Well, it is that time of year again, when all the columnists get all mushy and tell their faithful readers whom they appreciated during the semester, and whom they love, and what they plan to do this summer.

As for me … yeah right. I won’t fill you up with that, but rather take a good look at sports.

Where are sports heading? I don’t know, but it doesn’t look good. Salaries are increasing, egos are increasing, and quality players are decreasing.

My favorite example to show what is wrong with sports is in the NFL otherwise known as the No Fun League. No fun is right. Usually a couple years in this league forces a player to take a pay cut or hit the road unless he was a true standout that other teams covet.

One example is Neil Smith, a great defensive back who deserved a nice tribute from Kansas City for all his service to the team, but rather they never even extended a deal. I know that Smith is a player on the decline, but Derrick Thomas still likes him, and he is still is better than most. Why wasn’t he offered a contract?

Smith wasn’t offered a contract for the same reason almost all players are cut anymore. His salary was too high and the team could not offer him compensation because of the salary cap.

That may be fine if this were an isolated case, but it seems that almost every team in the NFL will have to cut players to sign their rookies.

Ever wonder why the sixth round of the draft has become so important lately? That is where teams get a lot of their starters anymore.

These cheap inferior players earn at least half the salary of a veteran and could, possibly, maybe, hopefully, turn out better.

As a matter of fact, 72 percent of all players drafted between the fourth and seventh rounds last year, were retained.

Last year, I couldn’t believe it when I heard the Rams were planning on building their future around a second-round draft pick quarterback, Tony Banks. Now, it is becoming just how obvious how important that second-round draft pick is.

What becomes more upsetting is that, despite teams struggling to make the salary cap constrictions, athletes still demand more money. Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions running back, is not attending practices because he makes less than team quarterback Scott Mitchell.

Barry, if you made as much money as Scott, your salaries would equal one-quarter of the salary cap for your team. Oh well, the team better start signing their late-round draft picks and now!

I picked football as an example, but the other three big sports are just as guilty.

Hockey, baseball and basketball all are starting to become more affected by the dollar and not talent.

Why do I still pay attention to sports?

Rotisserie sports play a factor, but the real reason was answered two weeks ago, when a friend asked me why I pay so much attention to sports, I looked him straight in the eye and said, “No girlfriend.”

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CADEREMSBURG is a senior in journalism form Ames.