ESPN might be a little more fun to watch if you could try to pick up on subtle tricks used to avoid criticizing the leagues. But things aren't that mysterious. Because it's relatively cheap to stick some guys at a desk and let them yak — unlike paying TV rights fees or sending TV production crews to stadiums — ESPN's outlets end up with all kinds of chatter about leagues that are ESPN's business partners.

Like Scott Van Pelt, on ESPN Radio last week, talking about something he said caused him to "choke on my vomit" when he first learned about it. Even factoring the hyperbole of sports yak, such a lead-in suggests you're about to hear something noteworthy. Not exactly: Van Pelt said his reflux was prompted by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig's 2007 salary.

That salary was $18.5 million according to the Sports Business Journal— a source Van Pelt never noted. (The Associated Press, citing MLB's tax return, said Selig's salary was $17.5 million.)

Given the current headlines about executives getting lavish bonuses and salaries at failing corporations that are laying off thousands of workers, it's almost refreshing to see somebody who can get worked up about the salary of an executive overseeing a workforce comprised of millionaires. Van Pelt also likened Selig to a pimp.

And then he disparaged him as "someone who looks like a computer programmer, substitute teacher or government worker" who might wear "a brown suit or tweed jacket."

Probably a good idea Van Pelt didn't dwell on that. While salaries for sports yakkers — or media columnists — are perfectly legitimate if they help generate ad revenues, people actually need programmers, teachers and, say, cops.

Van Pelt added that Selig's house probably has "plastic on sofas and it would smell bad." And if any, say, substitute teachers listening in settle for such houses, shame on them.

Van Pelt concluded that Selig is a "pimp for real. He probably has a chalice with 'B-U-D' spelled out in jewels and diamonds. You drink from a chalice if you're a pimp." (Who knew?)

Why dissect all this? Because it illustrates that there really are limits to being silly on-air.

Deadspin.com, which on Sunday posted audio of Van Pelt, reports he'll be suspended from his afternoon radio show Monday. ESPN wouldn't confirm that and neither would Van Pelt's absence — Van Pelt isn't always on the show anyway — with spokesman Mike Soltys saying only that "we're not going to comment on this personnel matter."

Van Pelt, in a statement to USA TODAY Sunday, said he "reached out" to Selig "to apologize. He couldn't have been more gracious. We spoke for about 20 minutes. He told me he accepted my apology and we're both moving on."

Guess it's just between the two of them.