Back in the day baseball players were these squeaky-clean saints and fans ate it up.

Ty Cobb
Babe Ruth
Mickey Mantle
Pete Rose

IJS.

TOTALLY kidding

I totally got it. Next fauxfuffle: Canadian vs. American beer.

They weren't ACTUALLY saints, they were promoted and received as such.

The "wholesome" thing was largely a veneer -- but a lot of money was made off of it.

There is also a 53 man roster on each team for 32 teams which is nearly 1,700 players. So if you have, say 51 guys, getting in trouble that still leaves 97% who aren't. But it sounds like a bigger number.

Next fauxfuffle: Canadian vs. American beer.

That's simple - American beer isn't actually beer.

Sports have always been that way, though, haven't they? If not money, then fame and glory comes along with the spotlight of popularity.

Yes, it's true. And does nothing to make me less ashamed of my kind. But, there you go.

The shining images of many a cultural figure...whether early sports or the Hollywood studio system...mostly manufactured. But I cling to the few...the proud...the seemingly noble. The fact that I can't think of the names of the few that I know about means I need to go soak my head.

I can't think of the names of the few that I know

Arthur Ashe.

there is something to be said for actively embracing the gentlman athlete and sportsmanship and, well, chivalry

Is there money in it?

A truism that makes me want to say...Kill me now.

Is there money in the current set up? Maybe, in terms of merchandise sales. Do they have access to exciting players who would otherwise be off limits? Sure, you could make that case.

Or this one:

Will the Falcons lose viewers/attendees? Quite possibly. Will the league long-term erode the value of their product if too many people are turned off by the ongoing violence/misbehavior? I think that's a real possibility. Will the league someday find themselves facing actual liability for something or other? Not out of the question.

You can make the money argument come out whatever way you're most inclined.

The NFL has shown admirable leadership among pro sports over the past couple of decades in their approach to the health and long-term physical well being of their players.

They could do the same thing here, but there isn't the drive for it yet.

My favorite joke in Canada:

How are American beer and sex in a canoe alike?

Answer: *They're both fucking close to water.*

My favorite joke in Canada:

Huh. I've heard this joke years ago told by an ex-Python.

Arthur Ashe

Oh. Bless.

His aunt, Odessa Staggers, was my pe teacher in high school. She told such wonderful stories about him and spoke of the family ethic that made sure he 'got up to nothing but good.'