Just say the Nickname, Nothing Else

"Bengals on the two yard line. Dalton takes the snap, hands it off to the Lawfirm, BenJarvus Green Ellis who punches it it for another Cincinnati."

While there are many issues with the quote above, there's only one that truly irks me.

No it's not the fact that Dalton is a 6'2'' redheaded quarterback or that Cincinnati actually scored a touchdown. Instead, it's the unnecessary addition of saying BenJarvus Green Ellis' nickname if you're just going to say his name anyway.

Isn't the point of nicknames to shorten the player's original name? When was the last time you heard, "Ben Roethlisberger Big Ben throws for another interception!" The answer? Go head think about it. Never. Because his nick name isn't Ben Roethlisberger Big Ben. It's Big Ben. The reason you say the nickname is because it's associated with him. Saying both is completely redundant. If you have to say his nickname along with his name, then the nickname isn't worthy enough.

Now many not every announcer does this, but so far this year, that's all I've heard when they refer to BenJarvus Green Ellis. Either stick with the nickname or drop it completely. People are going to start thinking it's part of his name, which is already long enough as it is.

Imagine if we all talked like that. "I'm going to the ATM Automated Teller Machine to take out some dough money so I can get a Whopper burger from BK Burger King."

The sad part is, the Lawfirm is a great nickname. It's short, sweet, and witty. Whoever gave it to him has a pat on the back coming to them, but only if analysts and announcers use it in the right context.

While I'm on my nickname rant, here's a few other examples that drive me up a wall. The Lakers, The Jazz and Boomer. There's no Lakes in Los Angeles, Utah isn't known for their Jazz, and there's like 10 people in sports nicknamed boomer. That includes Chris Berman, David Wells and Norman Esiason. All three of which are nicknamed Boomer.

To relax myself from this rant, here's some memorable one and only nicknames that also don't need a name attached to it when it's said:

The Bambino, The Bus, He Hate Me, Magic, Ochocinco, Coach K, Big Ben, Sweetness, The Big Tuna, The Golden Bear, The Walrus, Boom Boom, The Great One, Sid the Kid, The Flying Tomato, Big Papi, Donnie Baseball, The Freak, Kung Fu Panda, Mr. October, Yaz, Teddy Ballgame, Stan the Man. Honestly I could go on and one but then when would I make my point.

Respect the Past, Don't Punish the Present

It will go down in history as one of the most insanely publicized, criticized, and scrutinized off seasons any athletic program has ever been through.

After more than a year of social media torture and Penn State can finally take a deep breath and look back at what should be considered one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history.

In less than a year after losing their coach, athletic director, vice president, multiple recruits, and former players, the Penn State football program was able to finish the 2012 season with an impressive 8-4 record. That's not even considering their 6-2 record in the Big Ten, which would be considered tied for second best in the conference with Michigan and behind Nebraska. (Ohio State went 8-0 but is also considered ineligible for post season play.)

That's the underlying issue with their impressive record. Penn State won't be rewarded for their accomplishments. In any way except for the "what if" factor. That's because the NCAA has not only fined the school $60 million dollars but also banned the football program for four postseasons, inevitably making them bowl ineligible.

Teams that aren't even half as good as Penn State are eligible to participate in bowl games. However, because of a assistant coach and his posy of protectors, the students and program now have to suffer. I'm in no way saying that Sandusky and company didn't get what they deserve, but I am upset that it affects the players.

These athletes made a life changing commitment to attend Penn State. Now their being punished for something they not only had any control over but for something that didn't even happen while they attended the school. This is where the NCAA needs to draw the line and throw out the bowl suspensions. The current players shouldn't be punished for a successful season.

There's an easy solution that the NCAA needs to consider. You let the program play in what ever bowl game they earn but you don't include the royalties that come with it. No extra incentives, no scholarship money, no funds for the program. They played their way to a bowl so make them pay their way to the bowl. It's a simple solution that takes care of both sides of the issue. You're not rewarding the program but you're allowing the players who didn't do anything wrong except get an education and play football to play in a bowl game they deserve to be in.

Other than the recent spot light that Notre Dame has seen because of their undefeated record, Penn State has practically had the spotlight to themselves since the original Jerry Sandusky allegations. Granted they only faced two ranked teams,(#16 Nebraska and #24 Northwestern) but Penn State still beat Wisconsin who is playing against Nebraska in the Big Ten title game.

It's about respecting the past and not punishing the present, or future for that matter. The NCAA messed up with this one, because it's the current players that are suffering not the excuses for a staff that messed up years before them.