Controversies in Sports

 

There are many controversies in sports. There were plenty of them in 2013. The scandals included Lance Armstrong admitting that he was doping in all of his Tour de France victories, the Biogenisis scandal involving various Major League Baseball players, most notably Alex Rodriguez, and New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez getting accused of murdering his friend Odin Lloyd.

These sports controversies have been crazy over the years, and they can be costly, too. Most recently, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned for life by the NBA for saying racist remarks about Magic Johnson in an audio tape recording. He’s been filled with controversy over the years as the owner of the Clippers, and now he’s finally gone.

There have also been other controversies involving racism, such as the Washington Redskins name being offensive because the word “Redskin” is a derogatory term for Native Americans. But owner Dan Snyder is defending the name, one thing Redskins fans DO like about him. He even enlisted a highly suspect tribal “chief” to defend the “heritage” of the Redskins moniker.

Last June, New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with murdering his friend Odin Lloyd, a former semi-pro football player, in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. He also faced 5 gun-related accompanying weapon charges. However, he was ruled “not guilty” in September 2013. But that’s not the only murder he has been involved with. He has been ruled a suspect in a July 2012 double murder in Boston. On May 15, 2014, he was indicted on the charges. He currently is being held without bail at the Bristol County Jail. He was released by the New England Patriots.

There have also been numerous betting scandals. For example, former baseball player Pete Rose bet on baseball in 1989. Three years after he retired, he admitted to gambling on baseball games as player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds. As a result, he was banned for life by Major League Baseball. He has also been ruled “permanently ineligible” to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tons of baseball players have cheated using performance-enhancing drugs like steroids. Players who have used it include Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, Mark McGuire, Jose Canseco, and Melky Cabrera. The Biogenisis scandal became a huge story in 2013. Alex Rodriguez was the most notable player involved. Because of this, he was suspended for 250 games (including the 2^nd half of the 2013 season and the 2014 season). However, that suspension was appealed, so arbitrator Fredric Horowitz upheld the suspension to the entire 2014 season, including the postseason.

In college, there has been question about whether student-athletes should get paid or not, as they are not allowed to. But some have tried to. They have even received improper benefits and gotten in trouble for it. For example, in 2011, the University of Miami football and men’s basketball teams were investigated for NCAA rules violations that were alleged to have taken place from 2002 to 2010, centering around improper benefits given by booster Nevin Shapiro, and were reported by employees at Yahoo Sports. Nevin Shapiro is currently in jail for running a Ponzi scheme at Miami.

It just seems like these athletes and owners can do whatever they want and get away with it. And then they end up getting arrested, suspended or banned and everything backfires.

A player can be still controversial and not get arrested. And Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is that guy. He likes to talk a lot of trash. On the field and off it. He became a household name this past January in his NFC Championship post-game interview when he called out 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree yelling, “I’M THE BEST CORNER IN THE GAME! WHEN YOU TRY ME WITH A SORRY RECEIVER LIKE CRABTREE, THAT’S THE RESULT YOU’RE GONNA GET! DON’T YOU EVER TALK ABOUT ME!” Sherman had made the play of the game when he tipped a Colin Kaepernick pass to Michael Crabtree in the end zone and linebacker Malcom Smith got the interception.

I think these players, coaches, and owners need to think about what they are doing and control themselves. That way, they can keep doing what they are supposed to do in sports. A lot of them are making tons of money. They shouldn't get too carried away by getting in trouble.