The biggest story in sports this week is one that isn't. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers blew a baseball game by giving up two ninth inning home runs, then blew up at Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Sam Carchidi. In the altercation that followed Myers cursed at the reporter, threatened him, and called him a "retard".

Here is the incident, captured on tape by a local radio station (strong language):

http://podcast.kyw1060.com/kyw/628299.mp3

The Inquirer is in a tough position. Newspapers report the news and once they become the story they lose credibility. Factor in also that Carchidi's response to Myers crude remark was to question whether Myers could spell "retard". If the Inquirer gives the story the coverage it warranted, (and it certainly was a newsworthy story), it faces the unhappy task of covering a baseball team made up of players who might not be pleased with a paper that caused problems for one of their own.

The radio station tape recording of the incident is all over the internet and has become a story by virtue of the blogosphere. It received some national coverage, with Myers being quoted on MSNBC as regretting using term "retard". The Phillies have made no comment, and Bud Selig & Company have exercised their right to remain silent.

But Philadelphia needs to say something about, and to, Brett Myers. And Major League Baseball needs to deal with Myers while the results of his emotional problems can be measured in bruised egos and not something worse.

Last season Myers punched his wife on a public street in Boston after a game and it became a police matter. The front office not only let Myers take his normal turn in the rotation but also went out of their way to express concern about Myers. One coach praised him as a "competitor". The Phillies are either part of the problem with Myers or part of the solution. Right now they are enablers who are making bad matters worse.

Myers is an easy interview, say some reports after this latest incident, and cooperative with the media. He is quoted as saying he doesn't have a problem with reporters, just the one fill in reporter he got into the altercation with. But that misses the point.

Listen to how quickly Myers lost control of himself in the audio clip. Remember that the police found his wife with a swollen face after the Boston incident and witness said he was pulling her hair. This is someone who can go from zero to violent as rapidly as his fastball reaches the plate. Something is not right with Brett Myers.

It may not be entirely pyschological.

Myers only plays the tough guy with women half his size and men twice his age. He doesn't take on anyone who can affect his employment. The apology for the "retard" remark came quickly enough to make you think Myers understands PR. The attempt to separate the rest of the reporters covering the team from the one he has a problem with, is a nice piece of damage control.

Carchidi hasn't gotten an apology. Wouldn't mean much if he did. Myers doesn't think he did anything wrong, and he knows the Phillies don't have the nerve or character to part company with him. If you can rough up your wife and the team stands by you, what's a "retard" remark and some threats against a reporter going to get you?

You can't help but think about Michael Vick when you read about Myers. Who is the bigger threat to public safety? Who is being held to account for their actions? Who is being given a free ride? If there was room for only one person in the lifeboat, who would you pull out of the water?

It's time for Bud Selig to do what Roger Goodale would do, what any commissioner should do under the circumstances. Myers has to be suspended for the rest of the season. He has had two incidents involving violence or threats of violence in a year.

Enough is enough. Suspend Brett Myers.