With multi-million dollar contracts tossed around like peanut shells at a Logan’s restaurant, the sports world is full of organizations making big investments in talented athletes.  The hope is that these investments can take their organizations to higher heights in fans satisfaction and overall team success.

As with any type of investment, there’s always the chance that these hopes can go up in smoke.  And when your hope is penned on the physical attributes of someone, the tension can be extraordinary.

It took the Bulls almost a decade to find a young point guard as talented as Jay Williams was.

There are many examples of extracurricular activities ruining careers and threatening the organizations return on their investments.  Jay Williams (#2 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft), Kellen Winslow (super-skilled, brash NFL tight end) and Ben Roethlisberger (2-time NFL Super Bowl Champion quarterback) each received varying degrees of injury from motorcycle riding activities. 

Obviously, aggressive bike riding would seem to be a no-no.  But what about a good-old fun-loving game of pickup basketball?  Or perhaps some celebrity flag-football?  While these may seem harmless, organizations hold their collective breaths anytime one of their star athletes engages in such a competition.

But organizations and fans alike tend to go to far with their scrutiny.  Case and point - what Carlos Zambrano is currently going through.  The Chicago Cubs pitcher is right in the middle of a 5-year - $91.5 million deal.  He’s currently doing rehab for a back injury and was caught playing softball with his daughter.  And now there’s all sorts of opinions flying about whether or not Zambrano should have been playing – particularly while he is injured.

But what else should he have been doing?  The man was being active with his family – the type of thing that we like to hear about our athletes.  Count on the media to find something wrong with that.

Let’s leave our criticism to the aggressive bike riders, gun toters and drug users.  Let’s let the family guys do their thing.