This is the last time I will have to write 'Neuheisel'

When sports content creeps out onto the news pages, it is usually not a good sign. This month's NCAA betting violations saga involving former (for good?) UW football coach Rick Neuheisel proved no exception to this rule, and his conduct proved no exception to his history of dishonesty. This sort of thing happens a lot -- do what you want to get what you want until you get caught, then pout and point your finger at somebody else. Apparently Barbara Hedges and the athletic department will put up with only 7,654,876 embarrassing blows to their reputation before taking action.

Turns out that standing up for Neuheisel -- who turned down undeserved attractive offers for his resignation in favor of clinging to a job he also does not deserve -- is harder than throwing him out on his rear without a severance package. This is a surprising observation, considering that Hedges has probably nearly perfected her "I-know-he-regrets-the-error-and-he promises-not-to-do-it-again" speech after its frequent recitation to press-conference attendees.

It seems as if Neuheisel should have left the stage on a more edgy, tawdry note; however, he could have at least gambled during March Madness with a prostitute or someone interesting, instead of at a plain old party with a few of his millionaire chums. Even former Alabama coach Mike Price of Pullman fame went out with a bigger, um, bang.

Some may believe that the Washington football program -- whose players will soon be tossed into the sea of regular-season play without a familiar captain -- is going to be the real loser in the end. But people are forgetting the true victim here: Neuheisel's $4.2-million Medina home, which is currently being renovated. If Neuheisel has to forfeit the remainder of his $2.1 million contract and repay a $1.5 million loan, his poor mansion might only get one marble fountain out of the deal.

There is a bright side to all of this ugliness. If the coach is relieved of his position, then journalists will be able to save a lot of time by not having to spell-check the name "Neuheisel" every time a Husky football (or scandal) story is pitched. Plus, then he would have time to run for president, where tampered-with truths are an accepted part of something called "governing."

The bottom line, though, is that Neuheisel can only bite the hand that feeds him so many times. He's done it one too many times, and now he's found a comfortable spot in the pound. His first mistake was wagering on an NCAA event; his second was denying it ever happened. The last strike: producing a University memo that appeared to condone friendly betting, making the athletic department look as if it was responsible for his stupidity. All this against a backdrop of his previous cover up of the February interview with the 49ers, along with a host of past recruitment violations, spells goodbye for Neuheisel.

One would almost think he was actually trying to get himself fired. He could have just wrapped up his job with a red bow and handed it to assistant coach Keith Gilbertson, who will likely take the helm when the controversy subsides.

It appears that "Slick Rick" is going to come out on top again -- on top of the unemployment list.