Physical abuse among professional football players continues to occupy many in the media. While I don’t condone the behavior being reported, I also don’t condone CNN and others using such tragedy to drive their ratings numbers. Rather than droning on and on about the salacious details, why not report more substantively about the story…behind the story.
Who are these men recruited for their prowess on the playing field? Where do they come from? How were they raised?
I would imagine many of them, especially the black athletes, hail from inner cities where crime is rampant. They were probably parented by a single mother, or a grandmother. If the family did include a father, it’s more than likely he wasn’t a positive role model. Of course there are exceptions to this scenario. Unfortunately, they are just that…exceptions.
Whether these disadvantaged, young men naturally excel at sports or make it their life’s goal to get hired as professional athletes, their lives have not prepared them to make the leap from impoverished backgrounds to wealth beyond their wildest imaginings.
Unless their personal background issues are resolved satisfactorily, the behavior of these men off the playing field cannot help but be at odds with society.
Money, lots of money, doesn’t buy morals. These are learned over all of one’s life, not in the blink of an eye.
Whom do we blame? There’s more than enough to go around. The player for his own actions. The owners, managers, and coaches for not holding their players to acceptable behavior on and off the field. Sponsors who pay exorbitant amounts of money for the persona, without knowing the full measure of the person. The fans who elevate the players to demi-gods who can do nothing wrong, as long as they bring home the Super Bowl Trophy.
Professional sports players bear the burden of fame and celebrity. Like it or not, they are also icons for millions of youngsters who yearn to follow in the footsteps of these men.
In the days of ancient Rome, no one asked about the gladiator’s personal history before sending him into the arena. Who cared? As long as he provided great entertainment while battling his foe.
…are we so different?
………hugmamma.
hugmamma's MIND, BODY and SOUL 
The world has always defined “heroes” wrongly, which is why we call successful athletes sports heroes when they’re nothing but good at their profession. But what about the real heroes? The fathers and mothers who stick around for their kids, who sacrifice their own desires for the larger good of their family, and who place more value on providing a home rather than a house to live in. We need more of these heroes to grow the heroes of tomorrow. Sorry to rant and rave, but this post rings so true. We’ve lost our way in this country when there are more broken homes and families than not.
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Thanks for the rant. You spoke what so many know to be the truth. Parents have a tough job raising tomorrow’s adults. It’s a “hit or miss” job. Lucky if born to good role models…and into means…living life on the up and up. Unlucky if life isn’t rosy and one must conjure up one’s own resources. Regardless of which, the world keeps spinning and parents are born every day. God bless them…
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Hugmamma, Good piece. In ancient Rome the gladiators were slaves, so they had no choice. A few won their freedom. I realize that many players today come from poor backgrounds, but the incentives start in high school with scholarships. If they make it through college without injuries that force them out, they’re attracted by big money. I read that pro football players are often directed to injure other players on the opposing team. I’m sure they all know that. The money is just too much to turn down. It’s sad in a way. The people who attend rough pro games need to object and stay away for things to change, but I can’t see that happening in the foreseeable future. —Susan
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You’re right. In the end it boils down to money. If folks keep paying to see pro sports, things will never change. Money glosses over everything.
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🙂
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Well put. It is sad and frightening what these guys seems to get away with and continue to be awarded.
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I’ve thought this for a long time. Those unaccustomed to such wealth, can acquire a false sense of self that quickly unravels under the spotlight.
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