Judge sinks CBS sportscaster: cheating is killing marriages

November 4, 7:54 AMLove and Marriage ExaminerRita Watson

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  AP Photo / Conroy (Jim Nantz on right)

In the world of infidelity, is old-fashioned commitment, marriage, and monogamy dead? 

In one of too many stories of infidelity, today according to the New York Post, "Top CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz will have to fork over nearly $1 million a year plus the keys to a Connecticut colonial mansion in a freshly-inked divorce settlement with his ex-wife, following a trial where it was revealed that he began squiring a 29-year-old honey last year Ex_wife_scores_big_on_nantz.

If we look around ourselves and at the news, in sports, politics, and among celebrities, there appear to be too few role models.Jim Nantz: mistress is bad play in CBS sportscaster's divorce.  For stories about other cases see listing at the end.

Infidelity and love children

John Edwards now has two families -- the man who wanted to be our president.  Mark Sanford admits to an Argentine soul mate, despite a wife and four sons.  Then there was Eliot Spitzer and a young "escort" who provided sex.

We were appalled with David Letterman's sexcapades even though he was not married at the time of his bedding down the interns.  Steve Phillips is in rehab for his sex addiction. Mel Gibson has a new love child. Gossip: Mel Gibson's baby, Steve Phillips' stalker, and the women's movement

In the real world of love and marriage, back in March of this year, we read about newlywed cheating. I cannot even imagine newlywed cheating except to think back to a scene from Boston Legal where Denny Crane is in on the floor of the coat room with a younger woman while his bride is waiting to cut the wedding cake.

Either the show was ahead of its time or this sad trend has been quietly percolating for some time now.  Here is a  Womens Health  feature which I wrote about last March. This is so sad that I find it difficult to even make a comment.   Read for yourself and take a look at this clip from the Early Show that reports 20% of men and 15% of women cheat within the first year of  marriage.

As the article noted: ” 'Part of the problem,' says David Popenoe, Ph.D., founder and codirector of the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University,'is that we’ve become an anything-goes society, in which the indiscretions of politicians, sports figures, and pop celebrities are practically daily news.' ”

Moreover, David Letterman's sex scandal did wonders for his ratings. Rather than turn him off in disgust,  viewers took his ratings to a new high.

Is monogamy realistic?

In a recent CNN story, the question was asked: "If you were to judge the success rate of monogamy by the sex lives of public figures, perhaps couples should change their marriage vows to say, perhaps couples should change their marriage vows to say, "Till a tempting new partner do us part."  Mate debate: Is monogamy realistic?  And then there is Belinda Joy's piece that says,The Love Goddess: Are We Too Far Gone for Monogamy?

Too many years ago the movie The Graduate, and it's famous "Mrs. Robinson" theme song was considered scandalous.  Today, sex and cheating are the daily news.

Does marriage have a future?  Watch for my interview with Scott Haltzman, MD. His books are aimed at empowering women and men to keep their marriages strong and loving.  Secrets of Happily Married Men and Secrets of Happily Married Women.

DAVID LETTERMAN

• The Letterman marriage: will vows outweigh a sex tape?
• Sexcapades 'horribly' hurtful to Letterman's wife
• David Letterman: wives and lovers reveal serial monogamy
• Letterman offers love advice to Paul Shaffer
• Updated Letterman apology to wife and staff, full video

JOHN EDWARDS

• Rielle Hunter: in court and maybe in sex tape
• John Edwards: new baby, new Elizabeth heartbreak
• John Edwards: it's his baby in a tragic triangle
• John Edwards: a case of the missing condom
• John Edwards paternity: children in two Americas 
• John Edwards: bringing his mistress home

Copyright 2009 Rita Watson / All Rights Reserved