Thanks to ever-improving technology and the media's race to break news quickly, it seems like nothing is out-of-bounds anymore. But is this fair treatment long after the games are over?

Sports writers Kelly Beaton and Sean Hylton clash on the subject:

I awoke Saturday and took my usual seat in front of the computer. Sure, there were scores and results to be absorbed but, predictably, there was a lot more.

Apparently, San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker and "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria wed recently in an exclusive ceremony in France. Female guests were given 18-carat gold bracelets for attending.

There was more news from the world of "sports," too. Gary Sheffield hit a grand slam in a Detroit Tigers' victory, but the real nugget coming out of Friday's game was Sheff's criticism of Yankees Joe Torre and Derek Jeter, as well as the Giants' Barry Bonds.

Eventually, my Web-hopping took me to ESPN's home page, where I was besieged with the cable entity's ridiculous "Who's Now" campaign - a pointless and baseless study that takes into account how many movie cameos and much bling athletes possess, among other things.

Needless to say, this Scrum topic came along at the right time.

Should we scrutinize sports and its stars so closely just because we can? Sure, if it's between the lines of play. After all, there's nothing wrong with slow-motion replays, telestrators that illustrate how a pass pattern worked against a zone defense and recapturing the emotion that makes sports so compelling.

But, once the gamess are over, we should let it be. We want athletes to be role models but few of them are equipped to handle the spotlight. Somehow, we're surprised when Michael Vick runs afoul with the law, we're dismayed when Randy Moss bumps into a traffic cop and stunned when A-Rod is seen with a "girlfriend."

What do we expect? These people aren't famous because they are well-rounded human beings and good citizens who conduct themselves with class. No, they're physically gifted athletes who are lacking in self control and an adequate vocabulary.

Even the sports stars who manage to carry themselves well in the public eye are victimized by too much scrutiny. Michael Jordan was hounded by the press shortly after his father was murdered. Tiger Woods has withstood an unfair level of attention for his marriage to Elin Nordegren and the recent birth of their daughter.

I say it's not fans' perogative to know the intimate details of athletes' lives - law enforcement officials' maybe, but not the general public. And it's no one else's business how many unpaid parking tickets Beaton has.

Sports is played between the lines, and the media needs to stay in-bounds.