The Fine-al Straw

I’ve noticed over the years that professional sports leagues tend to fine their athletes ridiculous amounts of money for petty actions. One example that sticks into my mind is from earlier this season when the NFL fined Terrell Owens $7500 for mocking the videotaping incident which occurred the week before in New England (http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10361315). $7500 for a little fun!?! I would like to say that I STRONGLY DISLIKE (my mom taught me to not say hate or I would) Terrell Owens. The way he left Philadelphia makes him like a living Satan where I’m from in PA. But the fact that the NFL is making fines like this just makes me laugh. They are not allowing players to have some fun and individuality out there on the field. I understand some actions need to be reprimanded but there also has to be room for these players to keep the game as a source of entertainment. $7500 is a ridiculous fine. Imagine if your boss at work fined you $7500 because you made a bad joke or snide comment. An even worse example would be that of Brian Urlacher at last year’s Super Bowl. Urlacher, one of the league’s best linebackers and not a boisterous player in any way, was fined $100,000 for wearing a hat that said vitaminwater on it and drinking the matching beverage (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2841997). Now I don’t know about you, but I find this fine to be OUTRAGEOUS! I mean the in season fine alone for this is $10,000 according to the article. I think the NFL and other sports leagues need to reassess their stance on fines and the amount levied against each individual. I wonder if Roger Goodell would be willing to take $100,000 out of his salary if he did something wrong. The fines are ridiculous. One final example is that players get fined if their shirt is untucked. You have to be kidding me. I’m not going to even discuss that matter, as I find it laughable. All I feel is that the fines need to come down and things will be more reasonable.