Suspension

Sometimes the small things make all the difference in professional wrestling. Too often, critics -- especially those on the Internet -- nitpick every decision WWE makes and find the logical or creative flaws. Many times, this creates an unnecessary sense or allegation of failure. But on tonight's Raw, WWE (or, more specifically, general manager John Laurinaitis) made a mistake that is almost unforgivable. While I personally wasn't offended by Sunday's match between John Cena and Laurinaitis at Over the Limit , many people have lashed out against the match.

Despite a barrage of public comments, many negative, Maryland State Board of Education members said Tuesday that they will push forward with plans to reduce the use of long-term suspensions and expulsions in student discipline. "Everybody gets that kids need to be in school," said board President James H. DeGraffenreidt Jr. "The question is how do we do that?" The board received more than 200 written comments after asking for public input when it released a report in late February, detailing proposed changes that would reduce suspensions for nonviolent offenses.

The Steelers learned when Troy Polamalu went down with a knee injury last season what one player can mean to a team. Now the Steelers will start this season with an absence that's even more conspicuous. In April, the NFL suspended quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the first six games of the season for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Although he is allowed to participate in training camp, Roethlisberger will have to step aside and hand over the offense — probably to Byron Leftwich — when the season starts.

Proposed changes to the student behavior policy for Baltimore County schools sparked a lively debate among county Board of Education members at a work session Tuesday night - with some arguing for their immediate passage and others requesting more time to review them. The considered changes would tweak the school system's current policy, namely to allow principals to use their own discretion when considering how to punish a student for committing infractions that currently require the student be expelled or assigned to an alternative academic program.

Leadership an issue in Teich's suspension Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo said Thursday that he had suspended senior captain Alexander Teich after a series of incidents involving Teich's leadership role on the team. Without being specific, Niumatalolo said they began during Saturday's loss to Air Force and spilled into the first two days of practice this week. Niumatalolo said he kicked the team's leading rusher off the field midway through Tuesday's practice. He announced Wednesday that Teich would "probably" not play Saturday against Southern Mississippi at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Enough is enough Teddy Greenstein Chicago Tribune I can live with the one-game clip. But if I were dean of discipline, Rajon Rondo also would have to agree to some conditions. Start with publicly apologizing to official Marc Davis. Acknowledge that you intentionally bumped him. He didn't get in your way, as you pathetically claimed. Go to some elementary schools and tell the kids that what you did was inexcusable. They look up to you; they're watching you. Why should they respect referees after seeing what you did?

The board that oversees physicians in the state voted Wednesday after a lengthy hearing to continue suspending the license of a Towson psychiatrist who is accused of improper conduct with boys in his care. The Maryland Board of Physicians notified Miguel Frontera on Thursday of the continued suspension, which has been in place since early this month. The board began investigating the doctor in April after Baltimore County police passed along reports from two boys who said Frontera touched their genitals during physical exams.

Major League Baseball reduced Kevin Gregg's suspension from four games to three and made his fine easier on his wallet after the Orioles closer appealed the league's initial ruling. But Gregg is still frustrated that he is suspended as long as Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, who charged his mound back on July 8. Yes, Gregg and the Orioles are still talking about a bench-clearing brouhaha that happened 11 days ago. "I talked to the league a little bit. I talked to the players association a little bit. But the bottom line is trying to do what's in the best interest of the team," Gregg said Monday night after the commissioner's office announced its final ruling . "Ortiz is taking his time now, so I still don't think it's fair that we have the same fine, same suspension.

Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski had his 45-game suspension from boxing lifted Thursday, his lawyer said. Zbikowski was disciplined by Chickasaw Nation Boxing Commission when he tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main substance in marijuana, after Saturday's fight. To resolve the matter, Zbikowski sent a negative result from a self-described "more in-depth test" on Tuesday. He learned that the suspended was over when he received a certified letter from the boxing commission around 4 p.m. Thursday.

He has earned a break Ethan J. Skolnick Sun Sentinel The arbitrary nature of Roger Goodell's discipline should make all sports fans uncomfortable. There seems to be little rhyme, reason or consistency to his punishment. It's all fairly random. But if he chooses to impose an indefinite suspension — with wiggle room between the high and low limits of the athlete's absence — then he must reward the athlete for living up to whatever conditions he set. And so far, Ben Roethlisberger hasn't done anything since the suspension that would warrant keeping him out the maximum six weeks.

Rick Dutrow knows there's a difference coming into Preakness with a horse that has won the Kentucky Derby and one that didn't even make it to the starting gate at Churchill Downs. If anything, it might be a little easier for Dutrow coming to Pimlico for Saturday's race with Zetterholm than it was four years ago with Big Brown. "When you win the Derby, you have to ship to Baltimore and have to get ready to run in two weeks," Dutrow said by cell phone from New York earlier this week.

Well it seems as though the writers of heard my whining here in Baltimore, because for the second week in a row "Revenge" reminded me of the show I fell in love with in the fall. The plotting and suspense is back in full force, and the previews for the next two weeks have me believing this season will certainly be ending on a high note.  This week "Revenge" took a step back in time - New Years 2002 - to give us some more background on the tangled web of Hamptonites backstabbing.

The Ravens won't have to wait as long as once thought to work new defensive tackle Ryan McBean into their regular-season defensive line rotation. McBean, the former Denver Bronco who agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Ravens yesterday, had his six-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancement policy reduced to three games. That news was first reported by The Denver Post. In exchange for the reduced suspension, McBean has dropped his lawsuit against the NFL that alleged the league improperly handled his drug test.

The Ravens continued to add depth to their defensive line, reaching a one-year agreement today with former Denver Broncos nose tackle Ryan McBean. McBean, 28, spent the previous three seasons with the Broncos and had his best year in 2011 with 33 total tackles and four sacks while playing in all 16 regular-season games. However, the league suspended him in March for the first six games of this coming season for violating NFL's performance-enhancement policy. McBean has disputed the claim and filed a lawsuit, saying that the NFL improperly handled his drug test.

Enough is enough Teddy Greenstein Chicago Tribune I can live with the one-game clip. But if I were dean of discipline, Rajon Rondo also would have to agree to some conditions. Start with publicly apologizing to official Marc Davis. Acknowledge that you intentionally bumped him. He didn't get in your way, as you pathetically claimed. Go to some elementary schools and tell the kids that what you did was inexcusable. They look up to you; they're watching you. Why should they respect referees after seeing what you did?

A second Orioles minor-league catcher has been suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Progam. Michael Ohlman received a 50-game suspension for his second violation of the drug policy, the office of the commissioner of baseball announced Tuesday. The suspension was for a drug of abuse, which means it was not for use of a performance-enhancing drug. This spring, catcher Brian Ward also received a 50-game suspension. Ohlman's suspension will begin immediately, but he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during an automobile accident during spring training.

Backup linebacker Erin Henderson (Maryland) has returned to the Minnesota Vikings after completing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Henderson was at practice Wednesday. He has played in only two games for Minnesota this season, primarily on special teams. Henderson declined to specify the substance he was punished for, but says he "didn't do anything wrong" and blames the positive test on a prescription product he took in training camp to remedy allergic reactions.

Orioles first baseman Ty Wigginton began serving his suspension Monday night after Major League Baseball agreed to shorten his ban from three games to two. "I feel it's best to get this behind me," Wigginton said. "I just want to play baseball and move on." Wigginton was suspended for his actions in the seventh inning of the Orioles' 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. The veteran got in the face of first base umpire Gary Darling, who ruled that Wigginton had missed a tag, allowing J.J. Hardy to get back to first safely and causing Wigginton to erupt.

Two Easton High School lacrosse players should not have been suspended or arrested for having a penknife and lighter in their lacrosse bags, according to the Maryland state school board, which ordered that the boys' records be wiped clean. In a legal opinion released Tuesday, the state school board said Talbot County school officials had failed to use "appropriate discretion" in disciplining the two lacrosse players, who said they carried the items to repair their lacrosse sticks.

Maryland coach John Tillman did not hide his displeasure over Kevin Cooper's role in an on-field fracas with North Carolina redshirt sophomore midfielder Greg McBride in the fourth quarter of the Terps' eventual 11-10 loss on March 24. The fisticuffs resulted in one-game suspensions for both players. But Tillman also praised the junior midfielder for his attitude in the aftermath of the scuffle. “How he's responded has been very positive,” Tillman said Tuesday. “The apologies to [Tar Heels]