How long has it been now?

When was Ohio State's football program first tattooed by a scandal that cost a popular coach his job and an undeafeated football team a chance at a BCS Bowl game?

That story broke in December of 2010, right?

Coach Jim Tressel is now in adminstration at the University of Akron.

The players who were suspended for being a part of the memorabilia for tattoos deal have all completed their time at Ohio State and four of them are making real NFL money allowing them to now buy their tattoos outright.

The program is moving forward after the bowl ban, scholarship limits, loss of revenue and vacating a season's worth of wins.

But tattoos last forever.

The United States Olympic Committee recently sent letters to mayors of 35 U.S. cities to gauge their interest on hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics. Columbus was included on the list of 35 cities.

USA Today followed the initial report with a tongue in cheek story on why each of those 35 cities "could, but probably shouldn't host the Olympics".

The paper took a little jab at each city including Columbus.

Of the many things the paper could've pointed out about the city of Columbus, what do you suppose USA Today chose?

Yep, you've already guessed it. Tattoos.

Five words. "Free tattoos for all athletes."

Funny? Maybe

Witty? Not really.

Cheap shot? I'm sure there are those who will feel that way.

Bottom line is, the Ohio State tattoo for memorabilia scandal clearly left an indelible mark.

Right or wrong, it's now way too easy to take the jab and as my father once said, never get into an argument with someone who buys their ink by the barrell.

Do you think this hurts Terrell Pryor who now plays for the Oakland Raiders or Mike Adams who now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers or DeVier Posey who now plays for the Houston Texans or Dan Herron who now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals?

Those are 4 of the 8 former Buckeyes who were involved in the original "scandal".

One would guess the longer their NFL careers go, the more the effects of the tattoo deal are minimized for them.

How about Jim Tressel? One might figure a jab at the city and the university he once called home probably does bother him and will likely bother him for a long time.

Now let's consider the guy walking through a Chicago airport with his favorite Buckeye hat on.

The big OSU fan walking the beach on Ft. Myers, Florida wearing a Buckeye tee shirt.

The college kid who hung on to his #2 jersey and still wears it to class at Ball State.

What about the lifelong Columbus resident who grew up with Woody, heckled Earle, lived and died with Coop and cried tears of joy with Tressel?

Those folks get stung by a line like that every time.

Those Ohio natives who memorized Carmen Ohio in college and sway back and forth on their knee replacements to it today.

Those folks take lines like that hard.

For the tattoos on the arms of those former Buckeyes have nothing to do with representing the culture and heritage of the city of Columbus. Nothing to do with representing the tradition and history of Ohio State. Nothing to do with any of the dozens of things Central Ohio has to be proud of.

None the less, those tattoos live on as a punch line.

And that ink stains forever.