Munificent sports fans are quick to take issue with an athlete stepping outside of what we deem acceptable behavior. If a player is taunting another, then a sports fan is quick to label the player a jerk, or — worse — a member of the Oakland Raiders. Yet, visit any stadium at any level of competition and sports fans are taunting each other. Is it a double standard?
A moralist, defined by my dictionary as someone who does it but doesn’t get caught, will point to sports and say that’s what’s wrong with the world. Intelligent people look at sports and realize athletes are mirroring society. Yet, in true hypocritical fashion, it’s different because athletes make money. What’s worse? Taunting another player or defrauding millions of people out of their investments?
T.O., Ron Artest, and the Bengals provide great copy for sportswriters and those of us who compose witty and entertaining blog articles. Whether spitting, arguing, fighting or cursing athletes give sports fans and moralists an avenue to vent. Here’s some advice; heal thyself. Unless you happen to be a Raider team physician.
The fact is people want T.O., the Bengals, late hits, brawls, and any other negative item you can think of because it mirrors life. Life is violent, people are rude, and someone just bought the last Xbox. Sports meltdowns are gold for sports fans and moralists. I’m not saying everyone loves it but the majority – yes. Otherwise, it wouldn’t dominate the headlines? Don’t blame the media. They report what you, dear reader, demand.
The next time you find yourself watching a game and someone instantly turns you off for some reason try to think what in society mirrors what you just saw. You’ll find a correlation with something else. For example, if The Critic is watching T.O. and he starts acting selfishly it brings to mind Congress.
Article comments
1 - sammy
Brilliant point. We live in a celebrity culture. ESPN loves this, because we eat this crap up.
Also all sports need more fights.
2 - RJ Elliott
Sports writers need something to write about. Sports fans need something to talk about. In that sense, scum like TO and Ron Artest are merely supply meeting our demand.
But they're still scum. Millionaire scum.