ESPN employed a scam artist?

I stumbled upon an incredible story while scouring the internet for sports news. An unknown contributor to a sports betting site cons her way into landing a job as an ESPN columnist. But Sarah Phillips didn't stop there. She also allegedly scammed at least three people off money with help from a friend, who some say is also her boyfriend.

Deadspin, the website reporting this, has had its fair share of questionable reporting, including an update on this same story, which involved a reader fabricating his own encounter with Phillips as proof that Deadspin didn't do the necessary background verification on him that it chastises ESPN and Covers of not conducting. But the site has also broken major stories such as the infamous Brett Favre sexting scandal. After reading the original story, which you can read here, and all subsequent updates, it's clear a more thorough investigation needs to be conducted to get to the bottom of this story. However, there's more than enough evidence of foul play committed.

So here's a summary. Phillips started out as a message board contributor for Covers.com, a sports betting site. Her colorful commentary about how successful she was betting on sports, coupled with the fact that she is a girl who supposedly knows more about sports than most guys, caught the attention of the site's administrators who hired her on as a columnist. She soon caught the attention of ESPN.com editor Lynn Hoppes who hired her as a weekly columnist for ESPN's Page 2, now renamed ESPN Playbook. With everyone fooled by her "in-depth" sports knowledge and attractive looks, she became the next Jenn Sterger–an unknown with no journalism experience, who parlayed her sexuality into sports gigs with the New York Jets, Sports Illustrated and Versus. No one bothered to perform a background check on Phillips, nor verify her real identity.

The problem started when several contributors began pointing out that the various pictures Phillips provided to Covers for her columns were different. Here's a collage of pictures courtesy of Deadspin.

Shortly after, Deadspin published its story, which it corroborated with several accounts of scamming by Phillips and her friend/boyfriend Nilesh Prasad. Writer John Koblin was also contacted by people who attended the same junior high/high school as both Phillips and Prasad, and suggested that Phillips isn't as knowledgeable as she claims to be. They said Phillips was likely relying on sports and betting tips from Prasad. Without a full investigation, ESPN opted to sever ties with her, emphasizing that she was merely a freelancer.

Here's the thing. There are now more than enough women who eat/sleep/breathe sports much more than the average guy. In fact, it's become increasingly common to hear this that I no longer consider my sports obsession as out of the ordinary (many people still do.) Unfortunately, very few of us get opportunities like the ones Sterger and Phillips have gotten. I have talked to a few editors and recruiters at ESPN about opportunities, but it never resulted in so much as an internship. I'd like to think it has nothing to do with my gender or lack of overtly sexual pictures or stories being put out there, but I wonder what more one needs to do draw some attention. I know it's not a lack of sports knowledge or educational and professional experience since I not only have a master's in broadcast journalism, but also have extensive experience covering a variety of sports.

Still, I am genuinely happy when women are given the opportunity to show they can be just as informed or plugged into sports as the best of male sports experts out there. However, I am intensely ticked off when I read stories like this where someone gets a free pass into this exclusive club without so much as a background check. How do you justify that?

Both Covers.com and ESPN.com editors have admitted to never meeting Phillips, though someone at the former said he spoke to her several times. Since Phillips was fired, she has taken to defending herself on Twitter, at first saying all of the pictures posted were of her, before admitting to hiding her identity so she isn't exposed to future employers as a gambler. She also claimed to have let go of several friends who have had negative impacts on her life. However, she didn't specify who these friends were. The issue of scamming, however, has yet to be resolved, according to victims referenced in the article.

I hope stories like these won't deter sports organizations and media from giving women a chance to prove we can be effective in this industry. I only hope they will spend the appropriate time to verify our credibility. Maybe when this becomes the norm, people like me will get a fair opportunity at advancing my career as a sports journalist.

NFL Commissioner facing lawsuit

He may be the most important man in the NFL, but one player wants a piece of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is suing Goodell for defamation, saying the commissioner damaged his reputation in suspending him for a year for his role in the much talked about Saints bounty program.

Goodell suspended Vilma, an eight-year vet and the Saints defensive captain, and three other current and past members of the Saints for participating in a bounty program that rewarded players for taking out major players on opposing teams. Vilma was handed the stiffest punishment of the four: a season-long suspension without pay; the same punishment handed to Saints coach Sean Payton.

Vilma has vehemently denied being the leader of the bounty program, and has taken to Twitter to share his thoughts. "I NEVER PAID, NOR INTENDED TO PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY, TO ANY PLAYER FOR INTENTIONALLY HURTING AN OPPONENT," Vilma said through his Twitter account.

By suing Goodell, Vilma is sending a strong statement challenging the validity of the evidence presented against him. Vilma insists he was never interviewed about his alleged role and has yet to see any of the evidence presented. The NFL Player's Association also requested to view any hard evidence, but says the NFL has refused to comply. But the league hired former federal prosecutor Mary Jo White to review its evidence, and White has said the NFL's findings were supported by valid documentation and multiple independent witnesses.

It's unclear whether or not Goodell would make public what he knows about Vilma's involvement to justify a year-long suspension, but this lawsuit certainly puts a much bigger pressure on the commissioner to release the information.

If I'm Vilma, and I'm a 100 percent sure I didn't front money for a bounty start-up program, then the lawsuit is a smart decision. As rightfully stated, this suspension affects his income and casts a dark cloud on his reputation on the field. It labels him a dirty player and leaves his future in the league vulnerable if he's released by the Saints.

At this point, you have two sides of this issue standing behind their statements. But there can only be one person telling the truth. The three other players suspended–linebacker Scott Fujita, defensive end Will Smith and defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove–have apologized for their roles, but Vilma continues to stand his ground. It is time for Commissioner Goodell to release the evidence so this story can be put to bed.

Junior Seau's death raises questions

Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was found dead in his home Wednesday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. He was 43.

Throughout his 20-year Hall-of-Fame career, Seau was known as a "buddy" to everyone. A great stand up guy who was celebrated as much for his exemplary character as he was for his big defensive plays. That Seau, the lovable guy, doesn't jive with some of his post-career behavior, which ended unfortunately with his untimely death. The San Diego County medical examiner's office confirmed the cause of death as suicide. No notes were found.

Seau's death will undoubtedly send discussions on the NFL's biggest problem–post career effects of concussions–into overdrive. The NFL is currently being sued by a number of former players who say that numerous concussions and injuries over the cause of their careers have resulted in permanent brain damage, depression, irreparable physical injuries and suicidal tendencies. This, while New Orleans head coach Sean Payton and Jonathan Vilma, the team's defensive captain, were suspended for a year for their roles in the infamous bounty program aimed at taking out significant players on opposing teams.

Seau wasn't involved in the lawsuit, nor was he publicly diagnosed with clinical depression. In fact, a few people who met with the 20-year vet in the days before his death say he appeared cheerful and happy. Hall Of-Famer Jerry Rice played golf with Seau on Monday and said he appeared upbeat. Video footage taken of Seau at a USC practice showed him happy and clowning in front of the camera. Basically, there was no reason to think Seau would ever commit suicide.

With the exception of a few odd incidents in late 2010, Seau's professional and personal life seemed to be without blemish. But those incidents, now put in context, are telling. In October 2010, just hours after he was arrested for a domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend, Seau drove his SUV off a cliff, plunging 100 feet. Incredibly, he survived with only minor injuries, and told authorities he had fallen asleep on the wheel. No drugs or alcohol were found in his system.

In light of his death, it makes one wonder if the plunge had actually been an accident caused by a sleeping Seau, or something more. Was it a sign of a troubled life hidden beneath the jokes and smiles? Was it a cry for help? That Seau shot himself in the chest a year after former Chicago Bears Dave Duerson died by a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the same area, suggests that like Duerson, he wanted his brain preserved for testing to show a correlation between repeated concussions and depression among players. Seau's family has agreed to donate his brain for research.

It could be months before any tests can determine if Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE,) a neurological disorder caused by repeated head trauma, which has been found in the brains of several deceased NFL players. But if it is, he would become the highest profile NFL athlete linked to the disorder, giving even more cause for concern about safety in the sport.

The NFL has a serious problem that needs to be addressed before there are many more casualties. Players like future HOF inductee Kurt Warner are stating their reluctance to let their children participate in football. The league makes way too much money from players subjecting their bodies to the worst treatment on the field. It's time to show these players that the league cares as much about their post-career well being by dedicating unlimited resources to resolving this problem.

13 charged in connection with FAMU hazing death

Eleven people are facing felony charges over the death of Florida A&M University Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion, according to an Associated Press report.

If convicted, the accused could face up to six years in prison if they have no prior criminal charges. Two others face misdemeanor charges stemming from their role in the hazing death of Champion after a band outing in Orlando last November.

Florida State attorney Lawson Lamar said an additional 20 misdemeanor charges have been filed against others in unrelated incidents.

It's the latest fall out to hit the FAMU community since Champion died. The Marching 100, considered among the top college bands in the nation, was suspended. Shortly after, other alleged hazing incidents were brought to light. Reports of financial misappropriation of money by the university also forced a state-backed investigation on the university as a whole.

But the university faces no bigger issue than determining who bears the responsibility of Champion's death. Two of the 11 charged have been identified as 24-year-old Rikki Wills, who was also a drum major, and 23-year-old Caleb Jackson. No other names have been revealed and it is unclear if any faculty members will face charges.