Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Cesc Fabregas is building quite a reputation for petulant behavior. Cesc Fabregas is building quite a reputation for petulant behavior.

There was a rumor floating around a couple of weeks ago that Vince McMahon, the WWE chairman and overlord of all things dealing with tights and testosterone, wanted to take Newcastle United off the hands of owner Mike Ashley. Nothing has come of the reports, but what if McMahon did purchase Newcastle? Better yet, what if he ended up running the English Premier League?

The mind boggles with the possible changes the chairman would make to the game. Diving wouldn't just be legal but encouraged -- especially if you land square on an opponent a la the great Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Andy Carroll's life and times would be turned into a reality series, "Dandy Andy," culminating in a special two-part season finale in which his pony tail is chopped off and auctioned at Sotheby's, becoming the eighth most expensive British lock ever sold. Andy Gray would face off against Sian Massey in a steel cage, no count-out, no disqualification match. And on all transfer matters, John Terry would be granted permission to negotiate terms with players' wives.

It would be a wild scene. But you can't say the Prem doesn't offer up enough sports entertainment on its own. There are plenty of baby faces and heels to go around on each team.

One player in particular seems hell-bent on becoming a villain to anyone who doesn't consider the Emirates their spiritual home. A brash, petulant piece of work who continues to stir the pot. A player who has raised the ire of managers and players alike.

Cesc Fabregas, ladies and gentlemen.

It's not any one thing the Spaniard has done, but the cumulative effect of childish transgressions that he should have left behind on the schoolyard pitch. Spitting at opponents, diving, flashing imaginary red cards and insulting fellow managers -- he's been anything but absolutely Fabregas.

Yes, you can single out other players for far worse behavior, but that misses the point. Fabregas is the captain of the Gunners. He's a top player, no doubt, fueled by a fierce desire to compete and win. This much is admirable. But too often his drive causes him to act like one of those annoying if innocuous villains in pro wrestling who jibe, attack -- then run away and pretend they didn't do anything.

The latest incident was this week, when Everton manager David Moyes accused Fabregas of verbally attacking the referee in the tunnel during halftime. Upset at a clearly blown off-side call, Fabregas apparently went all Triple H on Lee Mason and reportedly accused the Everton players of bribing the official.

Arsene Wenger has stoutly defended his midfielder and called the criticisms a witch hunt. For his part, Fabregas issued the time-honored non-apology apology: "I have respect for all match officials," he said in a statement. "Their job is a very difficult one and their decisions are final. Yes, I was upset at halftime. So too were about 60,000 Arsenal supporters in the stadium."

Tunnel dustups are nothing new, of course. Like Fight Club, you don't talk about what goes on there. It happens, so what? But this latest spat does serve to once again suggest that Fabregas is not the player that Arsenal needs to take the Gunners to the promised land of Premier League and Champions League glory. This season, his play on the field has often been overshadowed by the likes of Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere. And besides, Fabregas has made no secret of wanting to return to Barcelona.

It's not hard to think that Wenger will finally offload Fabregas this summer. Not for his immature antics, mind you, but for the payday the club would receive in kind. If Carroll can be sold for more than Barca paid for David Villa -- a stat that illustrates the lunacy of transfer deadline day -- you know the pound signs are flashing in Wenger's eyes like a slot machine.

Arsenal can cash in, Wilshere can step into the leadership role, and Fabregas can take his place among Xavi and Iniesta. As for his behavior, well, Barca won't have to worry too much about Fabregas getting out of line, at least on the field. Because at Camp Nou, he would be doing what he did during the World Cup -- warming the bench for better (and classier) players.