This may be the only time that I will ever wholeheartedly agree with Senator Lindsey Graham (R) S.C.

“Pro football is a multi-million dollar sport with a lot of competitive people from team owners to players and I have every confidence they can regulate themselves in a manner like this,” Graham told ESPN. “I respect Senator Specter but I think I’m like most Americans who believe we can make better use of our time. We’re getting asked about gas prices, wars and judges but nobody is asking us about football.”

Would this be happening if the Patriots had beaten the Packers instead of the Eagles in the Super Bowl?

It is a dark day for the English ladies.  Bolton Wanderers have released Spanish stud Ivan Campo.

Arsene Wenger announced that Mexican wonderkid Carlos Vela will feature in the Arsenal first team next season.

Vela, 19, played on loan for Spanish side Osasuna least year, scoring three goals in 32 appearances from the left wing.  Wenger, however, sees him in a more central role, describing him as “a central striker, an Eduardo type.”

Vela has three caps for the Mexican National team.  He signed for Arsenal in 2005 from Mexican club Guadalajara for £2.5 million.

Cristiano Ronaldo fueled the rumor mill be refusing to rule out a transfer to Real Madrid this summer.

Ronaldo, 23, scored an astounding 41 goals in 47 appearances for Manchester United this season.  A transfer, should it occur, would break the world record of £46m by Real Madrid for Zinedine Zidane.  Reports in April claimed that Madrid offered £100m for the Portuguese winger.

The question is where is Real Madrid getting the money?  On paper, they are the world’s richest club.  However, just last month they took out a £30m loan to cover operating costs.  One study estimates that Beckham’s departure cost them between £28.5m and £37m in annual revenue.  How can they afford this?

Recently axed City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson may not wait long to find work.

The former England manager rejected offers from both Benfica and Mexico because he has a “much bigger club” interested in his services, according to the Guardian.  If the sentiment has truth, such a club would have to be a Champions League club in one of the top three leagues.

I would like to know more about these shady “close associates” of Sven.  Does Sven have a posse he rolls with?  Did the Guaridan interview one of his mistresses?  Or, was the close associate merely Sven or his agent?

Colorado Rockies left-fielder Matt Holliday may be a coveted name come July.

Holliday, 28, has posted .973 and 1.012 OPS seasons the past two seasons.  He signed a two-year $23 million contract with Colorado in January, making him a free agent after the 2009 season.  He would likely command somewhere near Miguel Cabrera’s eight-year $152.3 million dollar deal, a figure the Rockies will not entertain.

Rosenthal lists the Indians, the Cardinals, the Yankees, the Tigers, the Blue Jays, the Mariners and the Mets as potential suitors.  He also believes that the A’s could trade for him during the stretch run and trade him in the winter.

Some suitors, however, may be scared off by his home/away splits.  At home Holliday has been a monster with a 1.016 OPS, but away from Coors field this dropped to just .809 OPS.  He has nearly twice as many home runs at home 59, as on the road 30.  His OBP drops from .430 to .343.  His slugging percentage drops from .676 to .466.  Doesn’t look to promising.

Rosenthal’s Latest:Rockies Could Trade Holliday (MLB Trade Rumors)

Here is my first, and hopefully not my last post for the Big Lead.

In an e-mail exchange with Deadspin, Bill Simmons lashed out at his bosses at ESPN, sort of.  Simmons maintained that he is still working for ESPN, but has reduced the rate of his writing for ESPN.com.

I still love writing my column and only re-signed last year because I really did believe that we had hashed out all the behind the scenes bullshit and come to some sort of agreement on creative lines, media criticism rules, the promotion of the column and everything else on ESPN.com. Within a few months, all of those things changed and certain promises were not kept. It’s as simple as that.

Simmons’ contract with ESPN runs through 2010.  Those of us who are fans can only hope differences do not reduce him to “Bill Simmons’ Expiring Contract.”

How does one tip a manservant?  It is not a question most of you will encounter, unless, of course, you are a Premier League footballer.  Soccer players often opt for a game-worn jersey, a pair of shoes or a few hundreds discreetly slipped into the palm as gifts for their boot boys, but not Olivier Kapo.

Searching for an end of season gift, the Birmingham City midfielder tossed his boot-boy, 20-year-old James McPike the keys to his $60,000 Mercedes.  When told the youngster, an apprentice player earning about $600 a week, could not afford the insurance, he threw that in as well.  Kapo, who earns roughly $3 million per season, will presumably rely on his Porsche and Hummer for transportation.

Pimple-faced youth players throughout England will hope that–like prostitutes, Aston Martins and skinny jeans–obscene generosity to boot boys will become the next great footballer trend.

EPL Boot Boy Gets $60K Mercedes! (The Beautiful Game)

Here is my All Premier League Team for 2008

David James, Portsmouth (GK) He was calm, collected and competent.  Unfortunately he didn’t bring back the slicked doo.

Gael Clichy, Arsenal (DL) Good defender.  Great going forward.  Provided the width Arsenal needed.

Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United (DC) He is a phenomenal defender, when not out “merking” his pals.

Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United (DC) The brains behind Rio’s braun.

Bakary Sagna, Arsenal (DR) Consistent, confident and composed, basically everything Eboue was not.

Ashley Young, Aston Villa (ML) He managed to save some of his pace and ferocity for his on the field endeavors.

Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal (MC) Fabulous as usual.

Javier Mascherano, Liverpool (MC) He maybe the best midfield stopper in the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United (MR) 31 goals.  20 more than any other midfielder.  Pretty, Pretty Pretty good.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal (FC) He improved his finishing from poor to below average, but still got in position to score 24 goals.

Fernando Torres, Liverpool (FC) The difference between Liverpool and a mid-table finish.