Is a sports-related thread ever appropriate in GD?

[11 Bravo]

I realize that there is a Sports forum; but there are also Drug Policy, Economy, Education, Election Reform, National Security, and Women's Rights forums (to name but a few); and threads relating to those topics routinely appear in General Discussion with no aspersions cast.
With that in mind, it would seem to be self-evident that when the highest salaried athlete in professional sports is found to have broken the law, it might just possibly be worthy of discussion in the hallowed halls of GD. Yet the A-Rod threads (and indeed any sports threads) which pop up here are reflexively attacked as "fluff" stories about a "frivolous" subject, and mass sanctimony ensues.
So I'll ask again, is a sports-related thread ever appropriate in GD?

[lame54]

1. Absolutely not...

[EFerrari]

2. Only baseball threads.

(How many days to Spring Training, anyway? :) )

[Wetzelbill]

3. yes

GD is "general" discussion. Lots of stuff that people get all huffy over in GD used to be allowed there. Good serious threads about interesting topics often get booted to the Lounge and sink like a rock because a few people whine about it. It usually only takes one whiner to do it too.

[El Supremo]

4. This should be moved to the Sports Forum!

Just kidding.

Actually, I don't care.

[catnhatnh]

5. Nascar threads for the week before and after the Daytona 500...

Who do you like?