Have you ever had that sick, disgusted feeling in your gut? You know what I?m talking about, the one that leaves you repulsed, feeling as though at any minute you might let it all hang out ? literally.

That is pretty much what I?m feeling right about now, and call it ranting if you will, but I wanted to share my thoughts with you. My shrink tells me that sharing your feelings is some kind of therapy (of course, my shrink happens to be my wife, but hey, that?s what she learned at University, so it must be right ? right?)

Anyway, on to what has me so nauseated.

In a case that really caught less media coverage than I would have expected, a favorite whipping boy of mine, Leonard Little of the St. Louis Rams, was in court again last week. Now, for those of you who may not remember, this is the same man -- a term I use quite loosely -- who killed a woman a few years ago while driving his car under the influence of alcohol. The same man who basically got off with nothing more than community service for murder ? the taking of a life. The same guy who?s irresponsible, selfish behavior cost a family a mother and wife just a few years ago, was back in court.

For driving drunk.

You heard that right. I know, it?s quite hard to believe, but there it is, plain and simple. However, as if that was not enough to get your blood boiling, there is a bit more to the story. Be careful though, make sure you?re sitting down or leaning on something, because this could be hard to swallow.

He was found innocent last week, well, kind of innocent.

Actually, he was found guilty of something. Speeding to be precise. However, somehow, he was found innocent of the drunken part because of some kind of technicality in how the patrolmen administered the numerous sobriety tests. The kicker is, if he?d been convicted of the drunken part, he would have been charged as a persistent offender and likely been sentenced to up to four years in prison, which is still not much for someone who seems to take extremely lightly the lives and welfare of his fellow man ? not to mention his own.

So there it is, the thing that has me sick to my stomach. But I guess I shouldn?t be, really, I mean the truth is pretty unsettling when you think about it. We likely all know someone who with some kind of regularity gets behind the wheel of a weapon after consuming a few drinks and heads for home ? swearing up and down they?re fine to drive. I mean, after all, what is "drinking and driving?" One beer? Two?

Yeah, we all know the debates. I guess I just am the odd man out in thinking that drinking one beer and then driving constitutes "drinking and driving," but hey, could it be I care enough about my fellow man as well as my own loved ones who depend on me to err on the side of caution? Who knows?

But hey, we all have our faults.

I guess it is just hard for me to fathom why people have such a hard time being or appointing a designated driver. I mean, is it so important to have a drink every time you?re "out?" What?s wrong with chasing the day away with a nice soft drink at the watering hole on the way home every once in a while? Or is the fact that alcohol is a drug -- and quite addicting -- so true.

In my occupation I regularly stop by the club on the way home for a snack and some relaxing moments watching ESPN?s afternoon programming and watch men who hear every day not to drink and drive down three, four, sometimes more beers before jumping back in their cars and heading home. Why does it continue? I guess we may never know.

I suppose, however, that not much will change as long as those people in the public eye like Leonard Little, Steve McNair, Kerry Collins, Nick Nolte, Wynona Judd and others, get off with just a slap on the wrist. Maybe on the day that the law starts taking the law seriously in these matters and adds more than lip service to their enforcement, we?ll start seeing the general public begin to be a little more concerned about this problem. Just maybe.

Well, one can hope. Meanwhile, I?m feeling a whole lot better now, thanks for letting me vent. Wow, heckuva thing that therapy is.

Think before you drink -- and drive. My family appreciates it.