After conducting a perfunctory investigation in order to appease the masses, they are quickly sweeping the rest under the rug.

In fact, Goodell was afraid that he might actually uncover something that would forever tarnish not only the NFL and the New England Patriots, but his legacy as well. No commissioner wants to be the guy who had the “cheating scandal” go down on their watch.

And while the Patriots admitted to just enough cheating to get a slap on the wrist, you have to believe there are reels and reels of greater transgressions that we will never see.

And that’s just the way Goodell wants it.

In other words, when further investigation has revealed that Clemens had an affair with a 15 year-old girl (while he was 28), should we care that Clemens pulled a “Palmeiro” in front of “Oinky” Waxman and the rest of the congressional committee.

While a maelstrom of rumors continue to swirl concerning Clemens, the alleged affair with country star Mindy McReady is by far the most alarming.

While Clemens “allegedly” committed statutory rape over the course of several years, all of the sudden, I’m not nearly as concerned about how he has repeatedly lied and tried to cover up something that wasn’t even illegal at the time.

I am far more concerned with what his actions may have done to McReady.

Whether or not her relationship with Clemens had any impact with her drug and alcohol abuse over the past several years, we’ll likely never know.

What we can glean with a fair amount of certainty regarding Clemens and the pool of quicksand he presently finds himself are these: had he come clean with the truth from the beginning, his secrets would still be his alone, and, a glistening golden bust would still have found its way to Cooperstown.

Roger, you reap what you sow.

The Mavs lost quietly in five because the Hornets are a better NBA basketball team.

The Mavericks held an advantage at only one position: power forward. Dirk Nowitzki did all he could to put this team on his back, but you can only do so much when your teammates are outclassed and disinterested.

Chris Paul is far-and-away a better point than Jason Kidd at this point in their careers, and quite possibly ever.

Erick Dampier can only wish he was half the athlete and defensive center that Tyson Chandler has grown into.

Genaro Pargo showed up Jason Terry and Josh Howard in four of the five games.

Jerry Stackhouse would have been better served in a wheelchair. 

Oh, and last, but certainly not least, Avery Johnson was taken to school by the opposing coach in the playoffs for the third straight year.

The following key Mavs personnel will be gone by regular tip-off 2009:

Avery Johnson, Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard and Jason Terry. 

If I could just go back in time and have the nerve to blow this thing up after the 2006 Finals meltdown…

Who do you think so-and-so will pick? I don’t know, maybe they’ll pick so-and-so.  Nah, they’ll definitely take so-and-so.

Are you sure? they really have a need at that position.

SHUT UP!!!!

I’m talkin to you, Mel Kiper, you self-proclaimed “draft guru” with your ridiculous helmet hair.

And you, Todd McShay, you scrawny wire-hanger that lettered in cross-country.

You’ve created a cottage industry for yourselves and a bunch of other talking heads with nothing more productive to do than to deluge us with guesses and “best available” lists.

Just let ‘em pick the damn players already!

That’s all I’m gonna say about the draft….until next year.

(And yes, I did notice how they had Staubach’s framed jersey hung in a low-lit corner while the jerseys of other QB greats are featured quite prominently.)

We got there around 12:15 and the Wiz-Cavs game was just a minute or two from tip-off. I looked around and noticed that we were the only people there.

I understand that DC is largely a football town (when a few people did filter in 30 minutes later, they wore Clinton Portis jerseys), but the apathy for the Wiz in that town is downright depressing.

Granted, they haven’t had much to cheer about in recent years and their “superstar” is a headcase with no skins on the wall, but this series appeared very winnable going in. 

Maybe they’re so sure that a potential meeting with the Celts in round two is fait accompli anyhow, or maybe some towns will always have an iron-clad hierarchy when it comes to sports and their teams.

What a difference a decade makes.

With the only three players breaking par on Sunday this year, and only 10 finishing the tournament under par, the “Tiger-proofing” of Augusta National has begun to backfire on Billy Payne and the rest of the blue-stocking committee disguised in green jackets. 

There were some gusty winds and the course had dried out quite a bit over the weekend,  but some of the golf being played coming down the stretch was difficult to watch.

It used to be that the green jacket was won with birdies, now scrapping for par is good enough to win.

Not much fun to watch.

Carminita Immelman, on the other hand, well,…

I mean, Jeez, the NFL Draft coverage started over a month ago. Who’s gonna’ go #1?

I have a better question for you Don Banks, ESPN, Fox etc.,: “WHO CARES?”

Unless you’re a Dolphins fan or a fan of another team at the top of the draft board that is several years away from even sniffing the playoffs, why should we be pelted with all your “theories.”

Listen, I’m as big an NFL fan as there is, but quit beating me down with copious speculation and 24 different versions of best guesses.

Just put the ouija boards down and quit trying to make a nice event into a competition to see who can hit on the most picks. I’ve had enough! 

Keep Dozier and Dorsey off the boards as best you can. Get them frustrated and picking up early fouls.

Limit Chris Douglas-Roberts to less than 20 points. This cat is going to score regradless of what you throw at him, but keep him out of his comfort zone.

Easier said than done, but if the Jayhawks do these things, they’ll be cutting down the nets. 

Who has produced more hits: A) Berry Gordy or B) The Detroit Tigers so far this season?

The answer is “A.”

For all that was made about the off-season acquisition of Miguel Cabrera and the potency off the Tiger lineup, what they’ve done through the first three games of the season has been most underwhelming.

Yes, it’s early, but I think there’s reason to be concerned in Detroit Rock City about this group.

Granderson’s out, Sheffield’s off the juice and old, Pudge has a finite number of games left in his Hall of Fame career and you could easily make the argument that Magglio’s best seasons are behind him.

They’ve been smacked down by the likes of Gil Meche, Zack Greinke and Brian Bannister (who is an up-and-coming hurler, BTW).

This is a Royal bunch that will again struggle to win 75 games this season.

Keep your eyes on the Tigers because if things derail early, there are going to be some heads rolling in that dugout.

First, let me premise this by giving Brandon Rush and Jayhawk defense credit for hounding the sharpshooter for most of the game and taking away open looks.

However, when Curry had a chance to cut a four-point lead to one with just over a minute to play, he had as good a look at  a tres in transition as he had all game and couldn’t get it done.

That led to a four-point swing with about a minute to play that put KU up 5.

He did hit a three to make it a two point game, but when everything was on the line and everybody, myself included, thought he would bury a three at the end of the game to keep Cinderella from turning into a pumpkin, he passed up the shot and a desperation heave was well off the mark.

That final episode illustrated why Curry is a nice player, but nothing special.

When his team needed him to take the game by the horns and advance them to the Final Four, he couldn’t get away from Rush and the perimeter D of the Jayhawks to create his own look.

He reminds me a lot of JJ Redick. A great shooter and that’s about it.