professional athletes

[bevann]

I am increasingly disturbed by the awful behavior of many of our professional athletes in many sports.IMO they are way overpaid and exhibit awful behavior both on and off the field. I think tolerance of this bad behavior is all about money because they make so much for the team owners and for themselves..They are fined minimal amounts for infractions while playing($50,000 = or - is pocket change to many of them) They are disrespectful to officials, coaches and other team members. And they are the role models for our younger generation.I would love to see rules in place so that if you are convicted of a crime you are forever banned from any participation in any sport.NO SECOND CHANCES. I can dream but I know it will never happen.Sports has gotten so dirty.The mindset seems to be that can not be replaced so they can do whatever they want and money will buy the way out.

 

[lucky seven]

For sure! A Rod doesn't care if he's booed at games, he gets a bonus if he has a few more homeruns. He won't admit he did anything wrong, it's everyone elses fault. I guess no one ever told him "NO" Until sports are cleaned up I will think of them as "sports entertainment" like the WWE.

 

[Sonya]

It makes me sick that Micheal Vick can still play football and make millions!

 

[Jill]

They're paid what they are worth to those paying them. Plain and simple. I think some of them are disgusting, but if they are worth it to those writing their checks, then they get what they get. There are just as many disgustingly over paid people in music, politics, government bailed out corporations... And there are two types in that group that should not get it because it's not free market based and takes advantage of citizens' hard earned tax dollars and trust..

 

[bevann]

I AGREE about Michael Vick.It really upsets me every time I see or hear his name. The attitude and lack of respect for authority in many of the younger generation I believe is the cause of so much crime.I substituted in high school several years ago for the ag teacher and it was a rude awakening.Makes me wonder why anybody in this day and time would want to be a teacher or go into law enforcement.I was a teacher many years ago and several family members are in law enforcement.

 

[susanne]

If enough people object enough to stop buying tickets, it CAN make a difference. The Portland Trailblazers learned this lesson a few years back.

In the late 70s and early 80s, the Blazers were amazingly popular in the community, and it was impossible to get a game ticket -- they even sold out their live casts at a local movie theater, even when they were losing. The players were likable, good role models and integral parts of the community -- many of them loved Portland enough to make it their homes after they retired. Management took seriously the role the team played in Portland and drafted players not only for their talent, but for their good citizenship. Portlanders felt that this was truly THEIR team.

Then the team was sold to Paul Allen, who wanted a championship at all costs. He placed no importance on drafting honorable individuals, and the Trailblazers turned into the Jailblazers. Players were soon appearing regularly in court for drug possession, technical fouls and fights (some even involving the crowd) escalated. Coaches were unsupported by management and players ran roughshod over them.

Their record was better, but people no longer cared and attendance went from an NBA record string of consecutive sellouts to huge numbers of empty seats. Paul Allen threatened to move the team or to sell it, but he finally set about learning why Portlanders no longer cared and what could be done to change things.

Those he spoke with him explained that in Portland, it was less about winning and more about having a team the city could be proud of. He listened, traded away the discordant players and began drafting players who were an asset rather than a liability. And the crowds returned.

It would be nice to say that the Trailblazers turned their records around as well, but they are taking the time to build a team rather than throwing out values for instant results. But at least the fans voiced their opinions and the powers-that-be listened. We don't have a winning record yet, but we have a winning team nonetheless.

 

[Jill]

Enough people DON'T. That's just how it works in a free market. I don't like it, probably most of us here don't like it... but enough others do. If they're buying the tickets, the products that are endorsed, etc., then that's what is going to say what people get paid. Actually, that's really how it SHOULD be. People have the freedom to decide what they do and do not support or enjoy. Just because I don't like what a person did or does, and "you" don't like what a person did or does, does not mean that we can decide what others are able to enjoy. Tolerance works both ways, even when that doesn't feel good to a lot of us.

 

[susanne]

.
Absolutely, Jill -- and not just with sports.

I refuse to listen to musicians that I dislike. A good example was Buddy Rich: an extremely talented jazz drummer and big band leader, but he was an appalling human being who screamed at musicians who worked for him, often on-stage. He's long dead, but his recordings are still quite popular in the jazz world. I refuse to buy any of his music, and if it's my radio, I turn it off. I can't enjoy the art if I can't stand the person, and I certainly do not want them to get a penny from me (even if they're dead, lol).

Few people feel this way, and fellow musician friends think I'm nuts to refuse, thinking that it's the music that counts, not the person, and that certainly is their right. I figure that I am enabling them to be subhuman, so it is my right not to.

 

[bevann]

Interesting take on the subject Jill.I don't watch much of professional sports for that reason of ill behaved athletes.When Karl is watching I'm outside or on the computer.You really don't have to watch-the announcers tell you exactly what is going on and what the players are or were thinking when they did a play.I was married to jock for 18 years and conversation was not tolerated during a game.Wonder why I hate football?I do actually like to watch Pee Wee football and Little League baseball.You never know what will happen. I am really fond of Little britches rodeo but never see it anymore on TV.Wish we had it in our area.Those kids are awesome.

 

[Jill]

I personally don't enjoy watching any sports. I used to watch competitive skate boarding years and years ago. I think a lot of actors, musicians, comedians, and other entertainers are personally dislikable, and some of those I do not watch, others, I do. Just depends on how good I think they are at what they do, how annoyed I am at what else they do, and what kind of a mood I'm! Public demand sets the pay scale and I think that's how it should be.

Trust me that I'm not saying I think bad behavior is okay, or that bad examples for youth is okay. I'm just saying we have a mostly free nation and strive to have a free market. If we place moral based caps on what someone can be paid, that's a slippery slope.

 

[Sonya]

I agree with what you are saying Jill but Michael Vick still makes me sick....if I am a convicted felon, I lose my job and it would be impossible for me to get a job in my career choice (no matter how great I am

) or pretty much any career that paid well.

 

[Jill]

I agree!!! He also makes me sick. As much as I love horses, I love dogs even more. I don't really "get" the appeal of most pro-sports... Just not something I ever got into, I guess. I still think, though, that the free market should be allowed to work. Places like LB and other social media outlets give us a chance to say why we detest the actions of some sports and other entertainers, and that's a good thing. Just such a slippery slope because what "I", "you", and "they" might think is good or shouldn't be allowed isn't the same for us all... So that's where it's so important to share information here and on other social media outlets so that people can get more than one side of a story, and then make their choices. If no one wanted to see personally horrific people play sports, because they knew this, that and the other, they maybe wouldn't get those big paychecks. But if they do, there may be other things "you", "me" and "they" want to enjoy that would be just as objectionable to others.

 

[Marty]

I think they are plenty of guys waiting in the wings for a chance so no team "needs" to put up with the trash these "famous" pro ballers are doing. They need to be fired, no second chances, and get gone. Everyone can be replaced.

 

[Jill]

Let's DARE to throw Tim Tebow into this discussion. He was hung out to dry for his, truly, all American values!

 

[Tab]

There are quite a few people my age that don't pay much attention to the avg athlete and traditional sports. Heroes, imo, aren't involved in sports or movies. When people get to the point of what is important in life, these highly-payed athletes and celebrities are going to cease being important. So as long as these teams and players are going to make millions without any repercussions for their actions it isn't going to change. I guess if I don't like something, my way is to not watch it and not give it dollars. Same way with restaurants, businesses, and msm! Good post and good points!