The level of violence and dysfunctional behavior associated with college and professional athletics is getting ridiculous. Consider: The vivid ESPN replays of the bench clearing brawl between Miami and Florida International last weekend that required Miami Dade Police to intervene; the recent report of three Indiana Pacer players involved in an early morning assault outside a strip bar where they responded by firing their handguns; NFL journeyman and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth who was suspended for five games for stomping on the un-helmeted head of a Dallas Cowboys player, requiring 13 stitches; not to mention $28-million, spoiled, pampered, premadona athletes who lead the media around like a dog and pony show for behavior that is always related to controversy, conflict and tears down the very team paying their salary instead of building it up!
ESPN college football analyst, former college coach and NFL player, Bill Curry says there are four types of players in these slugfests:
1) The player who removes himself from the brawl and returns to the sidelines
2) The player who tries to break up fights and pull teammates away
3) The player who, in the heat of the moment helps defend his temmates, but doesn't rage
4) The player who intentionally seeks to inflict harm, or injury toward other players
Curry says the fourth player above needs to be banned from college football and declared ineligible to play in the NFL, NBA, etc. And the professional athlete with lethal behavior needs to be cut loose and not allowed to return. Is Coach Curry overreacting or being melodramatic? Are these the words of a "patsy or pansie"? Hardly. This is from a guy who played center for Lombardi's Packers on the frozen tundra of Lambeau field (before sideline heaters and misting chill fans). He faced some of the most nasty, mean, tenacious competitors the game has ever seen. By his own admission he's been the #3 player above, who 40 years later is still apologizing for losing his cool under long forgotten and publicly confessed, disagreements in the height of competition. His point? Dangerous, malicious, intentionally violent thugs cannot be tolerated in society, much less in athletics.
Miami Sophomore safety, Anthony Reddick was initially suspended for one game by the University of Miami after he charged across the field, helmet raised over his head, and slammed it into an opposing player during the athletic riot. While his suspension has since been extended, the original "one game" suspension for felonious behavior by a team member of a perennial powerhouse that is really struggling to post "W's" this season speaks loudly about the culture and values of the team, coaches, athletic department and university! Miami suspended 12 other players for one game. One game! Contrast that protective response with the post-game response of Florida International who dismissed two players and extended the suspensions of 16 sanctioned players indefinitely, well beyond "one game". Now that's got some teeth to it. Miami's president said she had not even viewed the video tape of the brawl. She also said her school will not bow to pressure from the media frenzy demanding a harsher response just to improve the University's image or reputation. Perhaps she needs to speak with the presidents of the University of South Carolina and Clemson University who went way beyond a one game suspension two years ago.
I'm with Coach Curry, a committed Christ follower by the way. Yes, football is a very physical and sometimes violent sport. Occasionally even the best players lose control and respond with unsportsmanlike conduct. But the real athletes and role models accept the penalties, respect the officials and their coaches and respond with remorse, shame or embarassment for their temporary lack of restraint. They are contrite and seek to restore their name behind the scenes instead of holding a "blame everyone else but myself" news conference that is only about self-promotion and divides teams. Lethal, intentional assasins wearing a uniform cannnot be tolerated. Coaches, AD's and university leaders need to respond quickly without regard to the few, deep pocketed boosters and athletic sugar daddies who choose to ignore such behavior for the sake of a win or bowl bid.
Years ago my beloved Kentucky Wildcats basketball program received one of the harshest penalties on record by the NCAA. The "death penalty" brought one of the nation's premier programs to a grinding halt. Many say the NCAA overreacted. While my beloved Big Blue suffered for a few years, the punishment was a wake up call to the University, athletic department, boosters and fans. Sometimes massive fines, time-consuming community service penalties, lengthy suspensions and even banishment from the sport are the only things that get attention. But as long as fans fill the stands, buy team logo'd merchandise, concessions, season tickets and make no ethical demands of their players, university or franchise, nothing will change and the thug mentality will only grow. Meanwhile, high school and middle school athletes watch, observe, learn and mirror their models.
Kudos to programs like Clemson and the University of South Carolina who sacrificed money and trips to post-season bowls for a pre-game brawl two seasons ago. It was a tough pill, but one you could point young athletes to as an example of consequences for actions. It also made me proud to call South Carolina home!
3 comments:
Well said. I can't add much; you've hit the nail on the head. Sportsmanship is learned early and our youth coaches need to teach more than X's and O's. / Pulliam
I agree too. There are too many "skilled" atheletes who know nothing of sportsmanship. I plyed football, I loved hitting, even being hit. One of the best parts was not worrying about late hits and craziness like is becoming prevelant these days.
Coaches and PARENTS need to remember there will be a bigger kid, a faster kid, a better kid and they are setting themselves and their kids up if anything other than sportsmanship is taught.
Thank you for everything Monty.
Dwight-Bardstown KY
The problem is offically leaking into our athletics as well. Last night one of UNF's mens flag football teams played what started as a scrimmage with a team from Edward Waters College. What it turned into was a brawl with nearly 60 people involved over a flag football game.
Kind of ironic how tough everyone is till those blue lights come and everyone scatters. Personally I think it all starts with guys in the big leagues, NBA, NFL, etc and leaks into colleges and finally highschools. If we demmand more from our professional athletes by not patronizing there games or leagues we will get more respectable players. After all they are nothing without fans!
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