Summary of new book, "Reality Check"

Tasha Everett is a walking Lifetime movie special. She has overcome the loss of her brother in the Iraqi war, her mother's drug abuse to prescription medications and her father's alcoholism. She is Billups County High School valedictorian, a full college scholarship recipient and she is gay. When Tasha's body is found on the side of the road, the detectives must determine whether her death is caused by a hit and run accident, a hate crime, or something more heinous.

For Suzanne Tucker, life was a road that few people traveled down in happiness. Unable to bear children, her husband leaving her and being underappreciated at her job made her one of those people. By the looks of things, starting over was not a bad idea. However, starting over could only be successful if you had a plan and a plan she did have. After separating from her estranged husband, Suzanne makes a bold move in the one area she can control, her career. She starts an anonymous blog to report the real news…or is it? When the creditability of her postings is called into question, salvaging her reputation becomes insignificant in comparison to the major aftermath to come.

Who's the real violators?

I just saw on ESPN that Reggie Bush may be stripped of his 2005 Heisman Trophy award due to receiving "improper benefits" while attending USC. Receiving these benefits made him ineligible to play for the 2005 season which means he should not have been a candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

ESPN.com new reads, "The NCAA ruled that Bush received lavish gifts from two fledgling sports marketers hoping to sign him. The men paid for everything from hotel stays and a rent-free home where Bush's family apparently lived to a limousine and a new suit when he accepted his Heisman in New York in December 2005."

The school (USC) has already received punishment for "lack of institutional control", being handed by the NCAA four years' probation, a two-year bowl ban and a reduction in football scholarships.

Here's my hypothetical question, what punishment did the sports marketers receive? (Nothing, I'm sure). We always hear about violations committed by the student athletes and/or coaches and they and the school pays the price but what about the sports agents who entice these young athletes with promises of money, fame and stardom? What is being done to keep them from tempting these athletes to break the rules, especially those from disadvantaged or poverty stricken backgrounds? I'm pretty sure it the athletes didn't sought out the agents so why are they and the schools the only ones being punished?

Do you think the NCAA should enforce the rules for all parties involved in these violations, including the sports agents? Do you think punishments enforced on the sports agents will make a difference? Will they stop or just find sneakier ways of breaking the rules?

Tell me your thoughts!