volimhtown
11-20-2004, 09:42 AM
Well, last night we were treated to another installment of this generation's REAL athlete. In an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons we saw another reason of why not to "Love This Game". At games end there was some pushing and shoving between players on the court which led to an all out brawl between players and fans. The game was subsequently canceled as 7 people were injured, one of those hospitalized.
Scenes like this are being seen with much more frequency these days. You had the brawl between fans and players at a Texas Rangers/Oakland A's game, the LA Dodgers/Chicago Cubs game, and the list goes on. In every incident, the multi-million dollar athlete claims that the fans are being way too verbally assaulting. While this is more than likely true, is that who's REALLY to blame. In a round about way, the answer's yes!!
Today's athletes have no connection to society and personal responsibility. At very young ages, the "athlete with promise" is singled out and put on the fast track to stardome by many eroginous people who hope to eventually profit from the kids' future. They are whisked through school and given breaks along the way. Does anyone honestly doubt that school is the least important facet to school for these kids?? As long as they can "play" the grades don't stand in the way. All the while, these "people with interest" are standing by to protect their investment. Wouldn't you love to know how many hundreds of people profit from LeBron James??? Never mind the fact that all the while, these kids couldn't put a logical nor legible sentence together if their life depended on it. Watch Sportscenter on ANY given night and that will be clear!! And then, when you finally get to the "big time" and don't need the "babysitters", you've got money to buy anyone you need. Murder your wife and her friend, call Johnny Cochran. Rape a girl in Colorado, no problem. Etc, Etc, Etc.... And here's the beauty of it all....us dumb fans are still going to pay to see you and support you!! How sickening was it to see kids with their parents all in Kobe jerseys after the allegations?? Even after he admitted that he WAS guilty of adultery!!! Can you honestly blame these players for having no sense of personal responsibility for their words or actions?? They've NEVER been held accountable and in the forseeable near future, never will!!! The fact that the players involved in last night's brawl were not immediately arrested just under-scores that fact. In retrospect, do you honestly believe that the fans who were clearly involved were politely told to go home, sleep it off, and they'd be contacted later???? Hell no!!!
I'm not all together sure what the "fix" to the problem is, but I do know that it should start with the fans. Until we as a society stand up and voice our displeasure with the increasing menace that today's athlete has become by changing the channel, not buying the tickets, and not wearing the jerseys, then nothing will change. As long as revenue is flowing, then all things are forgiven. And we wonder why so many people world wide despise this country, it's the hippocracy of our democracy!!
Scenes like this are being seen with much more frequency these days. You had the brawl between fans and players at a Texas Rangers/Oakland A's game, the LA Dodgers/Chicago Cubs game, and the list goes on. In every incident, the multi-million dollar athlete claims that the fans are being way too verbally assaulting. While this is more than likely true, is that who's REALLY to blame. In a round about way, the answer's yes!!
Today's athletes have no connection to society and personal responsibility. At very young ages, the "athlete with promise" is singled out and put on the fast track to stardome by many eroginous people who hope to eventually profit from the kids' future. They are whisked through school and given breaks along the way. Does anyone honestly doubt that school is the least important facet to school for these kids?? As long as they can "play" the grades don't stand in the way. All the while, these "people with interest" are standing by to protect their investment. Wouldn't you love to know how many hundreds of people profit from LeBron James??? Never mind the fact that all the while, these kids couldn't put a logical nor legible sentence together if their life depended on it. Watch Sportscenter on ANY given night and that will be clear!! And then, when you finally get to the "big time" and don't need the "babysitters", you've got money to buy anyone you need. Murder your wife and her friend, call Johnny Cochran. Rape a girl in Colorado, no problem. Etc, Etc, Etc.... And here's the beauty of it all....us dumb fans are still going to pay to see you and support you!! How sickening was it to see kids with their parents all in Kobe jerseys after the allegations?? Even after he admitted that he WAS guilty of adultery!!! Can you honestly blame these players for having no sense of personal responsibility for their words or actions?? They've NEVER been held accountable and in the forseeable near future, never will!!! The fact that the players involved in last night's brawl were not immediately arrested just under-scores that fact. In retrospect, do you honestly believe that the fans who were clearly involved were politely told to go home, sleep it off, and they'd be contacted later???? Hell no!!!
I'm not all together sure what the "fix" to the problem is, but I do know that it should start with the fans. Until we as a society stand up and voice our displeasure with the increasing menace that today's athlete has become by changing the channel, not buying the tickets, and not wearing the jerseys, then nothing will change. As long as revenue is flowing, then all things are forgiven. And we wonder why so many people world wide despise this country, it's the hippocracy of our democracy!!