What lies beneath is cause for worry in sports world

Palfrey has inspired greatness. Just recently a cheerleading coach at a prep school founded by Andre Agassi was arrested in a prostitution ring.

So that's what they mean by Breakfast at Wimbledon.

In all seriousness, this story has the potential -– the potential -- to make the sports world truly uncomfortable, just as it has made the Washington elite so frightened there have been politicians tinkling in their trousers since this story first broke.

In fact, there is the possibility that in the coming months and even years we will all be shocked by the names of sports clients who used Palfrey's service.

Does she have proof of famous people -– athletes or otherwise -– being clientele? She might. Emphasis on might.

In case you are unfamiliar with the news that has rocked the D.C. area for the past several months: Palfrey kept the phone records of many of her clients, a record list that is so immense the paper form of it weighs 46 pounds.

She put the records on a disk and released them just this past week to dozens of news media organizations (including CBS SportsLine.com). It's solely phone numbers, and while Palfrey and her lawyers won't name names (at least for now), it's expected there will be some surprising names to emerge, including ones connected to the sports world, as news organizations and others painstakingly take the phone numbers and trace them back to their owners.

ABC News examined the numbers and determined no one particularly newsworthy was a client. But Randall Tobias resigned as Deputy Secretary of State after confirming he had used Palfrey's service. He says he just received massages from the young lovelies which is like someone claiming they tried the blunt but didn't inhale.

Interesting excuse he used. Maybe some sports types had better memorize that one or a few others like "I thought I was calling for pizza and accidentally ordered the blond" or "Eugene Robinson was over and used my phone."

Interestingly, Tobias once held a top position in the Bush Administration in which he told grant applicants they must swear to oppose prostitution. Tobias is like that friend who preaches the virtues of being a vegetarian then when no one is looking races to Burger King and woofs down three Whoppers.

And some greasy fries. I contacted the lawyers for Palfrey after a sports agent who asked not to be identified told me he suspected that a significant number of his clients -– which includes players and coaches –- had used Palfrey's service and he was extremely concerned. He declined to be more specific. And no, he does not represent Charlie Sheen.

"I have no idea" how many sports figures used her service said Palfrey, who is bright and highly articulate. Her best guess? "It could literally be hundreds of people," she said.

It's possible Palfrey is bluffing simply to gain attention. It's possible not a single sports figure was a client.

It's possible, but not likely.

Considering the number of teams that visit the Washington area, and that Palfrey has records going back over a decade, not to mention there are already sports franchises based in D.C., well, it would be shocking if there were no sports figures among Palfrey's clientele.

What has always been a worst-kept secret except to athletes and some in the media -- that athletes and others in sports regularly use prostitutes -- would suddenly spill awkwardly into newspapers, television, websites and the blogosphere.

Such a thing would be damaging and massively embarrassing to a number of people.

It would also help to prove one of Palfrey's points -- and she is dead on correct about this -- regarding the Hypocrisy of Maleness (my words, not hers). Prostitution is illegal but many times only the women involved are prosecuted. The men who use these women's services rarely end up in prison, particularly if they are wealthy, as most of Palfrey's clients were.

A congressman or priest busted as a client of Palfrey's would make that point crystal clear, but a high profile athlete might make it even more loudly since most people couldn't name a senator if their lives depended on it yet could pick out a star NBA player.

Palfrey has embarked on a crusade and the sports world could become entangled in it. And you know what?

Good.

Maybe people need to know how some of their sports heroes really are. That was the lone benefit of the Robinson arrest the night before his Atlanta Falcons played in Super Bowl XXXIII.

Oh, and by the way, if my number shows up on the list, it wasn't me.

It was Pacman borrowing my phone.