Athletes and Bad Behavior

Below is a letter I submitted to the Chicago Sun Times. An edited version appeared in the August 4, 2007 edition.

Jay Mariotti's column published on July 27, 2007 and entitled Unworthy of any Trust is at best more hand wringing and at worst hypocritical.

Mr Mariotti seems shocked at all the bad behavior going on in sports. His reaction reminds me of the reaction of Captain Renault in the movie Casablanca when he says to Rick "I'm shock..shocked to find gambling going on" and then somebody hands him his winnings from the roulette table.

What does Mr. Mariotti and others expect of sports? Who said these sports figures should be looked up to?

More importantly, the press has to take some responsibility for this. They are constantly promoting various athletes and they are getting younger and younger and being eyed by more and more people who want to make money from their skills. Then, at the first possible minute, these young people turn pro and get lots of money and maybe a shoe deal and when they don't show the maturity or responsibility required to handle new found fame and fortune, people like Mr. Mariotti start making all manner of protests as if they have been personally insulted.

At least all of Mr. Mariotti's outrage looks good in print and sells more papers for the Chicago Sun Times.

Until enough people, from university presidents to the man in the street, stop investing their resources of time, money and interest in sports will things return to the normal order where sports will be treated as what they are - only a game for leisure - nothing will change