You know it's bad when FIFA referees make MLB umpires look good.  The referring in the USA-Slovenia game was dreadful.  England and Mexico have every right to complain about their losses on Sunday.  Argentina's Carlos Tevez was clearly off sides when scored the first goal in the 25^th minute.  Mexico clearly appealed to the referee to watch the in stadium replay.  The referee refused. 

England scored what was thought to be the tie goal at 2-2.  The English players celebrated but the referee didn't allow it.  German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer admitted to “fooling” the referee by getting the ball out of goal before the referee realized it.

Argentina went out to win 3-0 and Germany went on to win 4-1.  Yes, they were favored as The Tank and Paul the Psychic Octopus told you in another “Take it to the bank with The Tank” victory.  But I want the right call.  No one is perfect and the technology has long been available to get the right call.  Why does the ref wear a head set and microphone?  The booth can tell him if it's a goal or not in a matter of seconds.

The Tank’s Bottom Line: FIFA should model video replay in other sports, especially in basketball and hockey.  A bar code can be stamped on the ball and tracked to see if crossed the goal.  But, no, FIFA won’t even allow instant replay in the stadiums.  FIFA is even more arrogant than Bud Selig and MLB.  That’s a black eye to the “beautiful game”.     

Posted by an upset Tank.

Floyd Landis finally admitted to using performance enhancing drugs when he won the tour a few years ago.  Fine.  I don’t know why he did it.  Maybe a book deal, maybe to clear his conscience, or both.  Who knows?

But why did he throw his former teammate Lance Armstrong under the bus?  The IOC and WADA want proof.  He better have it or Lance should throw Landis under the proverbial legal bus.

Posted by The Tank.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was suspended by the NFL for six games for violating the league's Personal Conduct policy.  That adds up to $3.5 million in lost salary.  Ouch!

I think six games is probably two games too many.  Between the union possibly fighting it and good behavior, I have a feeling Big Ben will serve four or fewer games.  I am not a Steelers fan but have always respected the Rooney Family and the Steelers franchise.  President Obama is close to the Rooney Family and appointed Mr. Rooney as American Ambassador to Ireland.  Big Ben doesn’t stand a chance against the Rooneys, the NFL, and the President.  (Granted, President Obama isn’t directly involved in the issue but he does like the Steelers after his home town Chicago Bears.)    

The Tank's Bottom Line: The Steelers and the NFL had to do something and set an example that no one is bigger than the team or the NFL.  Big Ben isn't an evil guy but has exercised bad judgment.  I also think the suspension is for his own good.  As a two time Super Bowl winning quarterback, Big Ben can't act like he's in college anymore.  They are too many people out there looking to extort, rob, and endanger the lives of professional athletes, especially in a down economy.  Big Ben doesn't need the Secret Service protection (yet) but needs to exercise better judgment on who he associates with and what situation he is in.

In the meantime, there are rumors that Big Ben maybe traded before tomorrow's draft.  I wouldn't be surprised.  Watch this space.

Posted by The Tank.

Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan is in Miami to coach the AFC All Stars in the Pro Bowl.  He went out to an MMA event.  After ribbing from Dolphins fans, Rex made an obscene gesture.  It is too bad that he did it but it was the heat of the moment.  Rex’s apology is here. 

Posted by a disappointed Tank.  

Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner announced his retirement yesterday.  Warner was a true rags to riches story.  While trying to keep his football dream alive playing in the Arena Football League, Warner bagged groceries in Iowa.  He made it to NFL Europe and then the NFL winning two regular season and one Super Bowl MVP. 

He was a class guy on and off the field.  The Saints had so much respect for them that they held him up instead of drilling him into the ground after he threw a pass.  Granted, he was clocked hard but cleanly while trying to tackle a Saints defender who intercepted his pass.  But, it is hard to find some who would say a bad word about him.

As for his football qualifications, Warner had five great years with the Rams and Cardinals.  His stint with the Giants in between wasn't his best.  Warner showed Eli Manning the ropes and helped him become a Super Bowl Champion.  Warner then took over for Matt Leinart and came close last year.  Knowing that Wayne Chrebet and others still suffer from headaches years after retiring, I don't blame Warner for retiring. 

Contrast Warner’s story with Washington Wizards gun-toting guard Gilbert Arenas.  Arenas was suspended earlier this week for a year by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The Tank’s Bottom Line: Human beings aren’t perfect and make mistakes.  However, I expect a level of decency from people.  I am glad I don’t live in Washington DC anymore and would be in danger with Arenas at the Verizon Center.  It’s sad to see Warner go and hope that Arenas is banned forever from the NBA.

Posted by The Tank.  This article is dedicated to Vicky who is an Arizona Cardinals fan. 

It took Mark McGwire five years but he finally told the truth about his steroid use.  He admitted to using steroids more than a decade starting in 1989.  This was not news as many suspected his steroid use over the years.  In reviewing the different interviews over the past day, here’s what jumps out at me:

(1) McGwire said he didn’t want to talk about the “past” because there was no immunity.  Why wasn’t there any immunity?  Why the Players Union and/or MLB hang him out to dry?  To McGwire’s credit, he didn’t lie like Palmeiro did or forget how to speak English like Sosa.

(2) Why didn’t McGwire know what steroids he used?  WTF?!  Are you kidding me?  A-Rod was taking “bole” and Jason Giambi was taking a female horse steroid according to the New York Times a few years ago.

(3) Why did McGwire apologize to the Maris family?  If he wasn’t guilty, why apologize?  Why not give the record back to Maris?  I remember going to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in a morning around Labor Day 1998.  When I returned in the afternoon, McGwire’s bat from his 62 home run breaking Maris’ record was there.  It was a magical time as the Sosa-McGwire home run race brought baseball back from the 1994 strike.  Ken Griffey was also close on the tally board in Cooperstown but faded before the end.  Did Sosa and McGwire keep going because they were on steroids and Griffey was clean?

(4) Why is the public not as upset at McGwire as they were at A-Rod?  Granted, A-Rod was a current player and arguably the best one in the game.  Why the double standard? 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: McGwire isn’t a Hall of Famer because he is a one trick home run pony.  He wasn’t a good first baseman.  He only hit .263.   McGwire’s confession only helps clear the way for deflating the critics before he starts his new job as the Cardinals hitting coach.  If he didn’t have this new job, he would continue to be as reclusive as ever.  I was then and am old enough now to know that sports isn’t perfect.  I expect some decency and honor, but I guess I was wrong. 

Posted by a cynical and disappointed Tank.  

Editor in Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack updated me on the Gilbert Areans mess as I traveled update for Julian/Old Calendar Christmas on Wednesday afternoon.  NBA Commissioner Stern banned Arenas indefinitely. 

Many thanks to Adam for the correction that Arenas did NOT point a gun at his teammates.  But it small consolation.  God/G-d/Allah/Buddha forbid if a basketball rolled into the chair holding the guns and one or more of the guns discharged.  If fans heard the gunshot, they would stampede out of the arena.  Who knows how many people would get hurt?

The Tank’s Bottom Line: David Stern is one of the best lawyers around.  He should do whatever it takes to make sure Arenas never plays in the NBA again.  I don’t care if he has to get TARP funds to buy out his contract.  Arenas can take his guns to Afghanistan or Iraq.  Time to collect Osama bin Laden’s scalp.  I will then cheer Arenas at the victory parade.

Posted by The Tank.  

Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton reportedly pointed weapons at each other in the locker room over a gambling dispute.  Are you kidding me?  Whenever fans enter a stadium or arena, they are checked for weapons.  What about the players? 

They were reportedly arguing over a poker debt.  Were there other gambling debts at stake?  Was rogue NBA referee Tim Donaghy correct about the rampant gambling in the NBA?  It is well known that Michael Jordan was a major gambler who gambled on everything. 

The Tank’s Bottom Line: Plaxico Burress only had one gun.  Arenas had three weapons.  After a thorough investigation, Arenas and possibly Crittenton need to be suspended for the rest of the season, if not forever. 

Posted by The Tank getting ready for the cold for the Jets-Bengals game in Giants Stadium. 

Andre Agassi recently published a tell all autobiography.  This is rare in an age of public relations handlers who carefully manage a celebrity’s image in a politically correct world.  The only type of tell all books are biographies like Selena Roberts’ book about my buddy A-Rod earlier this year.  I wonder how she is feeling now. 

Back to Andre.  He wrote about his dislike of tennis, use of crystal meth, wearing a wig (who knew), and relationship issues.  Andre has unfortunately been criticized by his chief rival, Pete Sampras, Martina Navratilova, and Roger Federer.  Andre had lots on his mind and should be praised for speak his mind.  Some have called on his revoking his titles.  However, his crystal meth use came at his career low in 1997.  Crystal meth isn’t a performance enhancement drug like steroids or HGH.  Yes, he lied to the ATP about his usage but revoking his titles would be inappropriate. 

Are his critics more critical of his drug use or dislike of tennis?  His dad was abusive and Andre was burned out from being forced to play tennis since five years old.  But he battled through and became of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Andre may get short term criticism but his long term legacy will be strengthened by his courage to clear his conscience and help others.  Most importantly, Andre has done lots with his academy for under privileged children in Las Vegas.  Children are better educated there than elsewhere because they are in school for two hours more a day and two extra weeks a year.  100 percent of graduating students were accepted to college.  The children that graduate from there will define his legacy more than a tell all book.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Monday was 20 years since Pete Rose was given a lifetime ban for gambling on baseball.  I think it was the appropriate punishment.  I worshipped Pete as much as I did Thurman Munson or Reggie Jackson growing up.  I slid face first into home.  Pete played the game the way it was meant to be played.  I felt personally betrayed by his gambling.

Pete's former teammates like Mike Schmidt have come out of the woodwork to comment on his standing.  Schmidt was on "Mike and Mike".  Schmidt was Rose's "liaison" to the Commissioner's Office.

Does Pete Rose belong in the Hall of Fame?  Statistically yes but only after he finishes serving his lifetime sentence.  It's sad that I have to hold this line but he has to pay the price.  He has not shown remorse and continues to be a prisoner of his gambling addiction.  ESPN’s Jayson Stark favors Rose’s admission into the Hall of Fame.  But even Stark admits how Rose screwed up his chance in 2003 by going from a meeting with Commissioner Selig to a Vegas sports book appearance. 

I know some will say that steroid users cheated the game and should be barred from the Hall of Fame like Pete Rose.  Yes, they did but the rules were NOT present or murky at best until the past couple of years.  Rose saw anti-gambling rule every time before he stepped on the field.  Did he ever bet against his team?  That would be an unforgivable sin. 

Posted by a disappointed Tank in NY.