ESPN seems a lot like Court TV lately as legal and ethics controversies swirl around baseball's new home run king, a veteran basketball referee, a football star and cyclists in the recent Tour de France bike race. The summer of scandals raises tough challenges for sports officials, who want to reassure fans that athletes and their contests are worth admiring.

Clouds darkening professional sports come from evidence of steroid use in baseball, an FBI game-fixing investigation of the former NBA ref, federal dog-fighting charges against quarterback Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons and suspected use of performance-assisting drugs by cyclists kicked out of the race across France.
San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds is a target of suspicion and scorn because of reported steroid use that many people believe aided – and tainted – Tuesday's achievement of beating the career record of 755 home runs set by Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves in 1976.

It’s inevitable, some observers say, that pro sports are hit from time to time by misdeeds related to drugs, gambling, greed or glory-seeking – though this season’s multiple controversies mean that “now a scorecard, a urine sample and sometimes even a police lineup are needed to keep up with the players,” as The New York Times put it. In a business full of celebrities, huge egos, high stakes and competitive pressures, the real surprise may be that more scandals don’t sprout. “Haven't we known all along how intricately connected gambling has been to professional sports?” Boston Globe sports columnist Jackie MacMullan wrote when the basketball case broke.
Still, recent events could leave a lasting impact. “We will never watch an NBA game the same way,” comments Bill Simmons of ESPN.

Columnist says: "Once, sports were where we went to escape from reality. Increasingly, sports have become the reality from which we need escape.” – Greg Cote, Miami Herald

Sportswriter says: “The credibility hit here (on the NBA) is one that won’t be recovered from anytime soon. And quite frankly, it should not be.” – Sekou K Smith, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, commenting on referee who gambled

What’s at stake? “There is nothing worse than a sport in which fans can't believe the results are real. That's why professional wrestling isn't a sport. It's why boxing is just barely a sport.” – John Feinstein, sports author and commentator