This is all about sports.

Issue one is fixing violent collisions in the NFL and NCAA: There is a much better way to prevent the carnage currently on display in the NFL than having game officials assess penalties during the game and then league officials asses fines and suspensions following the game. All of that is ok as far as it goes, but it doesn’t get to the crux of the problem.

The problem is that the players are so big, so fast and so explosive that even clean hits cause serious injuries. I have often said while watching a college or NFL game, “It’s hard to believe that anyone can last more than a series of downs.”

So how can you rule against large, fast and explosive players? You can’t. But you can make a couple of simple rule changes that will cause it to happen on its own over night. First, barring injury, teams should only be allowed to substitute a maximum of three players at a time and only after an exchange of the ball. If a player is injured, he’s out for a minimum of that series of plays. If the same player causes a stoppage of play for an injury more than twice in the same game, he’s out for the rest of that game and the next game.

That simple rule change will cause the vast majority of players to play both offense and defense. Given that they will be on the field for a very long time without an extended rest, the number of 300+ lbs players will decrease dramatically and perhaps disappear. Endurance will become the first requirement for any player. You won’t have defensive backs catching their breath for 7-8 minutes, allowing them to load up on receivers and running backs. Teams will consist of better athletes at nearly every position.

It will also make nearly obsolete a field goal outside of about 40 yards, unless your kicker can play another position which is almost never the case. Most kickers need help getting their uniform on. ASIDE: No matter what else the NFL and NCAA do with regard to injuries, they ought to set up a point scale for field goals inverse to that found in basketball. The further back the kick is attempted, the fewer points it is worth. After all, the idea is to score touchdowns. So the closer a team comes to that goal the more the field goal ought to be worth 1to 20 yards = 3 points, 21 to 40 yards = 2 point, 40+ yards = 1 point. Don’t reward a team for finding some EuroTrash who can kick a 60 yard field goal.  Reward them for coming as close as possible to scoring a touchdown

Next increase the speed of the game. 20 seconds between plays after the official spots the ball ought to be plenty. It allows time for a rest but keeps the game moving. What is the most exciting part of any game? The two minute drill near the end of the half and the end of the game is what sports fans live for. Teams will do in the last two minutes out of desperation, what they should have been doing by design the entire game.

Many will complain that this remedy will actually increase the injury rate because tired players get injured more easily. This is true. If you take any of today’s NFL teams and make them play by these rules next week, the field will be littered with injured players. But it will be because they are too big and too out of shape to play under the new rules not because the new rules are bad.

The idea is to get rid of the blob players who play two plays every 4th to 5th down and are a sweaty mess after jogging on to the field.  In exchange for the specialty player teams would have leaner players with more skill and endurance who can play every down. After the adjustment period, what the game lacks in violent collisions will more than be made up for in skill, grace and sheer athleticism. Scores will go up even while field goals go way down.

Issue two, Cam Newton. I hear all the sporties say, “Well he’s innocent until proven guilty. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.” Let me be the first to go out on limb and say this guy does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. He was caught with stolen lap top computer and got caught cheating on papers and tests not once but twice at the University of Florida. He has used up any benefit of the doubt he had coming. He has gone from college athlete, to one of the usual suspects.

Everyone talks about Cam being innocent and how unfair these “allegations” are. Huh? Like it’s so sad that that all these disturbed women think Bill Clinton and Ben Rothlesburger are sex predators. That makes perfect sense. When 4-5 people come in and make corroborating statements against their own interest, hey it’s the people making the allegations who should get in trouble, not the cheating thief.

Anyone who votes Auburn in the top 5 or Newton for the Heisman is an idiot. Cam Newton makes Reggie Bush look like the poster child for what a student athlete ought to be. I’m sorry but, yeah at some point you do have to prove your innocence.  For me, that point comes right after getting caught with stolen computer and cheating twice.  And remember we're not assessing court fines and jail time for crying out loud.  It's not a criminal investigation for us.  It's a matter of weighing the preponderance of the information.  I knew all I had to know when the cheating and stealing were revealed.