steve Jefferson. Danton served just over five years in prison before earning parole, and he’s currently playing hockey in Canada for Saint Mary’s University.
8. Mike Tyson: Mike Tyson’s been making a bit of a cultural comeback recently — he’s a happily married vegan, and he showed up in The Hangover — but Iron Mike has some serious personal and criminal issues in his past. His marriage to Robin Givens ended after a year with charges of abuse and mental instability, and in 1991 he was arrested for the rape of Desiree Washington, the 18-year-old Miss Black Rhode Island. He was convicted and served three years. His 1996 comeback fight against Evander Holyfield was a loss, and in the rematch he bit off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear. In 2006 he was arrested again, this time for possessing cocaine and driving under the influence. His name remains one of the most villified in sports history.
9. Tonya Harding: Notorious for bringing a soap opera spin to the Olympics, Tonya Harding conspired with her ex-husband and a body guard to hire a thug to attack rival ice skater Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Kerrigan’s leg was bruised but not broken, allowing her to compete at that year’s Olympics, which is when the cover-up surfaced. Harding plead out and received probation, community service, and a fine, and she was also forced to leave the U.S. Figure Skating Association. Her pro career was pretty much shot, and her subsequent life was marred by a sex tape and repeated run-ins with the law. Now she’s just washed up.
10. Tommy Kane: A former wide receiver with the Seattle Seahawks, Kane eradicated any good memories of his years as a player in 2003 when he stabbed his wife to death after beating her in his own mother’s house. Kane had a history of drug use and depression, and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the gruesome crime.

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Amid the finalization of his divorce, his wife’s interview and his struggles on the golf course, Tiger Woods is still attempting to shake the karma that befell him after his lurid extracurricular activities were brought to light last November. Perhaps the most surprising details that came out during the scandal pertained to the girls he was seeing – none of whom seemed to have a fraction of the beauty and class of Elin Nordegren. The list below is a reminder that money and fame don’t always bring you the most dignified women. Here are Tiger Woods’ 10 most meretricious mistresses, or in other words, his least desirable lady friends.

1. Joslyn James
   The former porn star released the tawdry texts that she and Tiger exchanged during the course of their relationship. The messages indicated that she isn’t exactly an empowered woman, and that Tiger felt more comfortable (in a bad, less respectful way) around her than his other mistresses.
2. Holly Sampson
   Sampson is the second porn star with whom Tiger had trysts – one of which wasn’t so secret, occurring at his bachelor party after they first met. She’s also an escort, so it’s little surprise she’d be after a man of considerable wealth. The publicity figures to be good for her career, which used to consist of legitimate acting. During the ’90s, she most notably appeared in the television show “The Wonder Years” and the movie “Gia.”
3. Devon James
   Tiger’s third porn star mistress claims that he is the father of her nine-year-old son, Austin T. James, whose middle initial is a tribute to his supposed dad. But her mother, of all people, begs to differ, telling the press that her daughter is a “pathological liar” who is out for Tiger’s money. James’ paternity claim was dismissed in Florida, and she recently checked into rehab after an emotional breakdown.
4. Loredana Jolie
   Tiger allegedly became acquainted with Jolie through her pimp, Michelle Braun, and it apparently worked out – Braun said in January that Jolie was Tiger’s favorite call girl. Jolie’s other boss, Chris Kellund, said that “She wanted to be a star.” He’s the owner of a business that supplies strippers to private parties.
5. Mindy Lawton
   After the identification of Lawton as one of Tiger’s mistresses, people couldn’t help but question his taste in women. Although she wasn’t a porn star or prostitute, the homely waitress wasn’t exactly the model of class, as evidenced by the details of her relationship with Tiger. One meeting between the two supposedly resulted in the National Enquirer blackmailing Tiger by threatening to report the affair.
6. Jamie Jungers
   Jungers is a former Vegas lingerie model and cocktail waitress who allegedly used the thousands of dollars given to her by Tiger for a liposuction, which was intended to improve her “trashy” appearance. Apparently it worked – she’s slated to host a reality show with Jesse James’ mistress “Bombshell” McGee.
7. Jaimee Grubbs
   Before Grubbs became just one of Tiger’s mistresses, she was best known for being a girlfriend of a tool on VH1’s “Tool Academy.” Her penchant for tools has resulted in fame for the former cocktail waitress, as US Weekly supposedly paid her for a set of revealing photos.
8. Cori Rist
   Rist is a divorced mother of a seven-year-old who apparently found time to fly to whichever part of the country in which Tiger was located at his request. Regardless, she won a custody dispute against her ex-husband, who allegedly has wire transfers of money that Tiger gave to Rist.
9. Theresa Rogers
   By the time most women reach their 40s, they have well-established careers and healthy families of their own. But not Theresa Rogers. She’s the second woman to claim that Tiger fathered her child. She also says that Tiger negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement with her in order to keep it a secret.
10. Rachel Uchitel
    Uchitel had previously garnered attention as a face of 9/11 – photos of her holding a picture of her dead fiance after the attacks were published worldwide. Almost a decade later, she’s recognized as Tiger’s first identified mistress, and her reputation has taken more of a beating since it was revealed that she also had an affair with David Boreanaz.

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In today’s win-now, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of college football, firings are almost as common as recruiting violations committed by Lane Kiffin. In 2009-10, there were at least 10 coaches who were given the pink slip from their employers – Charlie Weis, Mike Leach and Jim Leavitt were the most notable – and an equally eventful late season and offseason could be in store for 2010-11. September college football discussions aren’t complete without a little speculation regarding who’s in the hot seat, so here are 10 coaches whose bums are burning.

1. Rich Rodriguez – Michigan
   Rich Rod’s stay in Ann Arbor has been a disaster thus far. He oversaw the worst season in program history, he has lost twice as many games as he has won, he has suffered two decisive losses to archrival Ohio State, and several of his former players have complained about mistreatment, leading to NCAA violations for failure to comply with practice time rules. It still remains to be seen whether or not his spread option offense can consistently work in the Big 10, and if it doesn’t take a giant leap forward in 2010, he’ll no longer have a hot seat on which to sit.
2. Dan Hawkins – Colorado
   Hawkins, who boasted 53-11 record at Boise State, inherited a program mired in controversy because of former coach Gary Barnett. And while the program has been run cleanly since his arrival, he hasn’t won very many games – his record at CU is just 16-33. If his team doesn’t show improvement in 2010, Hawkins will likely be shown the door. After all, “It’s Division I football! It’s the Big 12! It ain’t intramurals!”
3. Dennis Erickson – Arizona State
   Expectations were high when Erickson was hired by ASU in 2007, and he didn’t disappoint during his first season, winning 10 games and finishing tied for first place in the Pac-10. But losing records in each of the last two seasons have resulted in a new offensive coordinator and pressure on Erickson – a two-time national title winner – to win now.
4. Ron Zook – Illinois
   Zook’s passion and recruiting prowess gave Illinois fans hope for a resurrected program. But if you remove his one winning season in which the Illini reached the Rose Bowl, his remaining record is a lowly 12-35. No less than a bowl appearance is expected by fans this season, and it will be difficult to achieve as Zook breaks in a new quarterback.
5. Tom O’Brien – NC State
   The presence of a new athletic director can be an ominous sign for a struggling head coach. Debbie Yow may look to bring in her own guy if Tom O’Brien continues to perform below the expectations that have been bestowed upon him since he arrived from Boston College. He has produced three losing teams during his three seasons in Raleigh – one more than he had in eight seasons at BC. With the combination of a young team and a difficult schedule this season, O’Brien may end up fed to the wolves.
6. Ralph Friedgen – Maryland
   Like Hawkins, Friedgen likely has the poor economy to thank for saving his job. The Terrapins won just two games in 2009 – a far cry from Friedgen’s success in the early 2000s when he oversaw three consecutive double-digit win seasons and a trip to the Orange Bowl. Despite his respectable 66-46 career record and contract that runs through 2011, another season as poor as the last one could result in a buyout and the early promotion of his successor James Franklin.
7. Paul Wulff – Washington State
   The former Cougar offensive lineman has won just three games in his first two seasons as the head coach in Pullman. And although he inherited an already depleted team, Wazzu fans can’t help but feel restless as rival coach Steve Sarkisian rapidly improves the Huskies. Wulff may not need to produce a winning season in order to save his job, but the Cougars will need to become much more competitive – all 11 of their losses in 2009 were by at least 13 points.
8. Bill Lynch – Indiana
   Lynch will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Hoosiers fans because of the way he carried himself and the program after the death his predecessor Terry Hoeppner. In his first season at the helm, he led Indiana to its first bowl game since 1993. But bad luck befell the team during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, which were filled with injuries and blown leads. The goodwill he permanently built up in 2007 may be temporarily ignored in 2010 if the Hoosiers experience another eight or nine-loss season.
9. Tim Brewster – Minnesota
   Brewster could complete the superfecta of Big 10 firings if he doesn’t mold his team into a deserving tenant of the year-old $288.5 million TCF Bank Stadium. Patience is slim and the Minnesota Athletic Department and fans want to see an immediate return on their investments. During his first two seasons as the head coach, he oversaw an improvement from 1-11 to 7-6, but the team fell to 6-7 in year three. A weak defense is expected in 2010 and the Gophers are slated to face USC in addition to Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State.
10. Les Miles – LSU
    Miles hasn’t done much to change the idea that he “won with Saban’s players.” Since the 2007 national championship – which was achieved with key seniors who were Saban’s recruits – Miles’ Tigers have tallied a mediocre 8-8 SEC record. Evidence of a steady decline from atop the SEC and the emergence of Saban’s Tide have caused LSU fans to panic. Athletic director Joe Alleva even wrote a letter resembling a vote of confidence to fans after the 2009 season, promising the team would improve.

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No other American sport elicits the passion from its players and fans like college football. When you flip the channel to a network television station on a fall Saturday afternoon, you can’t help but become engulfed in the emotion of the game – one play can change the complexion of an entire season. Through the years, we have been provided with numerous tear-jerking, awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping moments. Here are 10 of the most notable.

1. The Play
   A list featuring jaw-dropping college football plays wouldn’t have credibility if it didn’t place “The Play” in the No. 1 spot. Cal radio play-by-play man Joe Starkey’s cry of “Oh, the band is out on the field!” is etched into our memories and no one has better summed up the feelings of the viewer: “the most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heartrending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of college football!”
2. Hail Flutie
   The ultimate underdog, 5-foot-9 Doug Flutie, cemented his Heisman status after he successfully floated a Hail Mary pass to receiver Gerard Phelan, securing a 47-45 win for Boston College over defending national champion Miami in the Orange Bowl. Often forgotten is the shootout that transpired between Flutie and Bernie Kosar of Miami, who passed for a school-record 447 yards.
3. Miracle in Michigan
   With just six seconds left in the game, Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart unleashed a 73-yard bomb that was tipped in front of the goal line by receiver Blake Anderson and caught by top receiver Michael Westbrook. The ensuing sprint down the field by Stewart and his teammates to celebrate in the endzone encapsulated the emotions of an entire fanbase, as the No. 7 Buffaloes defeated the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines 27-26.
4. The Flea Kicker
   Nebraska’s 1997 split national title wouldn’t have happened without the “Flea Kicker” play, in which Scott Frost’s pass was deflected in the endzone by a Missouri defender, kicked into the air by receiver Shevin Wiggins and caught just before it hit the ground by receiver Matt Davison as time expired. Missouri fans had to be cleared off of the field before the extra point was kicked to tie the game. The Huskers won in overtime 45-38.
5. Vince Young Scores
   As Vince Young took his long strides toward the endzone, the burnt orange half of the Rose Bowl turned to bedlam and the cardinal and gold half wilted in anguish. His game-winning and national championship-winning touchdown was a fitting end to a memorable game that featured two Heisman winners, the supposedly greatest team of all-time, an evaporated 12-point deficit and a fourth-and-two gamble that Trojans fans will never forget.
6. Bluegrass Miracle
   Before the end of regulation, Kentucky coach Guy Morriss had been doused in Gatorade, the Wildcats players were celebrating on the sideline and most of the student section of Commonwealth Stadium had gathered on the field. But the Tigers – like Boston College and Colorado before them – proved that “it ain’t over ’til it’s over.” Quarterback Marcus Randall’s Hail Mary attempt was tipped by receiver Michael Clayton into the hands of receiver Devery Henderson, who escaped a shoestring tackle and ran into the endzone in full celebrity mode. LSU won 33-30 after blowing a lead earlier in the game. The stunned reaction of the Kentucky students who prematurely stormed the field said it all.
7. Frazier’s Run
   So how many tackles can one man break? 1-2-8? Tommy Frazier broke about that many during the process of his 75-yard touchdown run against Florida in the ‘96 Fiesta Bowl. Even in the context of today’s college football, it’s hard to imagine an option quarterback wielding so much power, but that’s what defenders from Florida and the Big Eight had to endure during his remarkable career.
8. Statue of Liberty
   Boise State scored two for the little guy with its now famous Statue of Liberty play in the ‘07 Fiesta Bowl. The game featured two comebacks: Oklahoma scored 25 straight points to take a touchdown lead, and that was followed by a Boise State end of regulation hook-and-ladder play that sent the game into overtime. The Sooners scored a touchdown on their first possession, the Broncos responded with a touchdown of their own and then opted to go for two and the win. Not only was Ian Johnson the hero of the game, but as we all remember, he also received an enthusiastic “yes” response to his subsequent proposal to his girlfriend.
9. Miracle Bowl Hail Mary
   It was the culminating play in one of the most epic college football games of all-time. Jim McMahon’s Hail Mary pass from midfield propelled BYU to a hard-fought 46-45 victory in the Holiday Bowl, in which the Cougars were trailing 45-20. The comeback included a touchdown, an onside kick recovery, another touchdown, and a forced punt with 16 seconds remaining.
10. Prothro’s Catch
    On a scale of one to 10, this play earns a 10 for difficulty. Crimson Tide receiver Tyrone Prothro’s catch is regarded by many college football fans as the best catch ever. And although the game in which it occurred wasn’t quite as significant as the other games listed, the touchdown did help the Crimson Tide overcome a modest 11-point first-half deficit en route to a victory over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

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It’s that time of year when the stakes are high and football is king. Whether you want to impress your boss or avoid watching your girlfriend beat you when she chooses players according to jersey color, here are some tips that will help you win it all.

• Study last season’s top performersBefore you start drafting for this season’s fantasy football league, you’ll want to take a look at last year’s studs. There’s no guarantee that these players will be what they were last year, but it’s a great start. While the pre-season and projected stats are nice, last year’s performance can be an indicator of a player’s real fantasy value, but don’t let it be your only factor in choosing who to draft.
• Draft the best quarterback you canThe NFL is a quarterback-driven league. In fantasy football, an exceptional quarterback will score you the most points, and an elite quarterback on a good team is an extremely valuable and consistent prospect. If a great quarterback falls into your lap, draft him! You certainly won’t regret it when you watch the points come in.
• Draft consistent playersConsistency is the key to success in fantasy football. A player that racks up 30 points in a game against a weak team, but gets a goose egg against a good team is a player you want to avoid.
• Draft a dark horse playerIn fantasy football, particularly toward the end of the draft, upside is the key. Draft a younger player with potential over a veteran on the down slope of their career any day. Take Steve Slaton for example. His 2007-2008 season is just one of many examples of a player that was young and certainly not early round worthy, but turned out to have great upside and broke into fantasy stardom. Paying attention to a player’s college career can assist you in your quest to find your dark horse player, who falls under the radar of the more popular guys.
• Watch out for injuriesAs mundane as it may seem, the preseason can tell you a lot about the health of a player. Drafting a player that is nursing a nagging groin injury through preseason is risky. Pay attention to injuries and watch out for twisted ankles, hamstring or quad strains and other nagging injuries that can get a player on the field but prevent him from really living up to his potential.
• Look at a player’s entire career including collegeInstead of only looking at a player’s last season, take into account their entire career, number of injuries and their role in the offensive lineup. A player’s college career can say a lot about how they will be as a professional. On the same note, a player’s early professional career can say a lot about his upside potential, both in his prime and veteran years. Look at a player’s entire body of work and cut him some slack if he had to deal with a severe injury or an off-the-field issue.
• Watch out for bye weeksBye weeks are incredibly frustrating when you don’t plan appropriately. You can end up with both your starter and bench player having the same bye week, and this will inevitably lead to you giving up a player in a trade that you may not want to lose. Think about bye weeks when you draft, especially when you look at back ups.
• Take risksTrading hot players to improve your weak ones is something you’ll want to consider as the season progresses. This applies especially to late round difference makers and dark horse players.
• Look at the team and positional matchupsThis might be the most critical of all factors to consider in fantasy football. Don’t just look at records, look into the individual matchups and personal history of a player against a specific team. If you draft right, your upper end early round players should cancel out and the league can be won with dark horse players that are played at just the right time against just the right team. Match ups are critical for separating yourself from the pack and must be constantly monitored.
• Remember to have funFantasy football is definitely a competition but it’s also supposed to be fun. So, instead of throwing chairs when your player has a bad game or your team loses, have a beer and relax with your friends because that’s what watching football is all about.

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The BCS and controversy go together like maize and blue, scarlet and grey, crimson and cream or burnt orange and white. In most seasons since the system’s inception, there has been heated debate pertaining to which teams should compete in the BCS games, and more importantly, the national championship game. Unfortunately, only so many spots are available -two in the case of national championship game – so as parity continues in college football, more problems will arise akin to the several listed below. Here are the season-by-season BCS controversies from 1998 to 2010.

• 1998-99- K-State’s first exclusion
  

  Heading into the Big 12 Championship Game, No. 2 Kansas State was on a collision course for the inaugural BCS National Championship Game in Tempe, Arizona. Standing in the way of the Wildcats was Texas A&M, which was recovering from a narrow defeat at the hands of rival Texas. The Aggies would upset the Cats in the Big 12 Championship Game, mounting a comeback in regulation that led to Sir Parker’s game winning touchdown in the second overtime. After the defeat, the Wildcats fell to No. 3 in the BCS standings, and without the automatic BCS berth they would’ve earned had they beaten the Aggies, they were relegated to the Alamo Bowl. Two-loss Florida and No. 4 Ohio State received BCS invitations instead. The result of their exclusion was creation of the “Kansas State Rule,” which ensures the third or fourth ranked team in the BCS standings receives an invitation to play in a BCS bowl game.

  Also excluded from the BCS slate of games in ‘98 was undefeated Tulane, led by head coach Tommy Bowden, offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez and quarterback Shaun King. The Green Wave’s weak strength of schedule was cited as the reason it was left out, though it finished ranked No. 7 in the AP and Coaches’ polls.

• 1999-00 – K-State’s second exclusion
  

  A season later, K-State finished ranked two spots below the requirement established by the rule named in its honor, and Michigan received an at-large invitation from the Orange Bowl despite being ranked No. 8 – two spots below the Wildcats.

• 2000-01 – OU vs. who?
  

  By the end of the 2000 season, three one-loss teams appeared deserving of a shot at the national title, though Florida State was selected to face undefeated Oklahoma. The problem was that the Noles’ one loss came to rival Miami, which also had one loss and was No. 2 in the human polls. And which team was responsible for the Canes’ one loss? One-loss Washington. Both teams excluded from the national championship game won their bowl games, while FSU lost to Oklahoma 13-2. In order to make up for the omission, the BCS included a new “quality of win” bonus to the ranking process.

• 2001-02 – Nebraska backs in
  

  After suffering a crushing 62-36 defeat against Colorado, title-hungry Nebraska lost a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, shaking up the BCS standings. But not all was lost for the Huskers. Conference championship week produced a whirlwind of games in which title hopefuls Tennessee and Texas fell to lesser-ranked opponents. As a result, the Huskers were given a spot in the national championship game despite their No. 4 ranking in both human polls and lack of a conference title. The consensus among college football followers at the time was that Oregon, which was ranked No. 2 in both human polls, deserved to play Miami in the Rose Bowl. In the end, the Huskers lost to the Canes 37-14, and the Ducks soundly defeated the Buffaloes 38-16.

• 2002-03 – Rose Bowl East
  

  Miami and Ohio State – both undefeated – were the clear-cut choices for the national championship game in the Fiesta Bowl, depriving the Rose Bowl game of its usual Big 10 champion. The Orange Bowl was next in the pecking order, selecting Iowa. The Rose Bowl then chose Oklahoma with its first pick, allowing for the Orange Bowl to take Pac-10 co-champion USC, becoming the “Rose Bowl East.” The real Rose Bowl’s odd matchup between Pac-10 co-champion Washington State and OU resulted in the game’s lowest attendance in almost 60 years.

• 2003-04 – Three’s company
  

  Oklahoma stayed atop the polls all season long, and its string of blowout victories caused writers, pundits and fans to speculate about its place in college football lore. But the Sooners’ wheels abruptly fell off during the Big 12 Championship Game in which they lost to K-State by four touchdowns. Despite the upset, OU remained No. 1 in the BCS rankings and dropped to No. 3 in the human polls, while one-loss USC became No. 1 in the human polls and No. 3 in the BCS rankings. In the middle was LSU, which was No. 2 in the human polls and BCS rankings. The Tigers earned the BCS championship with a 21-14 victory over the Sooners in the Sugar Bowl, and USC captured the AP title after defeating Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl. The coaches who previously voted USC No. 1 in the coaches’ poll were contractually obligated to change their votes to the BCS winner, and all but three complied.

  Because Oklahoma didn’t win its conference championship, most college football followers believed it didn’t deserve to play for the championship and the true champion wasn’t determined because LSU and USC never faced off. Then-Gateway CEO Ted Waitt attempted to come up with a solution, offering LSU and USC $30 million in scholarship money to play each other in late January, but the NCAA quickly asserted that neither school could accept such an offer.

• 2004-05 – No-losses, no title shot
  

  Until a controversy of even greater magnitude, Auburn will remain the poster child for teams screwed over by the BCS. The Tigers went undefeated in the SEC, becoming the third of four teams to accomplish the feat in the last 20 years. Their strength of schedule was strong, they won all but two games by double-digits, their scoring defense ranked first in the nation and their scoring offense ranked in the top-20. Despite the impressive resume, Auburn was excluded from the national championship game, as USC and Oklahoma were regarded as the top two teams in the country. But the national championship game failed to live up to the hype – USC pounded OU 55-19, leaving college football fans wondering if Auburn would have given the Trojans a better fight.

  In addition to Auburn, Utah finished the season undefeated with a win over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl, earning recognition as the original “BCS Buster.” Boise State entered its bowl game undefeated, but the Broncos didn’t receive a BCS invite and lost to Louisville in the Liberty Bowl. More controversy surrounded the Rose Bowl when Texas was selected to compete in the game after jumping California in the polls. The Horns’ rise in the rankings was attributed to the public lobbying of head coach Mack Brown, who wanted his team to earn an at-large bid. Because of the Texas situation, the AP ended its relationship with the BCS.

• 2005-06 – Everything’s rosy
  

  The 2005 season was surprisingly devoid of controversy. The slate of BCS games were entertaining, especially the national championship game at the Rose Bowl between Texas and USC – perhaps the greatest college football game of all-time.

• 2006-07 – OSU vs. who?
  

  Ohio State started the season ranked No. 1 in the country and entered the national championship game in the same position and undefeated after an epic 42-39 victory over rival Michigan. The possibility of a rematch between the Big 10 foes existed, because Michigan was one of five one-loss teams at the end of the season -Florida, Wisconsin, Louisville and Boise State were the others. Louisville and Boise State weren’t seriously considered because of their weak schedules, and Wisconsin was eliminated because it lost to Michigan; Florida was the only other legitimate choice. The Gators were tied with the Wolverines in the computer rankings, giving the voters final say in the matter. Most didn’t want to see a rematch, so Florida was voted second. This time, the voters seemed to make the right decision. The Gators routed the Buckeyes 41-14 and Michigan lost to USC 32-18 in the Rose Bowl.

  Florida received all but one first place vote, which went to undefeated Boise State after it scored one for the little guys with its dramatic upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. The victory sparked debate about whether or not the Broncos deserved real consideration for the title. Some college football followers felt one-loss Wisconsin and one-loss Louisville deserved shots as well.

• 2007-08 – Upsets galore
  

  The 2007 season was abounding with upsets, and come early December nothing was clear. The madness began the day after Thanksgiving, when LSU lost to Arkansas in triple-overtime – the Tigers’ second triple-overtime loss of the season as the No. 1-ranked team. Missouri assumed the No. 1 position after defeating No. 4 Kansas, but lost 38-17 to OU in the Big 12 Championship Game a week later. The same day, No. 2 West Virginia fell to lowly Pittsburgh at home in the Backyard Brawl, and LSU defeated Tennessee in the SEC Championship Game.

  Having finished its season two weeks earlier, Ohio State jumped from No. 5 to No. 1 in the BCS standings as the only one-loss team. LSU jumped from No. 7 to No. 2, passing two-loss Georgia and two-loss Virginia Tech. The Bulldogs were denied a shot at the title because they failed to win the Eastern Division of the SEC, and the Hokies failed to earn a shot because they were blown out by LSU 48-7 early in the season. Some college football followers believed one-loss Kansas, two-loss USC and undefeated Hawaii deserved to compete for the title as well, though Hawaii was shellacked by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. But LSU proved its worth by defeating Ohio State 38-24, becoming the first two-loss BCS champion.

• 2008-09 – The tiebreaker
  

  The Big 12 South was a confused mess before the conference’s championship game. At the top of the division were three one-loss teams – Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Texas defeated Oklahoma in a shootout in Dallas early in the season. Texas Tech beat Texas on a last-second touchdown pass from Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree. And then Oklahoma routed Texas Tech 65-21, muddying the waters completely. A tiebreaker was to determine which team would represent the division in the Big 12 Championship Game and thus have a shot at the national championship. Because each team had one conference loss, their positions in the BCS standings were used as the next tiebreaker. The Sooners received a better ranking because of their superior strength of schedule, enraging Longhorns fans who watched UT beat OU several weeks earlier. Oklahoma lost to Florida 24-14 in the BCS Championship Game and Texas narrowly defeated Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

  There were two undefeated teams before bowl season that didn’t receive BCS title game consideration – Utah and Boise State. Because the runners-up of the BCS conferences possessed impressive resumes, only one non-BCS school would be invited to play in a BCS game. Utah was selected because of its higher ranking, and the Utes stunned Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl, lending credence to the belief they deserved a shot at the title. Boise State lost to TCU 17-16 in the Poinsettia Bowl. During the offseason, Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson proposed an eight-team playoff as a solution, but it was rejected by the BCS presidents.

• 2009-10 – No losses, still no title shot
  

  Although it was clear that undefeated Alabama and undefeated Texas would meet in the national championship game, there was still a stink in the air due to the exclusion of the three other undefeated teams from competing for the title – Boise State, TCU and Cincinnati. The main gripe was that Texas benefitted from playing in a weakened Big 12, and the Horns struggled to defeat the more difficult teams on their schedule, including an undermanned Sooners squad and the Huskers in the Big 12 Championship Game. The three other undefeated teams played in what were deemed inferior conferences, but Cincinnati belonged to a BCS conference, the Big East, and TCU defeated Oregon State, Clemson and Virginia in its non-conference schedule.

  More outrage occurred when TCU and Boise State were matched up in the Fiesta Bowl, denying them the chance to compete and prove their worth against traditional BCS powers. The 2010 bowl season concluded with the Broncos defeating the Horned Frogs 17-10, the Gators chomping the Bearcats 51-24 in the Sugar Bowl and the Crimson Tide rolling the Colt McCoy-less Horns 37-21 in the BCS National Championship Game.

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The BCS has punted college football into a new stratosphere of popularity. It has been an excellent facilitator of debate, attracting fans who previously may not have paid attention to the sport. In almost every season of its existence, multiple teams have been excluded from a shot at the national title or a slot in a BCS game. Despite the fact that it’s widely regarded as a superior system of determining a champion compared to the previous systems , it’s far from perfect – below are 10 flaws in the BCS system.

1. Influence of money

   The BCS remains alive and well thanks to its new television contract with ESPN. In the fall of 2008, an agreement was reached in which ESPN will pay $125 million annually through January of 2014 to broadcast the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls, and the BCS Championship Game – the network already had the rights to the Rose Bowl. During the reign of the BCS system, the major conferences have received hundreds of millions of dollars in television contracts to broadcast regular season games from ESPN, CBS and Fox Sports.

   After the completion of the 2010 college football season, the BCS distributed $142.5 million of revenue from its five bowl games to the 12 conferences and independents in the FBS, according to the Sports Business Journal. The BCS conferences received $115.2 million of the total, and the payouts will be even higher during the first year of the ESPN deal. As long as the BCS continues to distribute large quantities of revenue to the conferences, it won’t be a priority for the university presidents to scrap the system and implement a playoff. Fairness takes a spot way below money on their list of priorities.

2. Power of the Rose Bowl

   “The Granddaddy of Them All” has interest in promoting the long-term survival of the BCS. The Big 10 and Pac 10 conference are contractually obligated to send their champions to the Rose Bowl unless those teams are competing in the BCS championship game. The Rose Bowl is opposed to a playoff because the New Year’s Day game currently generates more money than any other bowl game, so the Pac 10 and Big 10 commissioners are in no hurry to explore the viability of a playoff. Both conferences feature brand name programs that are crucial to the success of college football, and the powers that be want to keep them happy.

3. Favoritism toward Notre Dame

   Notre Dame has finished in the top 10 in one poll since 1993 and hasn’t won a national championship in more than 20 years. Because of its recent struggles, many college football fans have deemed the Fighting Irish as irrelevant, though the four BCS bowl directors seem to disagree. An aura of prestige still exists around the storied program, and TV ratings and tickets sales still spike when Notre Dame is the showcase. So when the Fighting Irish are ranked between ninth and 14th at the end of the football season – they automatically qualify when they’re ranked in the top eight – it’s assumed they’ll receive a spot in a BCS game, regardless of their weak schedule, lack of significant wins, and the presence of more deserving teams.

4. Overreliance on tradition

   More so than any other American sport excluding baseball, tradition has a great influence on how things operate in college football. Admittedly, it’s a big reason why most of us watch it week-to-week. Rivalries like Alabama-Auburn and Texas-Oklahoma feature longstanding histories and student-athletes who’ve faced off since high school. It’s still an honor to compete in the prestigious Rose, Orange and Sugar Bowls, even though a national championship isn’t on the line. For those reasons, people are opposed to change. They think the importance of regular season games will diminish, the bowls will die and rivalries will become less important.

   However, most proponents of a playoff system advocate only limited change that would preserve tradition. A four-to-eight team playoff would ensure regular season games remain important – one loss could affect your ability to make the playoffs or earn a favorable seed. The conferences would remain in use and rivalry games would still determine who competes for a national title – the upset would not die. The playoffs could be played at the four major bowl sites, and the teams that don’t make the playoffs can finish their seasons competing in the already established bowl games. In the end, fairness would take priority over staunch traditionalism because it’s what’s best for the sport.

5. Coaches have a say in the rankings

   The coaches’ poll may be the most absurd component of the BCS rankings, and that was proven by LSU head coach Les Miles’ comments during the 2009 season. During a press conference, he let it slip that he couldn’t tell which teams were the best each week because he didn’t have time to watch them play. This was hardly news to anyone who closely follows college football, but it did broach a topic that needed to be discussed. Why are coaches given say in the rankings when they don’t have time to watch the games? It isn’t the USA Today Football Support Staff and Sports Information Directors’ Poll. And when the coaches do vote, how many put aside their biases? Their votes directly affect their own teams, conferences, buddies and rivals.

6. Use of computer polls

   The people who created the algorithms used by the six computer polls don’t seem to know whether they want to determine which teams are consistently the best during the course of a season, or which teams are the best at the moment. Should a Virginia Tech team that’s undefeated with an unimpressive average margin of victory be ranked first, or should a one-loss Florida team that has beaten its last four opponents by three touchdowns be ranked first? Should margin of victory be ignored? Is a 48-7 win over a top 25 team equal to a 17-14 win over a top 25 team? Ultimately, the computers are at the mercy of their programmers. When the computer rankings differ from the human rankings, the humans change the method used by the computers to better reflect what the humans are thinking, defeating the purpose of having an objective computer rating process.

   The computers’ biggest flaw is their lack of common sense. During the 2009 season, Boise State convincingly defeated Oregon in week one by the score of 19-8 in a nationally televised game. But the average BCS computer rankings still slotted Oregon higher during weeks two and three of the BCS standings, even though Boise State had yet to lose. Can you objectively say that Oregon was better after it was settled on the field?

7. It matters where you start

   Teams with weaker rankings to start the season inherently receive less respect than the teams that begin with better rankings. Remember, coaches – or their staffers and sports information directors – who vote in the preseason coaches’ poll have little evidence on which to base their rankings. In most cases, perceived talent, prestige and previous years’ performances are taken into consideration. Even though most human voters acknowledge the worthlessness of preseason polls, the original rankings still seem to carry weight during the course of the season. So an undefeated team in November that began the season ranked outside of the top 25 will have a difficult time supplanting another undefeated team that began the season ranked inside of the top 10. This ultimately affects BCS positioning.

8. If you aren’t in a BCS conference, it’s almost impossible to win it all

   The BCS system engages in iniquity, favoring teams from the BCS conferences while keeping down the little guy from the MAC, WAC, WCC, C-USA and Sun Belt. Until there’s a playoff, Boise State may never get a shot at proving it’s the best team in the country, even though it recently joined a marginally better conference than the WAC – the MWC. A resume that includes wins over teams like UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado State isn’t impressive to the voters or computers. And if it’s true that no major teams want to schedule the Broncos, how are they supposed to enhance their resume and prove their worth during the season? Teams in BCS conferences have little incentive to play Boise State or other non-BCS powerhouses because they don’t want to commit to a home-and-home deal and sacrifice the money they would make with an extra home game. Plus, a loss to Boise State could dash their national title hopes.

   Additionally, because Boise State lacks the all-around athletic program, academic prowess and an attractive market that BCS schools possess, it likely won’t be invited to join a BCS conference any time soon. Why should the football program be penalized because other aspects of the school aren’t up to par? Its best shot at making the national championship game in the coming years would be for the MWC to become a BCS conference. Similarly, TCU – another non-BCS power – isn’t seen as a must-have school for BCS conferences, even the Big 12. Their best hope to win a national title would be through participation in a playoff system.

9. It’s not settled on the field

   Not only are non-BCS programs like Boise State, TCU and Utah – now transitioning to become a BCS program – not afforded the opportunities to compete for a national title, but several BCS powers have also been denied their rightful shot at an undisputed title through the years. In 2000, one-loss Miami defeated rival Florida State during the regular season, but it was FSU that got the shot at the national title in the Orange Bowl. Washington also had one loss that year, and it proved its worth by defeating Miami during the regular season. In 2003, Oklahoma played for the national championship despite losing its conference championship game by four touchdowns. The result was a split championship for LSU and USC – the two teams that should’ve played in the Sugar Bowl. In 2004, undefeated SEC power Auburn and undefeated Utah weren’t given the chance to play for the title, and USC and Oklahoma – which suffered a blowout – matched up instead.

   In almost every year the BCS has been in existence, at least one team has cried foul as they were excluded from a shot at the national title. Although the decision to leave them out in some instances was more clear-cut than others, doubt usually lingered. Opponents of a playoff system argue that the selection process would be controversial as well, and there’s truth to that claim. However, controversy related to which team should be the last admitted into an eight-team playoff is better than controversy related to which team deserves to compete in a single national championship game. In other words, the margin for error is far greater with a playoff system.

10. It’s still just a mythical national championship

    Because the championship isn’t purely determined on the field, the college football national champion is still dubbed a “mythical” champion by many fans. The NCAA doesn’t officially recognize the champion each year -the national championship game is a non-sanctioned event, unlike the FCS playoffs. If the sport weren’t so ingrained into our nation’s sports culture, it wouldn’t be taken seriously. But we keep watching and the television networks continue to supply the BCS with money, so don’t expect an upheaval of the college football landscape any time soon.

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Suspensions are commonplace in professional sports. What makes suspensions controversial is the type and length of punishment per violation. Some athletes receive a slap on the wrist and miss a couple games, while others are slapped with huge fines and are banned all season. Nevertheless, suspensions will always be criticized for their severity, or lack thereof, and causing unfair advantages and disadvantages in the game. Here are the 10 most controversial sports suspensions:

1. Leonard Little
   St. Louis Rams linebacker Leonard Little faced a controversial suspension for his 1998 drunk driving accident that killed another motorist, Susan Gutweiler, in St. Louis. Little’s blood alcohol level measured more than twice the legal limit in the state of Missouri. The NFL suspended Little for 8 games during the 1999 season, and he was put on paid leave by the Rams. After pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, Little served 90 days in jail, four years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service. When he returned to the NFL, Little was banned from playing in the first eight-regular season games, costing him about $125,000.



2. Michael Vick
   Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was found guilty for running an illegal dogfighting ring at one of his properties in Virginia in 2007. He was charged with competitive dogfighting and conducting the venture across state lines, for which he served 23 months in prison. Vick was suspended indefinitely from the NFL without pay in 2007. After he was released from prison, Vick returned to the NFL in September 2009, with a shortened two-game suspension.



3. Ron Artest
   Ron Artest was involved in one of the biggest basketball brawls that won him the longest non-drug or betting related suspension in NBA history. During a 2004 Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game, Artest, who was playing for the Pacers at the time, fouled Pistons center Ben Wallace, which led to arguing and shoving Artest. Artest walked over to the sideline and laid down on the scorer’s table, when a Pistons fan threw and hit Artest with a cup of soda. He jumped into the seats and confronted the wrong man, causing a brawl between fans. Artest punched Pistons fan A.J. Shackleford, who he says was taunting him. Artest was suspended from the NBA for the remainder of the season, missing approximately 73 games and playoff games, which cost him about $7 million in lost salary earnings.



4. Todd Bertuzzi
   During a 2004 NHL game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Colorado Avalanche, Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi sucker punched his opponent Steve Moore in the head, leaving him with a broken neck, a severe concussion and other serious injuries. Bertuzzi hit Moore as retaliation for hitting his teammate, Markus Näslund, in a previous game. He pleaded guilty to criminal assault in a Vancouver court, and was given a conditional discharge, one year of probation and 80 hours of community service. Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely from the NHL for 17 months, as well as banned from playing in any European league, the World Cup of Hockey and two world championships.



5. Latrell Sprewell
   Former Golden State Warriors guard Latrell Sprewell was suspended for assaulting his head coach, P.J. Carlesimo, during a team practice in 1997. Unnerved by his coach’s criticism and yelling, Sprewell and Carlesimo had a verbal altercation, in which he threatened to kill his coach, and later dragged Carlesimo to the ground and began choking him until teammates pulled him off. Following the incident, Sprewell was suspended from the league for 68 games, and his $32 million contract with the Warriors was terminated.



6. Ben Roethlisberger
   Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old student at a Georgia college town nightclub in March 2010. Roethlisberger denied such claims and will not be charged after prosecutors decided to drop the charges against Roethlisberger. However, the league suspended Roethlisberger for six games without pay for the 2010-2011 season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He is the first player to be suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the conduct policy without being arrested or charged with a crime.



7. Manny Ramirez
   Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and all-star slugger Manny Ramirez surprised baseball fans and players when he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs during the 2003 survey testing. In 2009, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for violating the MLB’s performance enhancing drug policy, in which tests showed he had artificial testosterone in his body. Ramirez used a female fertility drug, called human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, which is commonly used by steroid users as they finish a steroid cycle and need to reboot their natural testosterone production. Ramirez claimed that his physician prescribed him a medication for a personal health problem, and was unaware the medication was banned under the MLB’s drug policy.



8. Sean Avery
   Former Dallas Stars left winger Sean Avery made headlines in 2008 for a crude comment about his ex-girlfriends dating other hockey players. The ever-controversial hockey player was suspended for six games by the NHL for his erratic behavior and detrimental comments. It also proved to be the last straw for the Stars organization, which announced that Avery would not return to the team after his suspension. In order to return to the league, Avery was required to participate in an anger management evaluation.



9. Rafael Palmeiro
   Former MLB player Rafael Palmeiro had one of the biggest suspensions for testing positive for steroids. Known for his career leading hits, including his record 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, Palmeiro was likely to make it into the Hall of Fame. But, in 2005, Palmeiro tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, and later testified at a Congressional hearing that he never used steroids. Palmeiro was suspended for 10 days following his positive test results.



10. Donte’ Stallworth
    Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth was driving drunk when he struck and killed a pedestrian, Mario Reyes, in Miami in 2009. Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter in June 2009, and two days later he was suspended from the NFL for the entire 2009 season without pay. Stallworth served 24 days of his 30-day jail sentence, reached an undisclosed financial agreement with the Reyes’ family, and continues to serve his two years of house arrest, eight years of probation and other restrictions.

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Jerry Maguire (1996) told the story of fictional sports agent, Jerry Maguire, who is fired after expressing his moral epiphany of focusing more on the athletes’ needs and less on the money. Maguire loses all of his clients except one prima donna football player, Rod Tidwell. This independent sports agent changes the face of the occupation by adding heart, laughter and professionalism that makes his one client a superstar. Here are 10 tips on being a sports agent from the acclaimed Jerry Maguire.

1. “Fewer clients. Less money.”

   Maguire is saying that having the most clients and making the most money should not be the driving force of sports agents. Although Maguire is fired for his outspoken philosophy, he ends up winning in the long run for his unwavering dedication and loyalty to his only client, Rod Tidwell. Like Maguire says, with fewer clients and less focus on money, sports agents can better care for their clients, make them more successful and truly meet their individual needs.

2. “But if anybody else wants to come with me, this moment will be the ground floor of something real and fun and inspiring and true in this godforsaken business and we will do it together! Who’s coming with me besides…”Flipper” here?

   During a dramatic exit after being fired, Maguire offers his coworkers the opportunity to follow him as an independent sports agent. Although Dorothy Boyd is the only one that comes with him, Maguire is free to do as he pleases and his independence is what ultimately makes him successful. His ability to take a bad situation and turn it into a positive one is a talent all sports agents could learn from.

3. “Have you ever gotten the feeling that you aren’t completely embarrassed yet, but you glimpse tomorrow’s embarrassment?”

   Maguire is saying that he can foresee embarrassment, which later proves to make him a humble, successful sports agent. Maguire’s humility can be seen in the way he handles embarrassment and learns from his mistakes. Like Maguire, sports agents will make bad decisions from time to time, but it’s your attitude and the way you fix these mistakes that turns negative situations into positive ones.

4. “Help me… help you. Help me, help you.”

   Maguire is telling Tidwell that in order to meet his needs, they are going to have to help each other. In order to succeed and get what they want, athletes have to be open and communicative with their sports agents. Like Maguire says, communicating and helping each other is the only way the sports agent-athlete relationship will ever work.

5. “Shut up. Play the game, play it from your heart. And you know what? I will show you the quan.”

   Maguire tries to humble Tidwell by telling him to shut up and stop complaining if he wants to start earning the big bucks. Maguire says he has to put his comments aside and play football from the heart, in order to make millions and earn the public’s respect, or as Tidwell calls it, “the quan.” Like Maguire, sports agents should reiterate the importance of playing sports for the love of the game and to inspire people, first and foremost. When they accomplish this, the money will follow.

6. “I’m not trying to make history here.”

   Maguire is saying that it’s not about being famous, but rather doing the right thing and fulfilling his duties as a sports agent. Like Maguire says, it’s about the heart of the sport and the needs of the players first. In keeping with the selflessness of the job, sports agents should also put their aspirations of being famous or praised aside, because their wishes should come second to their clients’ wishes.

7. “Show me the money! Show me the money!”

   “Show me the money” means exactly that. When it comes to professional sports, even agents sometimes need to be reminded that performing on the field is only half of the story. While hustle and dedication are nice buzz words, the one word an athlete responds to the most is often “money”. Therefore, making the right deals and shaking the right hands is the single most important duty of a sports agent.

8. “We live in a cynical world. A cynical world. And we work in a business of tough competitors. I love you. You… complete me.”

   Maguire’s profession of love to Dorothy shows that the only way to truly be happy and feel whole is to be with the one you love. The stressful, pessimistic work of sports agents can beat you down, but as Maguire shows, there is always room for love.

9. “I will not rest until I have you holding a Coke, wearing your own shoe, playing a Sega game — featuring you, while singing your own song in a new commercial — starring you, broadcast during the Super Bowl, in a game that you are winning, and I will not sleep until that happens. I’ll give you fifteen minutes to call me back.”

   Maguire is saying that he isn’t going to sleep until his client is a mega football star, whose name and face can be seen and heard everywhere. This statement exemplifies the kind of dedication and goals all sports agents should have.

10. “I am out here for you. You don’t know what it’s like to be ME out here for YOU. It is an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about, ok?”

    Maguire is telling Tidwell what it’s like to devote all of his time and energy to make sure his needs are met. Sports agents must be dedicated and selfless in order for their players to be taken care of and receive the best deals, as well as secure their clientele.

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Cleaning up the mess from an athlete’s crime is no easy feat for a sports agent. Agents try to do everything they can to preserve the character and dignity of a player who has broken the law, but sometimes there isn’t enough good PR to mask their mistakes. Here are 10 public relations nightmares that will haunt sports agents for years to come.

1. Manslaughter
   Manslaughter, intentional or not, is generally the worst charge to have on your record and is most often a career ender. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth knows all too well about this. On March 14, 2009, Stallworth was drunk driving when he struck and killed a pedestrian, Mario Reyes, in Miami. Stallworth would have been looking at 15 years in prison for his convicted DUI manslaughter, but his plea agreement reduced the majority of his jail time to a controversial 30-day sentencing. Despite the shortened jail term, Stallworth must serve two years house arrest, eight years on probation, a lifetime suspension from holding a driver’s license, as well as a major blow to his career. Stallworth was suspended indefinitely from the NFL in June 2009. When a life has been taken, there is little that can be done from a public relations standpoint to promote a player charged with manslaughter.



2. DUI
   The letters “DUI” seem to follow athletes’ names every time you read the news. Professional athletes from all sports have run into problems for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In a recent case, Miami Heat forward Dorell Wright was pulled over while driving “erratically” and arrested in Miami Beach for a driving under the influence of alcohol. When Miami police approached Wright’s car, they noticed his eyes were red and watery, his speech was slurred and they smelled alcohol on his breath. Things worsened when Wright refused to perform field sobriety tests, as requested by the officer, and when he could not provide proof of current insurance and was driving with a suspended license. He was booked and released after posting his $2,000 bail, in addition to receiving a two-game suspension by his team. When athletes drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they are putting themselves and the public in danger. In addition to the risk of physical harm, this type of conduct also harms the team because of suspensions and possible team losses — a surefire way to lose fans’ support.



3. Drug Possession
   Another common offense among professional athletes is drug possession charges. One devastating case involving drugs was former Denver Broncos running back, Travis Henry, who was sentenced to three years in federal prison for financing a drug trafficking operation that moved cocaine from Denver to Billings, Montana. One week after he was released from the Broncos for a lack of commitment, reports found that Henry had tested positive for marijuana, which was his third offense that got him a one-year suspension from the league and was followed by his trafficking charge. By violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, as well as his other offenses, Henry was suspended from the league. From a sports agent’s standpoint, there is little than can be done to clean-up the damage from drug usage and related charges, especially when the player continues to violate the policies of the league.



4. Steroid Usage
   Many major league baseball players’ reputations have been tarnished by their illegal use of performance enhancement drugs. A very public case about steroid usage occurred in February 2009, when Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez admitted to using two banned drugs from 2001 to 2003 while playing with the Texas Rangers. During those three seasons, Rodriguez had the most homeruns in the American League and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award. During the early 2000s, steroid tests, like the one A-Rod took, were only used to determine the extent of steroid use in baseball. It wasn’t until 2004 when testing with penalties started. While Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and other big leaguers, who tested positive for steroids, have not been so lucky, Rodriguez came clean in a controlled interview with ESPN. Coming forth about using steroids when penalties weren’t in place, may give him a pass in his current baseball career, but Rodriguez and other players in the same boat still face major scrutiny, loss of support and tarnished reputations. In addition, Rodriguez may have lost his chance to be in the MLB Hall of Fame, a loss that will forever overshadow those who cheat in baseball.



5. Sexual Assault
   Cases of sexual assault seem to be common ground among professional athletes today. And in some player’s situations, it happens more than once. Most recently, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of sexual misconduct with a 20-year-old student at a Georgia college town nightclub. This case has surfaced during the same time Roethlisberger awaits a lawsuit that was filed in July by a woman who says he raped her at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino in 2008. Roethlisberger denies such claims and has not been criminally charged in either case. Because of the newness of this case, investigation is still underway. Nearly all cases of sexual assault, whether convicted or not, have a negative impact on players’ reputations, careers, endorsement deals and support from fans.



6. Domestic Violence
   Domestic violence cases, involving athletes who abuse their spouses or girlfriends, seem to make the headlines more and more. In 2008, a videotape was released that showed San Diego Padres outfielder Brian Giles allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cheri Olvera, in an Arizona bar in 2006. Olvera filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against Giles for seven years of repeated abuse, including battering and an alleged throw that caused her to miscarriage his unborn baby, as well as a financial agreement that the couple had in the event of their breakup. Giles was ordered to attend anger-management and domestic-abuse classes. Giles is just one of many athletes caught with domestic violence charges, which undeniably has a negative effect on their career, sponsorship and fan base.



7. Infidelity
   While infidelity cases remain more of a personal problem than a legal matter, it has proven to interfere with athletes’ endorsement deals, reputation and their overall support. Such is the case in the 2009 Tiger Woods cheating scandal, which involved several mistresses who all claimed to have had affairs with the married golfer. When inappropriate voicemails and texts from his mistresses surfaced and the issue magnified, Woods decided to take a hiatus from golf, which meant lost prize money and appearance fees. In addition, Woods lost sponsorship from big name companies Gatorade, AT&T and Accenture, while others distanced themselves greatly from the world’s number one golfer. High profile infidelity cases like Woods’, bring into question the morals of an athlete so many look up to, depend on and support.



8. Animal Cruelty
   Trying to convince football team owners, fans and sponsors, who may also be animal lovers, to support Michael Vick may be a serious PR challenge for a sports agent. In 2007, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was found guilty for running an illegal dogfighting ring at one of his properties in southeastern Virginia. He was charged with competitive dogfighting and conducting the venture across state lines, in which he will serve 23 months in prison. Evidence showed that Vick was more involved in the dogfighting operation than he admitted, by attending fights, betting on dogs and executing dogs that didn’t perform well. Vick has returned to the NFL, after serving his sentence, participating in animal sensitivity courses and making public speeches on behalf of his crime, Vick has suffered financially with a loss of sponsorship, endorsement deals and having to file for bankruptcy while incarcerated. In addition to his financial woes, Vick continues to face serious backlash from football fans, who will never look at him the same.



9. Robbery
   Considering the large salaries that most professional athletes make, it is unclear as to why many of them are caught robbing people and stealing things. While many cases of robbery involve drugs and other illegal activities, some are as unusual and uncalled for as Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane’s case. In April, Kane and his cousin were arrested in Buffalo for allegedly robbing and punching a cab driver over twenty cents that he owed Kane. The cab driver said when he told them he didn’t have twenty cents in change, he was punched in the face and head, grabbed by the throat and had his glasses broken. The two men were charged with second-degree robbery, fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services.



10. Illegal Firearms
    There is no shortage of athletes who get caught carrying an unlicensed weapon, like in the recent case of Plaxico Burress. As of September 2009, Burress began serving a two-year sentence for a November 2008 incident, in which he accidentally shot himself in the thigh with his own gun at a Manhattan nightclub. Burress was indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment. While he testified before the grand jury that the gun was not to be used on anyone and he was the only victim, but the fact remains that Burress violated New York gun laws and it was not licensed. From a public relations standpoint, this case and others involving illegal firearms will call into question the intentions of a weapon-carrying athlete and their endangerment to the public.

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