As we have all heard by now NBA referee Tim Donaghy has pleaded guilty to two felony charges in the NBA betting scandal. However, I am not going to talk about the NBA because we have all heard this story and it is geting old along with Bonds and Vick. Although this may have been a basketball related issue, this news did not only effect the NBA.

As a result of the NBA scandal MLB decided it needed to do something about its umpires to make sure games were fair. Major League Baseball wants to do background checks but the umpires union called this a, "misguided witch hunt."

Baseball has not investigated umpires durig the last 30 years because they feel thier guys are of the highest ethical standing. However, we can no longer be positive.

These umpires say that plan on maintaining the integrity and honor of thier sport, yet they won't consent to background checks. Why not? If they truly are men of the highest ethical standing what are they hiding? Are the afraid that Bud Selig will find something?

Umpires should be required to submit to background checks. The trust system in sports was only good for so long and it has reached its limit. When we have referees betting on thier own games in professional sports we have a problem.

Something needs to be done. Just because there has not been a umpiring scandal before, does not mean that it doesn't happen. We saw how easily Donaghy beat the system as he bet on games for at least two seasons. If someone was able to possibly rig games for two seasons there needs to be a system in place.

If they truly care about the integrity of the game Major League Baseball Umpires should #### thier pride and allow a background check. If they are honestly of the highest ethical standards they should not be worried as they know nothing will be found.

If they are truly innocent a search can do nothing, but help umpires. A negative search will confirm to everyone that has doubt that baseball is clean and the umpires are legitimate.

By refusing to search the umpires are raising even more questions, as they make it appear as if there is something to hide.