The American people? Seriously, the American people? By then, the delusions of grandeur had overwhelmed Alex Rodriguez to the point where the people by his side, the army of by-the-hour fix-it flacks with the sorts of fancy degrees he always wanted, understood they needed to feed his fallacies lest they find themselves unemployed. So he would talk to America, even if America already had judged him. Nobody cared that A-Rod still was processing his father abandoning him at nine years old, even if it helped define him far more than his swing or his glove. It was easy to ignore that, and if America does one thing, it's take the easy way out with A-Rod. Even if America is tired of the steroid blather, the Schadenfrod is overwhelming. After fruitless negotiations, Rodriguez and Major League Baseball couldn't settle on a mutually acceptable punishment for his alleged years of PED use, lies about it and feeble attempt at a coverup, and we're left with the mess of today: an unprecedented 211-game suspension, an immediate appeal by Rodriguez and his return to the field for the New York Yankees on Monday night in Chicago. The documents from the Biogenesis clinic first came to light in January, and along with testimony from founder Anthony Bosch, it left Rodriguez cornered and with a choice: accept a long ban, longer than any in history short of those expelled from the game, or fight via arbitration. [ Related: Alex Rodriguez suspended for 211 games for Biogenesis ties ] Best thing in baseball. People adored his talent. Drove Ferraris. Dated Madonna. America remembers Canseco for his biceps, his book called "Juiced" and his bonkers drug conspiracy theories with seeds of truth. And more than the home runs and baseball brilliance, it will remember Rodriguez for his needle-pocked fall. The severity of the punishment is the closest baseball will come to the death penalty, reserved for a face big enough to make the steroid Mount Rushmore. Rodriguez earned that spot alongside Canseco, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. A-Rod has spent more than half his life in this game, so abiding by his wish and judging him from that February day forward is not an option. He devoted his life to this sport, a life with seminal moments that barreled toward this conclusion, and this is the ultimate nadir. Just because he's playing tonight doesn't take away the truth about the man who once was supposed to be the clean home run king. Baseball no longer wants him. Makes sense to go back only because Rodriguez couldn't stop talking about it at his press conference, how young and stupid he was. The last time an 18-year-old played at this level was 1978. The same fame-industrial complex that leaves Justin Bieber thinking it's OK to spit on peopleand Amanda Bynes thinking it's OK to light driveways on fire helped turn Alex Rodriguez into the sort of megalomaniac who speaks to entire countries and thinks they listen. America listens today because of the money. All the money. Until now, the biggest contract in professional sports belonged to the NBA's Kevin Garnett: $126 million. The Texas Rangers doubled that for A-Rod. The Rangers eventually filed for bankruptcy and A-Rod kept cashing $2 million-plus biweekly checks, hitting home runs, producing at a historic level. [ Related: MLB's Biogenesis investigation leads to 13 more suspensions ] Yeah. There's probably that. Until then, Alex was still a kid, just 25 years old, single, and frighteningly myopic toward baseball. The Rangers are done with A-Rod. The fit was never right anyway. He chased the money, and everyone in Texas knew that, and with baseball and money there's this weird guilt foisted on those who make the most. A-Rod's scarlet letter is a dollar sign. On the contrary, during his three years with the Rangers he has hit 156 home runs, leading the league each season, driven in almost 400 runs and won an MVP award. He is the best player in baseball. One conquest alleged that a picture of a centaur hung above his bed – and it featured A-Rod's torso and head. For 10 years now, A-Rod has worn pinstripes. In the middle of the World Series between Boston and Colorado, Rodriguez informs the Yankees he is opting out of his $252 million contract. Rodriguez is immune by now. [ Related: Alex Rodriguez says he will 'fight this through the process' ] In truth, A-Rod hadn't changed. All season long, Rodriguez had traveled with his cousin, Yuri Sucart, and a personal trainer named Angel Presinal, who six years earlier had been banned from baseball clubhouses because he was caught with a bag full of steroids. The Yankees ignored that and every warning sign – A-Rod's predilection for providing the sort of headaches Advil cannot alone defeat, the dreadful history of players performing past their 40th birthday – ponied up the cash A-Rod wanted and are left staring now at a best-case scenario that includes three more years and nearly $65 million due an old, broken-down, serial PED user. A-Rod just won the World Series. There's a story on the Miami New Times website accusing Alex Rodriguez of receiving ludicrous amounts of PEDs from a quack in South Florida named Anthony Bosch. In his logbooks, Bosch refers to Rodriguez as "Cacique." It means boss. Rodriguez admitted to taking Primobolan from 2001-03 and also tested positive for testosterone. A month after the February 2009 press conference, Rodriguez needed hip surgery, and during this time he sought treatment from Anthony Galea, a Canadian doctor who later was caught with PEDs and pleaded guilty to criminal charges. No matter how untrue it was, Rodriguez felt like he needed more, and it guided his choices. [ Twitter: MLB players react to Alex Rodriguez's suspension ] The last year, even by A-Rod's standards, has been trying. His game collapsed in October, andYankees manager Joe Girardi pinch hit for him late in games and even benched in the playoffs. Rodriguez sent an Instagram photo of himself and his hip surgeon declaring he was ready to play. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told him to "shut the [expletive] up." Plenty of those who considered themselves the nuclei that kept the electron that is Rodriguez from straying too far were either pushed away or left Rodriguez. It's A-Rod, a girlfriend, one friend, a real-estate guy, his mom, his employees and an ocean of sadness saturating his world of defiance. Baseball gave Alex Rodriguez the longest non-lifetime suspension in history today. The penalty dwarfs the 65-game suspension given to Ryan Braun almost two weeks ago. Rodriguez wants to salvage as much of his salary as possible. Rodriguez wants to save his reputation by prevailing inside an arbitrator's chambers. Amid all of baseball's bullying, the Yankees' matching Rodriguez's passive-aggressiveness, the media's haranguing, the public's cries for a ban, he has not broken. [ Video: Alex Rodriguez's phenomenal fall from star to pariah ] It was an idle offer, for anybody who truly wants to be judged amends his behavior, and, if anything, A-Rod's has worsened. Most important were what seemed like throwaway words toward the end: "Baseball is a lot bigger than Alex Rodriguez."

Winning the Heisman trophy in December was the perfect ending to Johnny Manziel's 2012 campaign — one of the most impressive freshman seasons in college football history. Yet it was just the beginning to one of the most memorable, tumultuous offseasons ever. As Manziel's future college eligibility remains in question in the aftermath of a report that the Texas A&M quarterback accepted money for signing memorabilia, USA TODAY Sports backtracks through the defending Heisman winner's wild offseason. January: Following A&M's Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma, he visited the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma for some late-night gambling. He tweeted a photo, which went viral on the web, with friends flashing money. In response to backlash from the photo, Manziel tweeted, "Nothing illegal about being 18+ in a casino and winning money...KEEP HATING!" The night after winning big, he was spotted by TMZ popping bottles of champagne in a Dallas-area club. — Sat courtside at a Jan. 15 Los Angeles Clippers-Houston Rockets game and met Chris Paul. At the end of the month, Manziel collaborated with trick-shot specialist group, "Dude Perfect" to create a video. February: Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans and posed for a pictures with Ole Miss linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche and Hollywood celebrities Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel. March: Shoved a graduate assistant in frustration after throwing an interception during a spring football scrimmage. — Attended a Drake concert in Toronto, at one point calling it the "highlight" of his offseason. — Was photographed with a fake tattoo of Texas A&M's archrival Texas Longhorns on a spring break trip to Cabo San Lucas. — During March Madness, tweeted support to fellow NCAA athlete Marshall Henderson of Ole Miss. April: Threw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game and met Nolan Ryan and Mike Trout. — During a visit back home in Kerrville, attended a charity event and was photographed in a car with a marijuana cigarette, later revealed to be a photoshopped image. — Took in a New York Yankees game and UFC 59 on the same day. May: Re-enacted the scramble, fumble and touchdown pass from A&M's 2012 upset win against Alabama while throwing out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game. — Trained with quarterback coach George Whitfield Jr. — Shot a 79 in a round of golf with his parents at Pebble Beach. June: Tweeted and subsequently deleted, "(Expletive) like tonight is a reason why I can't wait to leave College Station...whenever it may be." Followed that up by tweeting, "Don't ever forget that I love A&M with all my heart, but please, please walk a day in my shoes." It was later revealed that the anger stemmed from a parking ticket. — Was featured in the video for country artist Granger Smith's song "Silverado Bench Seat". July: Left the Manning Passing Academy after missing meetings. Manziel apologized at SEC Media Days, saying: "I simply overslept. There's nothing more to talk, and the rumors about the other things weren't really true." Peyton Manning later defended Manziel, saying he wanted him back next year. — Flew to Los Angeles from SEC Media Days for the ESPYs, where he took home an award for Best Male College Athlete. — Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor stemming from a 2012 bar fight in College Station. Manziel admitted to failure to identify. Other charges against him, including disorderly conduct, were dismissed. — Was photographed attending parties at University of Texas fraternities. — Manziel's parents expressed their worry for their son in an ESPN story. It is revealed that Manziel underwent alcohol counseling and therapy for anger issues. August: The day before Texas A&M's first practice, ESPN's Outside The Lines reported that Manziel agreed to sign memorabilia in exchange for a "five-figure flat fee" during a trip to the site of the BCS National Championship.

Throughout Monday night’s finale of the ABC reality display The Bachelorette, the manufacturers disclosed that a contestant on the show, Juan Pablo Galavis, would become the next celebrity of the companion sequence, The Bachelor. This is applicable to the sporting world, however tangentially, because Galavis was an carried out expert soccer player, where he expended three years playing in the Venezuelan first partition for Aragua, Guaros de Lara and Monagas Sport association. Galavis performed a total of 16 corresponds in his Venezuelan soccer vocation, with his one stat being a yellow business card in a 2007 agree with Guaros de Lara. In 2008, Galavis marked with now-defunct Miami F.C., which performed in the joined Soccer League’s first partition from 2006-2009. Galavis was also an thriving school player in the U.S., and is tied for third-most assists at Roberts Wesleyan College with 25. What impact does his soccer vocation have on his role as The Bachelor? It doesn’t, but now you have all these useful Juan Pablo Galavis facts to influence your associates during your Bachelor watch parties.

Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Young signed a one-year contract with the Packers following a successful workout with the team. ESPN's Ed Werder was the first to report the imminent signing. The team announced Young's signing Tuesday morning. Rapoport reported that Young planned to attend the Packers' quarterback meeting Monday night. The signal-caller makes his NFL return after a one-year hiatus. He was cut by the Buffalo Bills last summer after he somehow managed to lose the backup quarterback job to Tyler Thigpen. Young has had additional stops with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans. Young's arrival can help the Packers in both the short and long term. Green Bay opens the season with games against the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, two teams with mobile quarterbacks who Young can emulate in practice. Young also can serve as a more dependable backup to Rodgers. Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman have done little to inspire confidence in the early stages of camp. This is the opportunity Young has been waiting for, and the reason he chose not to sign with a Canadian Football League team this summer. Now we'll see if the 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year can take advantage of it.

Chris Siegfried, the baseball player turned mortgage broker who jokingly proposed to Desiree Hartsock on the first night, got down on one knee for real during an emotional “Bachelorette” finale in Antigua. “I’m thankful that we were able to create all of those memories,” Chris told a teary-eyed Des. Chris, I love you. I love you so much.” And with that, Chris slid a gorgeous Neil Lane diamond onto Des’ finger as she stood on a breathtaking cliff overlooking the ocean in a pale pink gown. A good chunk of the episode was Des in tears over frontrunner Brooks Forester’s sudden departure last week. “I just want to go home, to be honest,” Des had told surprised host Chris Harrison, who later called the season “shocking” and “uncharted” territory. Des decided to still have a rose ceremony and explain to a baffled Chris and Drew Kenney what went down. “[Brooks leaving] turned my world upside down,” she told them. Although Drew was offered and accepted one of the roses, Des sent him home shortly after, minutes into a horseback-riding date. Although Chris was the last one standing, Des still needed to sort out her feelings for Brooks. “Seeing Chris walk up [on the beach] was different than Drew in a good way,” Des said (as she finally stopped crying.) A pleased Des told Chris she wanted him to meet her family. Enter scary brother Nate, who notoriously ripped apart Bachelor Sean Lowe, calling him a “playboy.” Nate began to fire off questions to an obviously nervous Chris. “Part of me is worried that my brother will keep digging,” Des said. “If you choose him, I definitely think you’re making the right choice,” Nate said. Chris also received Des’ father’s approval, and a good end to the “Bachelorette” fairytale seemed within sight. But what about Brooks? “Chris is the man I could love for my entire life, but at the same time, Chris doesn’t know how I felt about Brooks and he deserves to know everything,” Des said, later making the decision to pause Chris’s proposal with a disclaimer. “I was torn apart by Brooks leaving. I loved him. Once the Brooks awkwardness was over and it was clear where Des’ heart was now, a thrilled Chris launched into his proposal. “Yes, a thousand times,” Des said beaming. “Chris was always there and I was always falling in love with him.” Then—for the first time in public—Chris and Des were reunited.

Ohio – Rookie Devonte Holloman’s 75-yard interception come back with a tilted overtake keyed the Dallas Cowboys’ 24-20 triumph over the Miami Dolphins in the auditorium of Fame Game on Sunday evening that opened the league’s exhibition time of the year. The sixth-round draft pick from South Carolina was flawlessly situated when rookie receiver Chad Bumphis had Matt Moore’s pass proceed off his hands in the second quarter. It was the biggest play for a Dallas protecting against swapping to a 4-3 alignment under new coordinator Monte Kiffin. The Cowboys controlled most of the game one night after their previous offensive lineman, Larry Allen, and previous adviser, account Parcells, were inducted into the auditorium. Quarterback Tony Romo, approaching off back surgery to remove a cyst, sat out for Dallas. Bumphis else had a powerful game, with five receptions for 85 backyards. But Miami’s errors were resolute. “I considered we’d play better,” Miami adviser Joe Philbin said. Eagles’ Cooper gets risks PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Eagles receiver Riley Cooper has been dispatched threatening notes after a video of him making a racial slur became public. The Eagles notified the league’s security department. Cooper was penalised by the Eagles after his slur became renowned Wednesday. He left the group Friday to search counseling. The video of Cooper was taken at a Kenny Chesney live performance in June. Cooper acknowledged Wednesday and Thursday.

Raven-Symone: Overflowing Support After She Comes Out Apparently celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn The Defense of Marriage Act and the recent legalizations of gay marriage in Rhode Island and Minnesota, Raven took to Twitter, saying, “I can finally get married! Yay government! So proud of you.” Many took the tweet as an official coming out announcement from Raven, who has been rumored to be gay before, and thousands of fans began celebrating along with the 27-year-old star on Twitter almost immediately. As of August 3, Raven’s original tweet has been retweeted 11,791 times and favorited another 10,114 times! “Proud of my idol!!” Raven wrote back to all of her supporters. Raven-Symone: But Is She Getting Married? Raven also responded to the outpouring in an official statement, reinforcing how happy she is about marriage equality, but also clarifying that she isn’t tying the knot just yet. “I am very happy that gay marriage is opening up around the country and is being accepted,” Raven said. “I was excited to hear today that more states legalized gay marriage.