There once was a time when comparing sports and reality television would be laughable. During that time, ESPN gave breaking sports news with “SportsCenter,” while networks like MTV captivated audiences with the drama of “The Real World.”

Unfortunately, the boundary between the two is blurred and the two sides are now becoming one. Turn on any of the sports networks, and you’ll find all the same elements that make a classic reality TV show. Drama, scandal, money, adultery and crime are all the featured headlines in today’s sports media. It is no longer enough to know about a coach or athlete’s performance on game day. Now, the public has to pry into their personal lives.

The most recent drama involves the political opinions of Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen and the poor motorcycle driving of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino. Guillen was suspended for five games last week by the team because of comments he made regarding his support of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Petrino was fired Wednesday after he was involved in a motorcycle accident that included a female passenger he had been having an affair with. Both of them are at fault for making regrettable decisions, but the punishments do not fit the crime. Neither Guillen nor Petrino violated MLB or NCAA rules, yet they were both reprimanded for non-sports related incidents. They were punished because the masses wanted them to be punished.

As soon as the stories broke, sports channels abandoned their scheduled programming to let the public watch the reality TV meltdown. Talk shows dedicated segments specifically to expert analysis. Twitter became a soapbox for anyone who felt the need to voice their opinion, and ESPN even came out with fan polls on whether the coaches should be fired for their actions. The crowd was relishing in the unfolding drama, while the MLB and the University of Arkansas were scrambling to get out from under the microscope of the press. They were left with no choice but to dish out penalties or suffer ridicule from the millions who tune into sports television. Now the Marlins must perform on the road without their skipper for five games and Arkansas must find a new head coach in order to stay competitive in the toughest conference in college football. It’s sad what can happen in such a short amount of time when the media monster gets hold of someone’s personal life.

As long as I have known the game of baseball, a manager’s politics have never affected how he handles his ball club. And while a husband cheating on his spouse is very frowned upon, it does not change the way a football coach chooses his starters or calls plays on game day. If they had broken the law or any kind of regulations, then remove them from their positions or lock them up, but social stupidity should not be enough to suspend or fire a coach. Too bad the court of public opinion does not share the same verdict.