Sold, Re-Signed, Reinstated & Indicted

The news from the world of sprots this week includes a wide variety of miscreants, money hounds, substance abusers and all around not nice guys.

Bad Newz Kennels: Sold

The home Michael Vick owned and out of which the dog fighting operation for which he is currently awaiting sentencing, was sold recently for $450,000. The tax valuation on the property was $747,000.

The property will be auctioned on December 15. Vick will be sentenced on his federal plea arrangement on December 10. In his plea, he admits to having killed under performing dogs, but not to having bet on any fights. He still faces the possibility of state charges being brought against him.

Alex Rodriguez: Re-Signed

The reported deal being worked on is for 10-years and $275 Million - with incentives which could push the total contract amount to over $300 Million; The Yankees are calling these incentive bonuses "historic achievement" bonuses. At any rate, the team and the player are working out scenarios where A-Rod and the Yankees will share the revenue generated by his pursuit of various home run achievements.

Rodriguez has averaged 43-home runs a season in his 4-seasons with the Yankees. At that rate, he would pass Mickey Mantle's career home runs (536) during 2008, Reggie Jackson's (563) in early 2009, Babe Ruth (714) sometime in mid-2012, and the now-indicted Barry Bonds in mid-2013.

Ricky Williams: Reinstated

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was reinstated by the NFL this week following his 18-month suspension for banned substances. He played for one year in the Canadian Football League, but has been out of football this season.

The Miami Dolphins are winless thusfar in the season - 0-9 - and have recently lost their best offensive player, running back Ronnie Brown. These two circumstances likely played into the decision to welcome Williams back to the team.

Barry Bonds: Indicted

Bonds was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on 4-counts of perjury and 1-count of obstruction of justice this week for his testimony in the 2003 proceedings in the BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) steroids case. He had received a grant of immunity from prosecution and only had to give truthful testimony. What he did testify to was a faulty memory and stated he could not recall having used steroids despite being presented with a doping calendar and drug test results.

Curiously, there is no mention of tax evasion in this indictment, although he has been investigated for that as well.

Major League Baseball sources have told ESPN that baseball will not move to suspend Bonds because they believe his career is over.