Fines, suspensions, mandatory therapy, trades, and other punishments plague professional sports. Just ask National Football League (NFL) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger what he thinks about harsh punishments.

He is 24 years old! He can do what he wants as long as it is legal. Roethlisberger was suspended for the first six games of next season because the NFL felt he was tarnishing the league’s image by being in an environment where alcohol was being consumed irresponsibly. He can do what he wants as long as it’s legal. Roethlisberger was charged with sexual assault, but the court found him not guilty. However, the NFL Commissioner, Rodger Goodell, still suspended Roethlisberger.

Most of the time I have believed commissioners have used their sports power for good, and they have not exceeded their limits. I was not one of those people who claim all punishments in sports were unnecessary. For example, Michael Vick, NFL quarterback, was suspended in August 2007, and hours after he pleaded guilty to federal charges in the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation, the NFL suspended him indefinitely without pay. But Goodell stated that Vick could return if he conducted himself well in prison.

Sports have become all business and the guys in charge manage that business by punishing and trading players. Owners and fans expect players to be loyal to their teams, but do teams deserve loyalty when they turn on their own players for profit? If professional sports continue in the direction they are going, there may never be another franchise player again. Say goodbye to quarterback/receiver duos; say goodbye to infamous basketball player tandems; say goodbye to passion in sports.

I am positive that players can not have passion if they are playing for a team that makes them feel like pawns. So that means it is time to say goodbye to players like Brett Farve, Vikings quarterback, and Tim Duncan, power forward/center for the Spurs, who both play through injuries on a regular bases to help their respective teams. This can lead to sports becoming less competitive.

Can the competitiveness of sports be saved? I believe they can; they just need to be thought of as sports, not big business. This means no more unnecessary fines or suspensions. When owners constantly punish players it takes away from the sports leagues as a whole. So I say let the justice system take care of the criminals, and let the players play!

Dakota Florence
-Assistant Sports Editor