Hallworth's Doghouse

The first dog this week is Dallas Star hockey player Sean Avery. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman suspended him for six games for "inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game". Avery made comments to the media about former girlfriends now dating other hockey players, especially towards Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who is dating actress Elisha Cuthbert. He stated, "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guy to fall in love with my (former girlfriends). I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight." Later on he apologized by saying, "I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff and the Dallas Stars management and ownership. As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far." This is good that he apologized for his actions because here we have a role model for children. By saying and doing these stupid things can influence young children negatively. They might start doing stupid things and think there is no harm. However, there is. On the other hand, hasn’t this guy heard of think before you speak? And if you have nothing good to say don’t say it all? It is good that he apologized. That’s a start.

The next two dogs in my house this week are Minnesota Vikings Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. They were suspended after testing positive for diuretic bumetanide, a performance enhancing drug. However, the Williamses filed for a restraining order against the NFL and received, allowing them to play in this weekend’s game against the Detroit Lions. Again, here we have role models doing stupid and illegal things. C’mon, think of the kids. Also, it is ridiculous that the judge allowed them the restraining order. That is the stupidest thing I have heard. Even though they are pursuing legal actions, let’s allow them to play. Using performance enhancing drugs and other steroids is dumb. Not only is there that one positive effect, but there are many negative effects. If the reason an athlete is using them is because they are too old and need to catch up with the younger athletes, then RETIRE. You make enough money as it is.

The next dog this week is Texas Tech De’Shon Sanders. He was arrested by federal agents on Thursday and charged with conspiracy and felony possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine. The crime was committed between June sixth or seventh of this year. Sanders may serve a minimum of ten years in prison if convicted. Sanders is young and already committing illegal crimes. That is one bad habit to start at a young age. On the other side, I agree that Sander deserves to go to prison, but I think that ten years is too much because there are worst crimes he could commit such as murder. I would rather have a murderer in prison longer than a drug dealer. I don’t think any person in their right mind would want a murderer running loose.

Another dog in my house this week is Penn State football’s Nitanny Lion mascot played by senior James Sheep. He was pulled over on campus around 3:15 a.m. on November 22nd and charged with DUI and summary traffic violations. Sheep is suspended until 2009. I wonder if he was sent to prison. He definitely should have been seriously charged and fined because to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and driving is not good. Both impair a person’s judgement and therefore can cause a crash and can result in death or serious injury. I think that suspension for a couple of weeks is a good punishment. Hopefully, during that time he can think about the mistake he committed and spends more time studying.

The next big dog this week is who else but former football 61-year-old star O.J. Simpson. He was sentenced on Friday to between nine and thirty-three years in prison for being found guilty of twelve criminal charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon. Another crime Simpson committed was in September 2007 when he had a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers over collectibles that he insisted were stolen from him. Not only that but the big one is Simpson being acquitted for murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1994. Simpson deserves to go to prison for his stupidity. However, there is controversy over how long. If he served time for the 1994 murders, then it should not have been for 33 years for this crime. But since he did not serve any time for the murders he committed, he definitely deserves to be in prison for a really long time because obviously he has not learned from his mistakes. Who wants a muderer on the loose? I sure don't. On the contrary, fame gets to an athlete’s or actor’s head because he/she thinks that they are above the law when they are not. Some people do not realize the mistakes he/she is making at that time and as a result, need time to think about it and not make anymore in the future.

Another dog in my house this week is New York Jet Shaun Ellis. He was pulled over at a traffic stop earlier for speeding and admitted to smoking marijuana and voluntarily handed the bag containing fifty grams or less over. This is the first time Ellis has been in trouble with the law before in the nine years he has been with the league. The team captain apologized by saying, "Obviously it's a mistake and something I have to deal with." That is good that he realized he made a mistake and apologized. He definitely deserves to be fined and possibly go to prison. However, he still remains as team captain. I disagree with this decision because a captain needs to display good leadership and be a good role model. This is not it.