By Justin Rebello

I watch a lot of sports. I mean, a lot. And nothing gets me going quite like a good sports controversy. It seems like in every season of every sport, something major happens that pisses off the world. Whether it’s an act of violence, sex or racism, some athlete in some sport will pit himself in the middle of a firestorm, and everyone with an opinion has something to say about it, whether it be by column, radio or on “Around the Horn.” It’s fun watching people argue and I’m always willing to listen to an opinion. But some columnists take it a bit far, and turn the story into something larger than just sports.

Opinionated sports enthusiasts love to tell you sports are a reflection of society. No they aren’t. They are just games, played by millionaires far away in a world none of us can really dream about. For example, Latrell Spreewell rejected a $10 million contract offer from his team, the Timberwolves, because he has to “feed his family.” Something tells me Mrs. Spreewell doesn’t do a lot of coupon-clipping.

In the NFL offseason, Eagles wide-receiver Terrell Owens was being traded to the Ravens, where he didn’t want to play. Owens bitched and moaned, likening his situation to Rosa Parks. Now I don’t know much about black history or racism in general, but I have a feeling being a millionaire in Baltimore versus being a millionaire in Philadelphia isn’t quite in the same ballpark as a woman arrested for sitting on a bus.

Last year in college football, Miami Hurricanes tight end Kellen Winslow described himself as a “soldier” and compared a game between Miami and Tennessee to “war.” All this, meanwhile, actual soldiers are fighting an actual war.

Owens, Spreewell and Winslow are perfect representations of the stupidity of the modern athlete: