Earlier this school year I wrote about an era of greatness in sports. All the record breaking in different sports seems to be an everyday occurrence and something to which we've grown numb to seeing. While I still believe we are truly witnessing history, I'd also like to make a second argument. Are we, as fans, witnessing the loss of sports heroes and figures for good?
Let's take a look at some things that have occurred in the past few months. We've seen the world's No. 1 golfer exposed as an unfaithful husband and womanizer. The world's former No. 1 tennis player admitted he used crystal meth, tested positive and subsequently lied to get out of possible suspension. We've seen one of the NBA's best players pull a gun on one of his teammates and then have the audacity to joke about it with his teammates. Now two head coaches have left major college football programs while possible NCAA sanctions remain at both schools. The list goes on and on, Mark McGwire and his steroid confession, Patrick Kane and the cab driver assault incident in summer 2009 and Michael Vick with dog fighting. Where has the honor and dignity gone in sports? Who are these people we call our role models and leaders, and can we even call them that anymore? I really feel like we're being conned.
The whole Tiger Woods fiasco has just gotten so far out of hand. Twelve plus women and counting? This is the same guy young kids playing golf try and emulate, the same guy who was seen as a marketer's dream and the guy who had been anointed the greatest golfer of all time. As we've seen unfold the past few weeks, he's lost his sponsorships, he's lost his credibility and it remains to be seen whether he's lost his edge on the course or not. Come on Tiger, what could seriously be that wrong with Elin that would make you want to cheat? She's been there to support you through your knee surgery, your major championships and your father's death, not to mention the two children you have with her and the fact she is drop dead gorgeous! I hope it was all worth those random girls, because you may have lost your family, a multi-million dollar divorce suit and status as a role model.
Andre Agassi was always my favorite tennis player of the '90s, more than Sampras, just because he always seemed to be the underdog and I liked the way he played the game. Now to find out he was smoking meth while I watched him win tournament after tournament? I feel cheated! Not to mention he lied about his long hair. What's that all about? He was someone that I idolized and now that image of who I thought he was is gone.
Likewise with Gilbert Arenas, any respect I had for the guy has vanished. Arguing with your teammate about a gambling debt and then pulling a gun on him? Wow! Loaded or not, it doesn't matter. This is a serious incident. Not only does it hurt his reputation, but it further perpetuates the notion that many basketball players know nothing but violence with their guns and weapons. He has potentially seen his last days as a Washington Wizard and who knows if he'll play in the NBA again. Not a very good example for kids growing up in bad neighborhoods with violence who are trying to use basketball as a way to escape it all.
Now we've seen both Pete Carroll and Lane Kiffin bolt from their former schools, Carroll to the Seattle Seahawks and Kiffin to the Trojans. Both have been seen as controversial coaches and both programs have been accused of committing NCAA violations. Carroll has been overshadowed by the Reggie Bush incident - whether or not his family received improper benefits from the university while he was playing for the Trojans and now with Joe McKnight, whose girlfriend
allegedly received a free SUV from a booster. Kiffin, on the other hand, has been accused of using "hostesses" to help recruit high school players to Tennessee, a clear violation of NCAA rules. Don't forget Kiffin promised Volunteer faithful everything would be OK last year and they would be singing "Rocky Top" all night long after they beat Florida. He also promised to restore Tennessee to the winning power it was in the '90s. So much for those goals, as he's now bolted for Carroll's old job. If I was a recruit and Kiffin came into my house I don't know how I could look him in the eye and believe anything he says, when he shows no loyalty or honor to anything. Good luck next year to both of you. Carroll may get away unscathed, but Kiffin will undoubtedly have to deal with the situation good ol' Pete left him at SC.
The main thing I want to get across is that I know we as human beings make mistakes and do things we don't intend to do. But what's happened to the great athletes like Joe DiMaggio, Gordie Howe and Lou Gehrig who were seen as both great athletes and role models? I know they all probably had their own personal vices, but it was never reported back then. Maybe it's the era they lived in compared to ours where athletes are constantly under a microscope and everything seems newsworthy. The media almost feels obliged to expose these people for every little mistake and incident that comes up. Babe Ruth was one of the greatest and most generous athletes of all time. It was not uncommon to see him in the children's hospital cheering up terminally sick kids. He loved being around his fans as well. We all know now Ruth was a big drinker and womanizer, but it was never reported on because it wasn't deemed important news back then. Again I'll propose the question, are we witnessing the loss of athletes as role models? Or could the plethora of media outlets in today's world and the need for new and fresh stories be to blame for so much reporting occurring with athletes? I feel like sports reporting is turning into more gossip and speculation than ever and the true meaning of news is suddenly in danger of disappearing.
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