I'm back after my one-week hiatus. A lot has happened in the world of sports and there are some points of views I must disagree with. My son Kevin filled in for me last week and I'll start with him. There are lots of things Kevin and I agree on, I mean after all, he is my oldest son. There are also some topics on which we remain on opposite ends of the spectrum. Our debates are often about sports and I will start by challenging Kevin's claim that the recent Super Bowl was rather boring with the exception of a 100 yard interception run to end the first half and the hectic fourth quarter which saw the Pittsburgh Steelers come back to score late and win the Super Bowl over the upstart Arizona Cardinals. Kevin felt the game was not exciting. I beg to differ. The Super Bowl, unlike the other major sport playoffs, is a one game, winner take all extravaganza. While there have been many Super Bowl duds there have also been some very exciting games. And the one-game format is naturally designed to crown new N.F.L. stars and even make a legend or two. Super Bowl I proved this when Max McGee (who had caught a grand total of 4 passes for 91 yards for the 1966 Green Bay Packers) became a Super Bowl legend. McGee did not anticipate playing in the first Super Bowl and took advantage of that opportunity to violate the team's curfew policy and arrive back at the team hotel, very much under the weather, only a few hours before the game. McGee was forced into action after starter Boyd Dowler went down with an injury early in the game. McGee, despite a bad hangover, caught seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. The most recent Super Bowl made Pittsburgh Steeler receiver Santonio Holmes a legend and solidified the star status of Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. You don't need a full game to become a legend or a star and you don't need great play after great play to have a great game.……….Seems almost everyone is mortified that American Olympic superstar swimmer Michael Phelps was caught smoking marijuana in a picture that was circulated throughout the world. Many people feel Phelps should be severely punished for his actions. I beg to differ. I know that several months ago, when Phelps was winning a record eight gold Olympic medals I wrote that the young man served as a role model for others. Okay, so maybe I spoke too soon. Maybe the 23-year was too good to be true. But the response to Phelps' behavior has been too reactionary. Yes, Phelps should have known better and yes, the people who handle Phelps should have reminded him that his superstar status meant that he was assured of having almost no private life. But the truth of the matter is that the young man made a mistake and he shouldn't have to pay for it for the rest of his life. The loss of millions of dollars in endorsement deals and a three-month suspension should be enough. Talk of banning Phelps from the 2012 Olympics is too extreme. Any member of the baby-boomer generation that sits in harsh judgment of Phelps should think back to some of the stupid things that we did when we were 19, 21, or 23 years old……….It's the middle of winter and baseball season is still months away but that doesn't mean the New York Yankees aren't in the news — especially third baseman Alex Rodriquez. Rodriquez recently admitted to talking performance-enhancing substances between 2001 and 2003. Major League Baseball has been a complete mess in the area of performance enhancing substances as was evidenced by the lies told by other cheaters such as Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Barry Bonds. Many defenders of performance-enhancing drugs argue that there is no real advantage for a baseball player since he still has to see and hit a baseball, often thrown at speeds of 100-plus miles per hour. I beg to differ. In each of the seasons that ARod admitted to taking the drugs his offensive numbers were way above his career averages in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and games played. Taking the substances was cheating and there is no getting around that. Since Rodriquez is on target to break the career home run record (currently held by Bonds) his accomplishments will always be tainted. Most of us prefer our baseball the old fashioned way, like having Babe Ruth hit all those home runs powered on nothing more than hot dogs and beer, or having Hank Aaron and Willie Mays hit all those home runs powered on nothing more than their natural abilities and work ethic……….I know that people will always look for an advantage, especially if money is involved. I don't know what it is like to make millions of dollars playing professional sports so I can't claim to know why people are willing to chance their health on steroids. But I did know guys who played on my college football team who took amphetamines before games in the hopes of gaining an advantage — and they were making no money. Anyone considering taking steroids should go back and look at footage of former N.F.L. player Lyle Alzado. Alzado was an All-Pro defensive lineman who played for the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns. Alzado was known for his aggressive and intimidating play. Alzado's career spanned 14 N.F.L. seasons but it was a career built on anabolic steroids. Alzado died in 1992 at the age of 43 due to a brain tumor many felt was related to his heavy steroid use. When he died, Alzado was thin, weak, and sickly looking and resembled nothing of the muscular professional football player we remember. Some may think the risk to personal health or dignity is worth the chance to make millions but after having witnessed what happened to Lyle Alzado, I beg to differ……….The powers that be at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (N.Y.S.P.H.S.A.A.) recently declared that high school sports will cut back on the number of athletic events next year in an effort to save money and help out with the budget crisis. The officials at the NYSPHSAA believe that this is the best way to save money and sports. I beg to differ. Rather than saving small amounts across the board, the NYSPHSAA could save large amounts by cutting back the state championships in big and small school classifications in sports where school size doesn't matter. Individual sports like wrestling, swimming, tennis, track, gymnastics, cross-country, etc. only need one state championship. This would also maintain the integrity of state records, as athletes would have the same number of contests in which they can be measured against athletes that came before them. Cutting the number of contests would make those comparisons impossible……….Finally, the people who put the Super Bowl halftime show together have already begun looking for a possible candidate to entertain millions at next years Super Bowl. Organizers have just less than a year to find that entertainment. I beg to differ. There is no good reason to ever have anyone other than Bruce Springsteen play at halftime of a Super Bowl. The greatest rock-n-roll musician in history puts on a great show, is loved by millions, and is practically guaranteed not to have a wardrobe malfunction. Sure, Springsteen having a ref come out and throw a penalty flag for delay of game (Bruce was close to going over the allotted 12 minute time limit) was a little hokey, but the man can play. And I hope he is back for Super Bowl XLIV……….until next time!

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