On Monday, Michael Vick pleaded guilty to dogfighting.
During the summer an NBA ex-referee pleaded guilty to betting on games.
Also, controversy regarding the possible use of steroids continues to surround Barry Bonds during his record-setting home run season.
Although this might sound like a sports column, I believe these issues affect so much more than just the sports world.
It’s disturbing that serious scandals and accusations are happening in all three of America’s major professional sports.
Every little kid interested in sports grows up with heroes. For me, a softball player and pitcher for 16 years, it was great pitchers like Michele Smith (also an OSU alumna who later became an Olympic pitcher) and Lisa Fernandez who helped pave the way for my sport.
It’s obvious that most people don’t get recruited at the college or professional level because of their stellar reputations. However, you would think they would understand that once they’re at that level, their lives are going to be under a microscope.
When these “heroes” get caught doing something wrong, it’s going to be all over the news and as with the recent Vick case, seem more important than the fact that we still have troops fighting and dying in Iraq.
In an article found at http://www.cnn.com, Vick apologized for what he’s done and said he was disappointed in himself.
One must wonder, though, if like with many who get caught doing something wrong, is he truly sorry for what he’s done or just sorry he got caught?
These people might not feel like leaders, but simply because of the position they’re in, it should be understood that people will look up to them.
According to “When Good Sports Heroes Go Bad: Helping Kids Understand,” found at http://www.AboutOurKids.org, many children and adolescents look up to their favorite athletes and when things like this happen, they can be disappointed in their idol and even feel angry, betrayed or disillusioned with sports.
I guess I’m just tired of athletes, as well as actors and actresses, doing stupid things and expecting they either won’t get caught or won’t be punished. Whom do they think they are? They’re making millions a year and have pretty cushy lives and still do these things. Having a little power because of your social status doesn’t exclude you from obeying the law.
I can only hope that through all the negativity this summer, the positive attributes of others might come to the forefront and bring a little respect back to these sports.
With football season about to begin, the World Series drawing near and basketball shortly to follow, America could definitely use something to smile about and restore our faith that the professional sports we have all grown to love still have plenty of great people to watch and look up to.
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