It’s been a while since we put together some thoughts on sports issues. In about a three month span, a lot has changed. The unexpected should be expected. That much we know with what’s gone on lately. Is anything really a surprise these days?

Let’s find out what we think! In no particular order:

1.It’s very easy to have Michael Vick guilty and locked up. However, what isn’t known at this point is what his involvement was in the federal dogfighting indictment case. The allegations are as serious as it gets. And no matter what you believe, the Atlanta Falcons star quarterback had to have some responsibility for what took place on his property. The evidence that was recovered doesn’t bode well when he is arraigned Thursday. With the Falcons also looking into suspending him but holding off due to an NFL probe in the matter, you have to figure that at the very least, he won’t take a snap in 2007. The more important question is whether or not he’s guilty and will get serious jail time. Until proven otherwise, it’s too early to rush to judgment.

2.The sad FBI gambling investigation of former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is an awful hit to the NBA’s credibility. Donaghy was a league official for 13 years and considered to be in the upper echelon. Before this disturbing case came up, there were a couple of unrelated incidents off the court which could’ve been seen as red flags. NBA commissioner David Stern finally addressed the important matter yesterday morning during a lengthy 70-minute press conference in New York, referring to it as “the most serious situation and worst situation that I have ever experienced either as a fan of the NBA.”

NBA officials aren’t permitted to bet on their own games let alone go to a casino. According to Stern, the only time they can gamble is during the summer at the race track.

The case first was brought up to the league by the FBI on June 20 with the two sides meeting the very next day. Donaghy resigned on July 9 and recently put his Florida home up for sale only a year after purchasing it. A plea could be made later this week.

Stern did ask the fans to give the league the benefit of the doubt but the lingering question persists if any diehard sportsfan will ever fully trust sports officials ever again. Who’s to say this couldn’t happen in another sport? You never really know.

As an older son of a high school sports official, what I do know is how hard my father works at trying to get the calls right. No matter if it’s on the hardwood or field, he gives it his best effort. Sometimes during games, officials will get calls wrong. It happens. As fans, we must remember that they’re only human and do mess up. See the 1985 World Series which cost the Cardinals.

The problem when something as devastating as this comes down is that it changes the perception. In many games we watch, referees are already under the gun for how they officiate. Now, every call will be more scrutinized.

A good official is someone who has integrity and has a passion for whatever sport they’re on. And most importantly, they can’t be bought!

You just have to wonder though what the reaction will be the next time one makes a pivotal call which decides a game.

3.The other big story will continue to be Barry Bonds’ pursuit of history as he chases Hank Aaron. Needing just two more home runs to tie Homerin’ Hank’s mark of 755 set back in 1976, there’s little doubt that the controversial San Francisco Giants slugger will get the three homers he needs to become the new Home Run King.

It’s been such an uncelebrated story because of all the question marks regarding the legitimacy when it finally becomes official. It’s hard to get as excited for this for that reason. Bonds wasn’t the most personable athlete before BALCO. He’s made reporters’ lives covering this home run chase a living nightmare. He’s unwilling to really give them much. In some ways, I can’t even blame the guy because it’s an impossible situation to be in.

This is one of the game’s greatest players we’ve ever seen and yet it feels like we’re being cheated. A great record such as Aaron’s (the definition of consistency and class) should be celebrated by all of baseball.

Instead, you have Bonds viewed as Public Enemy No.1. He was a great player before the allleged juicing began. A bonafide superstar who was a 40/40 threat and a perennial Gold Glove left fielder, Bonds could truly do it all. Hit. Run. Field. He was a fun player to watch. And that’s the sad aspect of this whole thing. This is what he’s become. A side show. There are few players who are bigger than the game. Barry Bonds is and not for all the reasons he should be.

One day when all this passes over, the torch should be passed to Alex Rodriguez who just a few days short of turning 32 is a couple of dingers shy of becoming the youngest major leaguer to ever reach 500 home runs. During the All-Star Game festivities in Pac Bell Bark a couple of weeks ago, Bonds already was on record as saying he’d be in attendance when A-Rod surpasses him for the record.

A good PR move on his part at the time due to the uncertainty surrounding whether baseball commish Bud Selig would be in attendance when the seven-time NL MVP breaks Aaron’s record. To Selig’s credit, he’s attended the last four games Bonds has taken part in (3 in Milwaukee) including tonight against Atlanta (tied at four heading to extras with Bonds 1-for-4).

It would’ve looked bad if Selig didn’t go because whatever took place in regards to performance enhancing drugs was under his watch. Ultimately, he’s made the right decision here. Baseball can’t really go all out to celebrate this record when it happens. But they need to be there when history is made regardless. It’s that kind of responsibility that falls on Selig these days.
4.I’m like many others when I sit here and ponder why it couldn’t be a healthy Ken Griffey, Jr. instead. It’s nice to see the kid with the big smile and sweet stroke going strong again with 24 long balls and 587 encounting on his way to 600.

5.Former retired Giant turned NBC broadcaster Tiki Barber makes himself look like even more of a hypocrite in a recent piece written on coach Tom Coughlin and the current state of Big Blue by the NY Daily News’ Gary Myers. We’ve never been a fan of Coughlin but as great a player as Tiki was, he was nothing but a team distraction last year.

When you have one of his teammates in Antonio Pierce referring to 2006 as “The Tiki Barber Show,” you know just how bad things were. For Tiki to act like he never even knew his teammate the last couple of years is sad and shows just how out to lunch he really is. That’s why even with questions surrounding the two-headed ground attack of Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns, the Giants just might be better off.

6.Could someone tell Michael Strahan to just report to camp this week instead of getting jealous everytime a younger defensive end with more left in the tank gets a big payday. Just come to work and prove you still have it?

7.Few athletes were ever as classy as Jets’ running back Curtis Martin. The man was the consumate pro with both the Patriots and Gang Green in the last decade and worthy of a place in Canton, Ohio.

8.Do the Nets really think Jamaal Magloire is the missing piece?

9.Is there a better hitter in baseball than Chase Utley? He was my preseason NL MVP and still is even if the Phillies once again disappoint their fans and don’t make October.

10.You can look at the remarkable season A-Rod’s having and justify whatever he gets when he opts out. But for as special a year as he’s had, the real reasons for the Bronx revival are the huge second halfs Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano are having. It’s also hard to leave out Andy Phillips at first when he’s not only played outstanding defense but even hit the ball well enough for Joe Torre to play him everyday. Remember when Josh Phelps had his spot? Exactly.

11.Who ever would’ve believed two months ago that Luis Vizcaino would become the Yankees’ most dependable reliever to get the ball to Mariano Rivera?

12.The Mets are finally playing better as big guns Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado are showing signs of coming out of it. If anyone’s checked out their 2007 situational stats, they’d be petrified. As special as Jose Reyes and David Wright are to the offense, the Amazin’s aren’t winning anything without the Carlos duo. They must produce when it counts.

13.Out of all the weaknesses on the Mets, the biggest need isn’t starter. It’s reliever. If they can land another late inning guy such as the Nats’ Chad Cordero, Omar Minaya needs to do it.

14.Most overlooked budding young superstar in a crowded Senior Circuit: Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez who gets overshadowed by Reyes, J.J. Hardy and Jimmy Rollins.

15.Will there be a day that Lindsay Lohan doesn’t break the law? Is she trying to compete with Britney Spears?

16.Guess Sergio Garcia will never win the big one. At least Andy Roddick doesn’t have to listen to that.

17.Grady Little going to washed up reliever Roberto Hernandez late in a tie game last Friday against the Mets was just Grady Little being Grady Little. Some things never change.

18.How come whenever there’s a big play in a Mets game, SNY’s Gary Gohen screams? If he was really as good as some claim, he wouldn’t need to go to such extremes.

19.His team might stink as usual but B.J. Upton is a special player. Superstar.

20.Who makes Yankee fans more nervous?

A.Kyle Farn$worth

B.Kei Igawa

C.Mike Mussina

21.Mike Lupica says the Yankees have no excuses but how much better would the Yankee rotation look with Phil Hughes than Igawa? Newsflash to Mr. Know It All: Hughes is not Mike Pelfrey.