All right, the life is back in order.  I'm in reasonably good spirits considering Mother Nature decided to relieve herself on my rec room carpet Tuesday morning.  And alcohol wasn't necessary to create that mood.  Shocking.  Simply shocking.

What's going on in the world of sports?  Oh, let us see.

Ahhhh yes, we have a new home run king in Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, who boldly stated, after whacking No. 756 off of some nobody that the Washington Nationals called up to serve as a sacrificial lamb, that the record wasn't tainted.

I never thought I'd agree with that, but in essence he's got a point.  Why?  Bonds played in an era when performance enhancing drugs (such a wordy statement) permeated the game.  Almost anyone and everyone who put up gaudy numbers in the smash-em-bash-em '90s is suspect.  Some in the game and media will want to hold him to that higher ideal, but when everyone else doing, how can they single him out?  Logically, they cannot.

On a completely different note…

Brady Quinn is in town with a brand spanking new contract.  Gee…now was that so tough?  C'mon do you mean to tell me that the Cleveland Browns low-balled him so much that he needed to not sign his deal oh…I don't know…ummm…back in June? early July?  I'm not seeing it.  You can say a lot of things about the Browns since the team's return (like they stink, they can't block or tackle, quarterback, what's that) but the Lerner family has never been accused of being cheap…Sorry Brady (or is that Tom Condon), this one is on you.

And on a completely different topic…

I never ever wanted to get into the great racial divide that has become the Michael Vick Saga.  It shouldn't have even come to race, in my opinion.  I should have known better, however, given that I lived in Selma, Ala. for a year and it was quite evident that then and on a recent visit there that the racial wounds of the Deep South haven't come close to healing.  In some areas such as Selma that wound has an infection. In other parts, such as Atlanta, it's just a scab that keeps getting picked.

But there is a divide when it comes to Vick.  On one side we saw a bunch of white faces, animal lovers and although I didn't scan the photos completely, I'm sure there were some black ones.  On the other side, however, his most vocal supporters were almost universally black.  I could go into a deep philosophical reason why, but I couldn't do it with the depth, compassion and intelligence that Wright Thompson shows in this piece.

 Add end…

Lastly I haven't gotten the chance to thank those who posted kind words about the recent loss of my grandmother.   Perhaps I just didn't want to acknowledge that she's indeed gone, but to those who said a kind word, my warmest thanks.  A special thanks for a couple of folks who took the time to send a sympathy card to the paper. 

How would you like to be NFL Commish Roger Goodell now?

 Sure, the league has issued its statement about Michael Vick' s federal indictment related to dogfighting.  Accordring to a Virginia grand jury, Vick wasn't exactly dog's best friend.  Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

But let's be realistic, is anyone really surprised that he was indicted?  If nothing was coming this would have blown over weeks ago.  It didn't, like I'm sure the Atlanta Falcons wanted.  There's little wonder why these soon-to-be-caged birds won't be singing this year - they won't have Vick.   And if the NFL's new sheriff, Goodell, is true to precedent he established, Vick will be gone.

Here's the league's official stance on the Vick situation:

We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him. We will continue to closely monitor developments in this case, and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick’s guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts. The matter will be reviewed under the League’s Personal Conduct Policy.

 Ruh-roh, Shaggy.  Yes, that sounds very omninous. But we will see what happens.  Goodell has knocked Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Tennessee Titans down and Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals, but this is an entirely different animal.

Why?  Because the NFL and the Falcons have promoted Vick as one of the faces of the league since he arrived from Virginia Tech expected to re-invent the position of quarterback.  Notice that hasn't happened yet.  Perhaps, just perhaps, that explains the interest in dogfighting.  He needed a hobby.   Yeah, that's it.

Yes, Vick is guilty until proven innocent, but Goodell, in the interest of fairness will have to smack him too - and he should.  That being the case, Vick should expect to have at least one season to consider new hobbies.

Michael Vick.  Justin Miller.  Chris Henry.

Are these guys dumb or do they just think they're above it all?

Let's start with Vick, quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons with abilities beyond mortal men.  He has a canon for an arm, a $100 million contract and the town of Hotlanta on a string.  I think it would take two hands to count the number of mental lapses on Vicks' part since he arrived in the NFL with all the potential in the world, but currently has very little in the way of accomplishments to match it.  The latest one:   being involved in dogfighting in Virginia.  According to reports, the dogfighting ring was sheltered in a home he had built and run by buddies of his.  Brilliant.

 Then let's go to the New York Jets' Justin Miller.  He apparently didn't read the memo that states that nothing good happens in the wee hours of the morning after a night of clubbing.  During an altercation at a New York nightclub, Miller allegedly decked a woman.  Accidentally, of course.  He was actually aiming for a guy.

Let's look at Cincinnati Bengal Chris Henry.  Already under suspension by the NFL for eight games for a number of transgressions.  Henry allegedly tested positive for opiates in his system, a direct violation of his probation in Florida.  Ummm…Yeah, if that turns out to be accurate Henry will face 88 days and jail and officially be given the title of "Dumbest Guy in the NFL."

But all three could easily be lumped in that category.  I realize that all three make their respective livings by leaving bits and pieces of their bodies and blood, sweat and tears on the football field.  However, that doesn't give them the right to flout laws as if they reside in some alternate universe where they are above the law.  We all know that only O.J. Simpson enjoys that distinction from the world of football.

Given NFL Commish Roger Goodell's crackdown on league bad boys, you'd think that they would be intelligent enough to at least try to stay out of trouble - if indeed they are guilty of their respective allegations.  Each commissioner in the modern era has left a unique mark on the league.  It's clear that Goodell has decided his will be to maintain law and order and protect the NFL's rep.  The players would be wise to take notice and remember that the NFL is a private business.  While they want the best players possible, it's not going to be without conditions going forward.