The worst sports scandal since Sandusky and Nassar?

It's been nine years since authorities charged Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky with 52 counts of sexual abuse on boys - horrific acts over a 14-year period, beneath the cloak of Joe Paterno's once-sterling reputation. The NCAA would fine the university $60 million and ban it from four post-seasons. Its president would be convicted of child endangerment and sentenced to prison. And Paterno would die before his time, desperately seeking to defend his tarred honor. 

It's been five years since the sex scandal of U.S.A. gymnastics coach Larry Nassar, a convicted serial child molester, who abused hundreds of young women during his career. Dozens of officials at Michigan State and the U.S. Olympics team have been ousted and/or charged, the university has paid $500 million to settle lawsuits, and Nassar has been sentenced to prison for the next 175 years.  

In our sporting lives, let's face it: There's been nothing like these scandals, and let's hope there never is. (I wouldn't bet on it, though.)

Over the last decade, we've seen sports scandals about steroids, bounties, deflated footballs, concussions, college recruiting and even saluting the flag, though that was actually more of a controversy. Now comes probably the worst non-sex-related scandal in this generation, and it's expanding every day.

Anger about illegal sign-stealing by the Astros (and maybe this week, the Redsocks) continues to explode, fueled by a sense that Houston cheated and got away with it. And, really, how can we NOT feel that way?

The Astros face a $5 million fine, the loss of some draft picks, and a few managers tossed under the bus. The owner skates. The players skate. The franchise skates.

Seriously, a $5 million fine? 

Forbes values the Astros at $1.775 billion - (billion, with a "b.") Its annual revenues stand at $368 million. A $5 million fine? Wow. Why didn't they throw in a pink-belly? 

Anger at Boston has yet to emerge, but with each passing day, it looks more as if the Redsocks will skate. Commissioner Rob Manfred's toothless decision to grant immunity to players in exchange for their testimony must have seemed like a grand shortcut three months ago. Now, Manfred looks like a miner in a coal shaft holding a dead canary. 

Every day, new accusations emerge, now being fueled by fans. The latest: photos show Jose Altuve in the top of the ninth of the Yankees' final game, wearing a t-shirt beneath his jersey. Before coming to bat in the fateful bottom of the ninth, Altuve removed it. WTF? Why? I've always assumed Altuve - a great player, no question - didn't need to cheat. Now, I wonder if he'll go down in history as Houston's Shoeless Joe. But why did he take off his t-shirt?

Lately, critics are taking aim at Manfred's investigation. For years, teams had accused Houston of cheating. Why didn't MLB launch a probe? Whistle-blower Mike Fiers, whom some Astros have the gall to blame for their problems, told MLB about the problem months before he talked with reporters. It almost looks as though MLB sat on the issue until media reports forced its hand. 

I think Manfred will lose his job over this.

The Commissioner seems to have completely misread the players' reaction to this scandal. Yesterday, Phil Hughes suggested that players should consider a work stoppage to protest the Astros' weak punishment. There's been so much talk about retaliation than Manfred has found himself in the worst position possible: Defending Houston, and warning other teams not to take action.  

The Astros have closed ranks, (as Boston surely has done), claiming it didn't cheat last fall. But here's the rub: They are known cheaters. Thus, nobody believes them. There is a consequence to squandering your integrity. Once gone, it doesn't come back. 

This is also a good time to recall how close Houston came to winning the 2019 World Series. In game seven, they led 2-0 going into the seventh. The bounce of a ball, and they could be the third World Championship team in a row to be tainted forever.

Officially, it will cost Houston's owner just $5 million?

Nope. This ain't over. Oh my God, no. It's just spring training.