Sports Agenda For Thursday (8/18/11)

Big Story:
The Dolphins are going to have a lot to figure out on Friday night, namely Cam Newton; the Marlins got spanked AGAIN, and we'll start off with a little rant on the commentators and former players weighing in on the UM scandal.
Let's hit this agenda harder than Cam Wake hits a quarterback.

Firsties:
Since the UM scandal broke, I've been hearing a lot about two things from the pundits in the broadcasting world and former players.
First, they say the system in college football is broken.
And Second, they say the players shouldn't be blamed because they are from the inner city and don't know any better.
Let's deal with the second part of the argument here.
Basically what these people are saying is that these inner-city, predominantly African-American players don't know any better than to break the rules and shouldn't be blamed when someone waves money in their face.
Wow, where to start on this one.
Am I the only who sees that as just a wee bit racist?
So the players from the inner-city should be excused because they're poor, African-American and don't know any better?
Plus, they don't know any better?
So you're saying they're not smart enough to follow rules laid down by coaches.
If that's the case, WHY THE HECK ARE THEY AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING?
The answer is simple, it's all about money.
The athletic departments are under pressure from administrations to make gobs of money each year.
That yields some coaches who are willing to do a cost/benefit analysis as to whether it's worth it to allow boosters to sell your program and risk NCAA penalties in order to win at the highest levels.
It doesn't happen everywhere, just ask Penn State.
I've just been stunned at the amount of people who have said things like this.
It's just so condescending, so racist.
As to the first point, is the system broken?
No, the system has worked for decades and produced great results.
The problem is kids today who feel entitled to everything and feel the rules don't belong to them.
They know the rules and they choose to break the rules.
Yes, coaches and staff members should know better and should be severely punished as well.
Just don't give me this line of bull saying the kids don't know better because they're poor, inner-city kids.

Marlins: (@ San Diego Padres, 10:05 p.m., Fox Sports Florida)
Yknow, if you ever really wanted to punish someone, you should make them watch the Marlins play.
I guarantee you even the most hardened criminal would break under that kind of misery.
So, the Marlins have played 16 games in the month of March and have won three games.
Is there a mercy rule that can be invoked?
Seriously, this team is a great team….in AAA.

Dolphins: (vs. Carolina Panthers, Friday, 7:30 pm on CBS4)
The Miami Dolphins have a dual problem at quarterback this weekend.
First, they have to see if Chad Henne can hack it against one of the worst defenses in the league last season.
If he doesn't, he's heading to the bench, assuming Matt Moore plays well again.
Second, they have to contain Cam Newton.
Ask the SEC how easy that is.