Wake-up Call: O.J. Simpson, Sean Avery, Junior Seau, Barry Melrose

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First things first: I’m late, but there has been a lot going on. First, O.J. Simpson was sentenced to 16 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping in a case involving his failed attempt to recover some sports memorabilia from two collectibles dealers. Simpson would be eligible for parole in nine years under the sentence handed down by Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass. ‘In no way did I mean to hurt anybody, to steal anything from anybody,’ the former USC star told the judge. ‘I just wanted my personal things.’ The scary thing is the gaunt look in O.J.’s eyes here remind me of his gaunt look at the start of his criminal trial for the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

Say what? OK, Sean Avery was dealt a six-game suspension today. Am I the only one who thinks this is nuts in relation to other NHL suspensions? I wonder if he angered Commissioner Gary Bettman even further in that meeting on Thursday. The sexist slur, ‘sloppy seconds,’ is not forbidden under our publishing guidelines at The Times, yet many other popular phrases born of anger are forbidden to print, mild as they are. Honestly, while I agree Avery shouldn’t have said it, or said it in the manner that he did, how can you compare it with what the Ducks’ Chris Pronger did to Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks? Pronger got an eight-game suspension for that. Avery is known for bad behavior, especially on the ice, but one comment equals six games? And here is the kicker: The NHL openly attacks sexism with the Avery case, yet we have cheerleader-like women scooping up the ice during Kings intermissions. I’m more offended by those ice girls. (Luc, what were you thinking? Anything to get attendance up?) Besides, was actress Elisha Cuthbert even offended by what Avery said? And, most important question of all, if the ex-girlfriend were a no-name woman, would the league been as upset?

Add former USC greats: Junior Seau, 39 years old, is back with the Patriots, lured out of retirement to try to shore up a linebacking corps hit with injuries. Seau starred at USC and played 13 seasons for the San Diego Chargers before eventually ending up with the Patriots. It is the second time he has come out of retirement to help the Patriots.

Add hockey: And thank goodness, former Kings Coach Barry Melrose, fired in Tampa Bay last month, will return to ESPN as a hockey analyst on Jan. 1. That means he can have fun again. And so can viewers. Even better, it’s just in time for the NHL’s Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, which this year pits the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field. Yes, Wrigley. I can’t wait.

-- Debbie Goffa