Good piece on ESPN.com today about what the various sports leagues are doing to safeguard themselves against gambling scandals.

Its obvious the sports leagues are working closely with local and federal security agencies to monitor rogue officials, athletes, coaches and executives.

What are they not doing? Thinking like the criminals themselves. Just as I wrote about last week, if you want to catch the criminals, you have to think like a criminal. What's the best way to do that? Get a criminal, or at least someone who is well connected to underground activity on your side feeding you information.

Just as the U.S. government had to completely change their approach to the way they gather and review intelligence after 9/11, I am of the firm belief that the sports world needs to seriously reconsider how they gather their intelligence.

What about a summit meeting with the NCAA, the major pro sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NASCAR, NHL) and the governing body for referees (NASO) in the very near future where these issues are discussed? Just as a Homeland Security department was formed in the U.S. after 9/11, maybe the sports world needs to get together and share some responsibility and costs when it comes to security in sports - on and off the field. Wouldn't such an organization be much better serving the purposes of everyone collectively than if each league tried to build an intelligence network on its own?

This "Homeland Security" sports agency could monitor the following:

1.) Performance enhancing drug development - everyone works together to develop new tests to detect drugs like HGH and the next generation of PEDs. Isn't that better than if MLB is working on their tests and the NBA is working on their tests and the NFL is working on their tests? Why not have this agency work together and then implement tests across the board in all of the U.S. sports leagues?

2.) Gambling activity - everyone works together to monitor rogue officials, players, coaches and executives and they build an intelligence network to gather information about underground gambling organizations who may be working with sports insiders to influence the outcome of games. Bookies are taking bets on ALL sports, not just a particular league.....so everyone is at risk of having their games tainted.

3.) Venue security - During my work as a sports professional and as a member of the media, I've spent a considerable amount of time in sports venues around the world. I can tell you that its a miracle that we haven't seen someone (most notably an athlete) killed at a sporting event. Venue safety in this country is shockingly poor and if someone really wanted to do some damage at a sports arena or stadium, it wouldn't be that difficult.

Sports is a multi-trillion dollar industry. Don't you think its about time we had some vision and seriously re-considered how we implement security measures in the U.S.? Yes this agency would cost the sports world (leagues, owners, player associations) a considerable amount of money, but again, with all of the money at stake in sports, isn't it worth it?

Think about that one for a bit........