Still Holding Out for a Hero…
Jan 05, 2010
There was a recent incident in the Washington Wizards’ locker room involving two players pulling guns on each other as the result of a dispute over gambling debts. The incident has turned into a potentially career-ending one for both players and the team’s GM for his failure to report it to the league. And it doesn’t make the NBA as a whole look very good either…
This is just another example of athletes today thinking their physical talent makes them better than the rest of us. Athletes are all brands. Even when you’re playing in college, you’re an emerging brand. Look at Tim Tebow. How many children across the nation do you think already idolize him? By the time you reach the pros, you’re a full-blown brand. Every single player, whether you play or warm the bench, must represent not only his or her team, but also the community and the state where that team resides. Professional athletes today command big bucks – salary, endorsement deals, appearance fees – you name it, and they get paid for doing it. Their status guarantees them special treatment everywhere they go, from restaurants to car dealerships, from retail establishments to other sporting events. They should have to answer for and earn these perks and privileges by holding themselves to a HIGHER moral standard than the rest of society.
The Wizards were formerly known at the Washington Bullets. They changed their name several years ago in response to an anti-gun violence movement. How’s that for irony?
LINK
Fox News – Washington Wizards Reportedly Failed to Alert NBA of Players’ Gun Duel
I think these overpaid, over indulgent athletes and entertainers are perfect role models for my children…perfect in teaching them that when you make bad choices, they will always catch up with you and bring you down. Celebrities can think they are untouchable, entitled and so on, but in the end, they fall twice as hard when their humanities are exposed. The same media that helps to build their popularity and treats them like royalty are the same blood thirsty hounds that go on a feeding frenzy when they fall from grace. The lesson for my children is that you can work hard and dedicate yourself to reach your goals, but your moral compass is what will determine your success in the end.