(With apologies to Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
SLT presents Fines and Punishment - the year in review

Players, coaches, and management tend to sometimes do or say things that cause trouble and result in large fines or suspensions. Here is a short list of some of the transgressions from this past year and the punishments.

In the NFL:

Titans owner, 86 year old Bud Adams, was fined $250,000. for flipping the bird.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2009/11/17/2009-11-17_titans_owner_bud_adams_fined_250000_for_flipping_off_buffalo_bills_fans__twice.html

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fined for speaking out about the upcoming CBA negotiations. Jones was only fined $100,000. for talking about the CBA. So if you ever own an NFL team, remember it's better to speak out about the business of the game, than it is to extend your middle finger.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2009/09/espn-nfl-fines-cowboys-jerry-jones-100000-for-cba-remarks/1

NCAA football:

Hawaii football coach Greg McMakin started off the season being suspended 30 days and having to give up seven percent of his salary for making a gay slur directed at Notre Dame.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4370053

Tennis:

Who can ever forget Serena Williams at the US Open in 2009 as she verbally abused and physically threatened a lineswoman? This action by Serena resulted in fines totaling $95,000.00 and two years probation.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2442590/serena_williams_fined_for_u


MLB:

The SLT hands down winner goes to former Chicago Cub Milton Bradley who, though he was told to go home for the rest of the season, delivered the line of the year to a reporter. " I'm not answering that. What else you got? You got anything significant?"
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090920&content_id=7067878

George Kokinis files arbitration against Browns:
Seeking some $4 million, the Cleveland Browns former GM says that he was promised that team personnel decisions would be fully under his authority, but that this was only a false inducement.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/12/cleveland_browns_fired_gm_geor.html



State agency files condemnation papers and puts the New Jersey Nets new arena closer to becoming a reality:
http://www.sportsdailyfix.com/basketball/new-nets-arena-clears-key-legal-hurdle-ap.html