I believe society has issues when it comes to the way it views its athletes. The media serves as the tunnel of information we receive. Understand, the some media is looking for dirt on these athletes. That is their job. However, people’s reactions to these “crimes” can be exaggerated and misunderstood.
These stars are under an extra-magnified microscope. Since they are in the spotlight, there should be higher standards set for these individuals, but these athletes are human and can make mistakes. It comes down to them admitting these mishaps and seeking forgiveness from the public.
It is human nature to want to knock someone down who is having pronounced success. “Alex Rodriguez would not have been as good without steroids. Ben Roethlisberger is a creep. Kobe Bryant is a disgusting individual, I hope he loses.” These are ignorant comments made by people who are naïve about what athletes go through. These incidents are common in society, and I don’t believe they are viewed as seriously if the accused is not an athlete.
Would you take a supplement or stick a needle in your body if it meant the difference between getting a regular job and making millions? It is a huge ethics issue, but money runs the world and countless people would have trouble saying no.
Rodriguez acknowledged taking steroids in 2003 with Texas. He is hated around baseball and is believed by some to be overrated because of the lucrative deal he signed in 2001. He admitted the use, but things haven’t changed. He is viewed as a villain and people do not want him to ever be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
If beautiful girls follow you around every corner and confess their love to you, it is hard for a 24-year-old male to always say no. Some athletes say no, and some give in to the lust and desire. Roethlisberger has been accused of rape on two separate incidents. Each case was dismissed.
Some women have the tendency to be money hungry. They realize there is a great opportunity with an athlete who is loaded. In these situations, women usually are given the benefit of the doubt if they accuse a man of inappropriate behavior. However, I believe many of these cases are just pure speculation and based off of greed. Roethlisberger is viewed in society as a “sex addict”, and for what reason? The media has positioned him to look like an antagonist; meanwhile, he has not been proven guilty of anything.
Kobe Bryant has been hated by many females across the nation. Yes, he cheated on his wife. But he admitted it and has taken actions to better himself and his character. Society has not fully forgiven Bryant for his actions. Put it into perspective — how many women have been cheated on and forgiven their partner? Because he is an athlete and in the spotlight, the public will see him as an antihero for the rest of his life, and this is not fair.
I am not making excuses for these athletes, but I am attempting to provide a different outlook and perspective. You do not know what someone lives through until you take a walk in his or her shoes.
Let us remember that athletes are not the only people committing these crimes. Society is filled by millions of people who use performance-enhancing drugs, cheat on their wives and are falsely accused of rape. A lot of times, these people are given second chances through the public eye.
Every person is capable of faltering and making mistakes. Athletes are scarce because of their talent and ability. Emotionally and in every other aspect of their life they are human, too. If you put yourself in the situations they are faced with, you may falter as well. Humans make mistakes, but it is not about that. It comes down to learning from these mistakes and not making them again.
Tim Shanahan can be reached at tshahanan@spartans.ut.edu.
A marine? The few, the proud… My father was a marine (WWII and Korea). I have a soft spot, a rather large soft spot for marines, soldiers of all branches really. I hope you enjoyed your summer. Let’s see what our young friend Tim is up to this fall. Perhaps he’ll offer us his opinion on the University of Miami scandal? A bounty for strategically injuring other players? jewels as compensation? an abortion? Say it isn’t so Joe, say it isn’t so…
Awesome response. I can’t argue with you anymore due to the smile on my face. I wish I resembled the “little man” comment, but I haven’t been little in years. I will not make demeaning comments about you, but will say that everyone has an opinion on issues and we should be open to other’s opinions without personally attacking them. I am guilty of being close-minded at times, and try to catch myself when I can. That being said, I think there will never be total equality reached in respect to race, religion, sex, etc: but we need to strive to get there.
In defense of my ego, which has been slightly hurt by your comments: I too consider myself educated, and well versed in what goes on in certain parts of the world, having spent a few years outside the US, albeit in the capacity of a US Marine. While I concede that there are instances of inequality where women and minorities are concerned, I also have to point out that in general most people are pretty accepting. Who is to say anyone is wrong about what they believe? Not I. I respect your opinion and your actions to make others aware of your beliefs. I wish you a good summer, as well.
Dear Nice (That’s “irony-in-play” right?), You win, you’re anger is more palpable then mine. My interest was in suggesting that the author reconsider what I perceive to be his cavalier blame on women. It is similarly ironic that you are “over hearing women complain all the time.” I’m not certain you’ve heard anything. At my age (48), I believe women and other minority groups have yet to be heard. Also, while I own a thesaurus, I don’t have to consult one to compose a response. That’s the benefit of having an education and reading (with critical comprehension) the content of an editorial. Thank you for suggesting that I keep on “fighting the good fight.” As my missives (<—-grab your dictionary) indicate, I don't need much direction or encouragement to rise to and shed light on social injustice. You have a good summer now little man. As a soothing gesture to calm your troubled nerves, I'll leave you with the last word/words. Tim: Keep on writing thought provoking articles. It helps us "ole folk" retain a little "pep in our step." V
You are your father’s daughter, what with the “quips” that make no sense. I am just over hearing women complain all the time. Trying to insult me on the internet with your thesaurus handy will not work as I am too old and have been through too much in life to be phased by it. Keep on fighting the good fight.
“Crap like this?” As my father used to quip, “There is no sense being stupid unless you are willing to prove it or show it.” Putting [your] ignorance and blatant stupidity in the textual limelight is nothing to brag about. “Who cares?” To answer your question, people who read well written though decidedly contentious articles and think about them, care. For the record, women don’t aspire to “be equal.” In your case, that would be setting the intellectual bar at a level that falls far short of laudable expectations. “Survival of the [intellectual] fittest. It is what it is.”
Who cares. Mike Vick did his time, leave it be. Women want to be equal yet they keep writing crap like this. Survival of the fittest. It is what it is.
Dear Mr. Shanahan, In general I’m a pretty big fan of your work. However, in this instance, I don’t just disagree a little, I disagree a lot. In a single article you’ve managed to shift the blame from highly paid public professional figures to women and people who are “ignorant” and “naive” about “what athletes go through” (What exactly do athletes go through? Highly skilled training? That’s what they signed on for and they are well paid. Games on the road? Double headers? That’s what they signed on for and they are well paid. Mental, emotional, and physical stress? That’s what they signed on for and they are well paid —-> as is the president, a neurosurgeon, and an astronaut.) You mention women rather consistently in your article. They appear “as beautiful girls who follow you around every corner and confess their love to you” as “some women who have a tendency to be money hungry” and as after being raped or sexually abused as “women [who are] usually given the benefit of the doubt.” You write that you believe that “many of these cases are just pure speculation and based off of greed.” Really? Prove it, show me the extensive research. Are you suggesting that it comes as a surprise to you that an athlete in a position of power, money, and the spotlight might use his (or her) status to take advantage of someone else? “Pure speculation?” Really, Mr. Shanahan? Really? While the world has seen a short list of publicized number of women who have misrepresented or lied about abuse or rape, the world has also seen (and proven) many more instances of women who have been raped, hurt, and abused by famous public figures. Allow me to list a small handful of these professional athletes whose cases have NOT been dismissed. Ready? OJ Simpson, Marv Albert, Patrick Roy, Darryl Strawberry, Sean Burke, Ben Coates, Matt Barnes, Sugar Ray Leonard, Moses Malone, Jason Kidd, Elijah Dukes, Lawrence Phillips [described as the “worst batterer in NFL history”), John Daly, Jay Mariotti, Mike Tyson, Warren Moon, Michael Cooper, Duane Causwell, Olden Plynice, Scottie Pippen, Jose Conseco, Dante Bichette, Barry Bonds, Joe Fraser, Ron Artest, Steve Austin, Allen Iverson, and Dwight Gordon. In your research have you taken the time to learn that women generally don’t report rape and battery? The reason they don’t is because they are so ashamed and embarrassed and because they believe that they won’t be believed because the men who did this are famous athletes and public figures! I could write and argue a lot more about this particular article. And frankly, I’m shocked that you have not received more comments about what you wrote. Instead, I’ll close by including the following: While I agree that public figures are held to a different standard (and I would argue that they should be) than private individuals, I would also note that the different standard has often worked in their favor. They rarely, if ever, lose their jobs (unless they go to prison, by the way How is Michael Vick doing, oh yeah, he’s still got a job…), their legion of fans, or their status as a public figure. If I’m not mistaken, all the athletes in your article seem to have held on to their jobs as well. You really did a disservice to women and to fans in this article Mr. Shanahan. In my opinion, you owe us and them an apology. Vanessa la Rae