The National Boxing Association got another black eye this past weekend as fans and people trying to be fans across America (and points further) were witness to another ugly brawl, this one between the Knicks and the Nuggets. 

The penalty phase of the sport began and ended today and the league’s leading scorer was handed the stiffest penalty of all.  Carmello Anthony was suspended 15 games for a sucker punch thrown at a Knick as the initial confrontation was trying to die down.  Anthony’s punch reignited the melee.  And for that reason he deserved the harshest penalty.

The person who got off too lightly was Knicks coach Isaiah Thomas, who lowered himself to thug level by making provocative remarks to or about Carmello Anthony, taunting him about not going in the lane.  His players followed their coach’s example and thuggery prevailed. 

Thomas later tried to justify his actions and comments by saying something to the extent that visiting coach George Karl fueled a hostile situation by leaving his starters in too long into the fourth quarter, despite a 20 point lead. 

I don’t think I’m the only one who has a problem with that logic. 

I think this is a professional sport.  Coaches and players are supposed to act in such a fashion that it brings credit to the players, the franchise, and the sport itself. 

Commissioner David Stern did a nice job by hitting the key players hard with significant suspensions.  But he really missed the point by leaving Isaiah Thomas unpunished.  Thomas should have been suspended for as many games as Anthony.  And the Knicks should follow suit by dismissing him permanently.  I will be very disappointed if Thomas remains the head coach for even one more game.  Even if the commissioner didn’t take action, the franchise should.  He is not good for the team and not good for the sport. 

The last time we saw something like this was in college basketball when John Cheney ordered a hard foul on a member of the opposing team.  The opposing player ended up with a fractured arm.  Cheney was suspended for the rest of the season and he subsequently retired.  I think for 99% of his career, John Cheney was a good guy.  But at some point he just lost it.  He had the class to know he should step down for his failure in judgment, and for setting a bad example for his players.

My favorite sport, horse racing, is also famous for underpenalizing its worst offenders.  Doping, drugging and milkshaking is still too possible.  All these forms of cheating need to be removed. Any trainer with an offense should be banned for a year and any two-time offenders need to be banned from racing lifetime.  The horse should also be kept from competing for a significant period of time.

Yes, I know it was hardly the horse’s fault, but if you want to get a trainer’s attention, this is one way.  Because owners will not want to do business with trainers who get their horses suspended.  It is just too easy for the big name trainer to get suspended and then just continue on in the background while his assistants take over on paper for the duration of the suspension.  Bench the horse for six months and we will start to see owners becoming part of the solution. 

 The sport of horseracing needs to be ten feet above the law because the indication of improper activity can be as damaging as the act itself. 

This just in - Terrell Owens fined $35,000 for spitting in the face of an opponent.  Are you kidding me?  I’m embarassed for the NFL.  The guy is poison.  I can’t believe the NFL chose to mock its own attempt at justice by slapping Owens so lightly on the wrist for such blatently classless behavior.