The NCAA can be a wonderful thing.

Fans receive games they will never forget, a wide variety of sports to watch and a chance to see premier athletes before they become professionals.

The athletes can learn valuable life lessons, make life long friends and contacts, plus those skilled enough can go to college free of charge.

Unfortunately, the NCAA can also be a terrible thing.

In the most recent case, the association has decided to suspend Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant's eligibility for the rest of the season.

Bryant, who is projected to be the first wide out off the draft board come April, visited with former NFL great and TV personality, Deion Sanders during the summer and subsequently lied about it.

Should he have lied? No.

But make no mistake, Bryant did nothing wrong. Neither Bryant nor Sanders have been accused of, or found guilty of any violation. Meeting with Sanders or going to "Neon Deion's" house is not against NCAA rules. Bryant met with him a few times and he and his girlfriend went over and had dinner. That's it.

Bryant simply panicked when he was questioned about the situation. The kid made a mistake and lied because he thought he was going to get into trouble.

Does that mean he should have his season stripped away? No.

Players such as Bryant make millions upon millions of dollars for the NCAA and all the NCAA does in return is control almost every aspect of a players life.

Before each season, those wishing to partake in a college sport at any level have to fill out more paperwork than a tax return. Players sign their lives away.

Put your "X" here so the NCAA can use your likeness. Sign here if you understand the list of banned substances, which is longer than the MLB's and includes caffeine. Watch out for those Red Bulls! Sign here to limit your social lives. Players have to ensure they won't drink in season, or be at parties where there is drinking. Let me remind you, this is college. And the list goes on and on.

Oh, and be sure not to forget your "2009-2010 Guide for the College Bound Athlete". A summary of the rules in an "easy-to-read form". Available for just $11 dollars on www.ncaa.org.

Are you kidding me?

If there is one body in sports that needs fixing, it's the NCAA.

It's one thing for a player to take money, or a house, but its another to be suspended for lying about having a nice meal.

Sanders has been a mentor to Bryant since the beginning of the season. He is quoted as saying.

"When I first started even mentoring Dez, the first thing I did was call his receivers coach," Sanders previously told media sources. "His receivers coach told me everything about Dez. When Dez was late to school, he called me. When Dez was a little tardy to summer workouts, he calls me. So we have an ongoing relationship. And Dez helped me throughout the summer with my youth program as such. "

Sure sounds like a major violation to me.

Maybe somebody should mentor the NCAA.