Way of the world: Big-time athletics leaves fans cold -- whether it is college or professional

If you were looking for some good news to make you feel better Thursday, college athletics was not the place.

After committing what have been called serious violations, the University of North Carolina ditched its football coach and its athletics director resigned -- and across the country, the University of Oklahoma tried to squirm its way out of a repeat offender consequence.

And that is, of course, on the heels of scandals involving the University of Southern California and The Ohio State University.

So what happened to Carolina? Simple. A bunch of boosters and fans got caught up in the idea that the school could be a two-sport powerhouse, and someone decided that winning was more important than following the rules.

And that is, in part, because everybody else is not following the rules.

College athletics used to be about friendly competition and paying for school. Now, it is about TV time, big ticket sales and bragging rights.

Most players worry more about potential professional contracts than they do about their education.

Let's face it: It is a business.

And what is really sad about it, is that we really do not understand what we have lost.

Winning without honor is the norm anymore. And it is damaging schools and ruining young men and women.

Carolina got caught up in the hype.

Let's hope there is a little more perspective now.

Published in Editorials on July 29, 2011 11:01 AM