[Sam Hill]

But there must be "nuances" that the green states don't understand.

[Sam Hill]

A "Great Divide" ping.

[Wolfie]

One that believes in playing by the rules, and one that doesn't.

Heck, give him amnesty. It's all the rage these days.

[Issaquahking]

I see "Nagin's country" as part of the DILLIGAFF group. No wonder everyone left at the first opportunity...

[GadareneDemoniac]

The great liberal dream is a life without consequences.

[Paleo Conservative]

Yellow is the perfect color for those states.

[Mr. Mojo]

One that believes in playing by the rules, and one that doesn't.

Does it say somewhere in the rules that if a college player receives cash and gifts from marketing agents that his individual awards (in his case, the Heisman) are to be taken away and that the team he played for (which, btw, didn't break any rules) is to be stripped of national championship titles (if they won any)?

[gridlock]

The Heisman voting was obviously rigged by DIEBOLD!

[vetvetdoug]

Looks like to me that Auburn has just been the rightful recipient of its honestly earned National Championship. If the NCAA can punish Universities for their mascots, surely they can do the right thing and give the rightful winner of the National Championship their due.

[photodawg]

But there must be "nuances" that the green states don't understand.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Of course. The poor baby was exploited by the money grubbing University athletic department that capitalized on his talent and only gave him a $120,000.00 education, including free room and board, work study money, academic support, weekend and game day meal money of $100 a day, and access to university resources for the rest of his life. (sarc.)

Interesting that most of the heavy high school football breeding grounds are in the green states. Also if we substitute red for green and blue for yellow you would get a close corollary to the national political breakdown. Hmmmmmmm?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

There's another reasonable explanation.

The orange states are mostly those around California -- where I there is most likely a concentration of USC fans -- and the northeast, where, let's face it, big-time college football is scarce.

In most of the green states, there are major college football teams -- teams that compete either directly or indirectly with USC for the national championship. (The one state that seriously bucks this trend is Louisiana.)

I suspect people are voting not so much on the ethics of the case, but based on how such sanctions would affect their team.

[raybbr]

How do they know where you are voting from?

[SoCal Pubbie]

Is there an option to choose "How about we wait and find out the facts beyond the accusations of sleazy online "journalists" and convicted gang bangers before we answer the question?"

This strikes me as a "Have you stopped beating your wife" kind of question. Do the words Duke Lacrosse ring any bells?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Flyover country just hates USC because they're jealous.

[indcons]

Not surprising in the least! That said, imagine the uproar from the West coast and the Northeast if this were an SEC team instead. There would be daily articles in the NY Slimes, SF Chronicle, and other rags denouncing the players, teams, fans, schools, and heck, even their dogs.

I guess the rules are different when you belong to protected conferences like the PAC-10.

[indcons]

Ping

[montag813]

I think the sports columnists are going way overboard with calling for ridiculous punishments against USC and Bush. These goodies were given by parasites trying to become Bush's agent. BIG DEAL.

Bush was not paid by USC to attend the school
Bush was not paid by an NFL franchise to collude in the draft.
The agents are now suing Bush saying he promised they would represent him, proving that they were only in this to extort money from him.
It was clear from age 10 that Reggie Bush would be one of the greatest athletes in history. Why shouldn't he benefit from his talents. NO ONE WAS HURT by the agents greedy (and foolish, since they didn't get his business) largesse.

[montag813]

One that believes in playing by the rules, and one that doesn't.

Oh stop being such a paintywaist. Leave Bush alone to pursue his brilliant career, and leave USC alone to enjoy its legacy. The time to deal with this was at the time. Not now. Reggie Bush didn't do anything wrong. He is an athlete. That is his job. He does it brilliantly. Only a jealous wimp would cry about this trivial matter after the fact.

[staytrue]

Here is my nuance.

Bush should give up the Heisman.

No sanctions against USC unless complicity is shown.

Sanctions against USC is like reparations against all white men for slavery. It is stupid.

[Miss Marple]

How very interesting! This map shows us where the enemy is holed up.

We need a few more issues which would fall along the same lines, and then we can cut them off and ignore them!

[US Navy guy]

What's up w/ N. Dakota!?