$60 million fine, wins taken away from the last 13 years (1998-2011), postseason bowl ban for four-years, five-year probation and 40 scholarships taken away for the next four-years. The worst sanction given out since 1987 when SMU was given the death penalty. The death penalty is the NCAA’s  power to ban a school from competing in a sport for at least one year. It is the harshest penalty that an NCAA member school can receive, or so we thought. Mark Emmert NCAA President held a press conference this Monday morning to announce the sanctions imposed on Penn State University. Now lets look at the imposed sanctions:

• $60 million fine. This will be paid over the next 5 years, $12 million every year.  This is actually a low fine, I believe it should have been much higher, more in the $100 to $200 million. Why so much you ask? Well for starters they have the money trust me plenty of it too. In 2010 Forbes Magazine did a study and found out that Penn State had the third most value in all of college football, behind Notre Dame and Texas. The value of the program was around $100 million and they made a profit of $53 million, that was just in one year in 2010 just a few seasons ago. Penn gross around $72 million. Not enough money was taken from the school. The $60 million will fund programs for the detection, prevention, and treatment of child abuse.

• A four-year ban on postseason play, including the Big Ten championship game, bowls or the playoffs coming in 2014. I agree with the ban I think to many years though. This is a huge loss of income for the program and school who as we saw above depends a lot on the program to make money. A two-year ban should have been given enough to punish but still enough for the new incoming football players to have a chance at a bowl in the future. One thing that upset me today was something Desmond Howard said on ESPN, and before I quote him I want to make one thing clear I feel for the victims I truly do what was done to them is inexcusable and the people who did it need to and will pay. Howard said “Those damn victims didn’t have a choice”, then went on to say “now these football players today who are at Penn State, they have a choice”. He brought up a good point it is true SOME of the players have a choice. He gave two choices, one was if you grew up loving Penn State you can stay and play and the other was, the players who like to play in the postseason have the choice to transfer schools and play right away. Unfortunately he forgot a choice or should I say choices that can not be made, some of these players do no’t have a choice the only way out of the terrible situation that some of them are in, is Penn State why, because that is where their scholarship is. They worked hard in high school got recognized and now must pay the price for some grown man who could not control himself and could be truthful about a situation. Sorry but that is not right in my book the players did nothing to deserve what they have gotten.

  ---

• A reduction in scholarships offered to incoming players from 25 to 15 a year for the next four years. This I disagree with 100% and I will tell you why. First of all did the players commit a crime? No, they sure did not, all they did was agree to attend the school and play for Penn State. Second of all, they knew sanctions were coming but they figured it would be minor since the players them selves did not have any knowledge (that we know of) of what was occurring in the locker room after practice was over. The wrong people are being punished in this case, new student athletes being punished for something they did not do.

• Vacating all wins from 1998-2011. This which strips Paterno of his title as the winning-est coach in college football history (now Grambling’s Eddie Robinson 409) and Division I (now Bobby Bowden 377). Paterno, drops from 1^st to 12^th all time (had 409 now has 298) and 5^th in FBS. This I agree with Paterno should have those wins taken from him but the players who played those games should not. One of the best things I saw today was from an ex Penn State player named Adam Taliaferro who tweeted this “NCAA says games didn’t exist..I got the metal plate in my neck to prove it did..I almost died playing 4 PSU..punishment or healing?!?”. This kid almost died playing a game for Penn State and now it does not count for him, basically in the record books it never happened, it did though he played for Penn and the records should be taken from Paterno not the players and the school.

Did you see that? See what? Tiger Woods won AGAIN! This is what I have been hearing over the last couple of days. This got me thinking, is the old Tiger back or is this just a fluke? Now I’m no expert or anything, (to be honest I have just recently started watching golf more and more) but what I do know is that this is the Tiger I use to hear about growing up as a kid. This is defiantly the Tiger from 2009, how do you know, you ask? Well for one thing he has won three times this year, matching his win total at this time three years ago. Actually he has won the same three tournaments this year that he started off winning in 2009 (Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial Tournament and AT&T National). The  Arnold Palmer Invitational was Tigers first win since 2009 when he won 7 tournaments that year. With this most recent win at the AT&T National Tiger passed golf legend Jack Nicklaus with 74 PGA wins. Tigers passes Nicklaus with 74 wins at the age of 36 Nicklaus won his 73^rd  tournament at the age of 46. At this pace Tiger will pass the all time win leader Sam Snead who won his 74^th PGA tour at the age of 43 and holds the record at 82 win, winning his 82^nd PGA tour at 53 years old. With this recent win Tiger is now moved up the World golf ranking into 4^th behind Luke Donald (#1), Rory McIlroy (#2), and Lee Westwood (#3). If Tiger is truly back, which I do believe he is, he will possibly pass Snead by the end of next year.

Finally after two seasons together the big three won the NBA Championship. Wade, Lebron and Bosh accomplished what they came together to do, WIN the NBA Championship. Pat Riley a master at the game put together the best supporting cast with the little money left after signing the big three. After making it so close to a championship the year before, Riley added a few new players such as Shane Battier a key factor in this seasons NBA Finals. When the celebration was over and the parade ended decision time was looming. Many of the players surrounding the big three are old and entering their 15th, 16th and 17th year in the league and are hurting. Content with finally winning a ring most  are weighing their options and some looking into retirement.

Mike Miller is one of the players contemplating on whether to retire or play again next season. Miller was pivotal in game 5 draining 7 threes in the game tying the finals record for threes made. Unfortunately for Miller he has been injury prone the last few years and this year his back has let him down. Miller is seeing a specialist and getting some opinions on whether to retire or stick around. This off-season Miami made one huge pick up, acquiring one of the Boston Celtics big three Ray Allen, the all time 3pt shooter. With Miami finally figure out their game plan,  allowing the big three to take it to the basket and spreading the floor with perimeter shooters the Heat seem to be on their way to another NBA Championship next season. Free agency is not over yet and Miami is still of the hunt for that key big man to cover the paint. Time will only tell if the big three are for real of just a big flop.