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January 10, 2008

Editorial: Pros set poor examples for high school athletes

Manny Brito

SALEM — Throughout the years there have been many controversies in sports. You can go as far back as the "Black Sox Scandal" when Chicago White Sox threw the World Series, or you can go as recent as Michael Vick, the star Pro Bowl quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons who had a promising career ahead of him. He threw it all away when he pleaded guilty to dog fighting charges. You can look at any sport or any decade and there's a history of scandal -- the steroids in baseball, football, Tour de France, and in the Olympics.

Then there's all the fights that can break out in the middle of a game. There was the time when Pedro Martinez threw Don Zimmer on the ground (or just defending himself depends how you look at it if you're a Yankee or a Red Sox fan). Or how about the brawl in Auburn Hills when the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers got into fight that spilled out into the fans. But they are contact sports and that's all part of the game, right?

How about the gambling? An NBA referee was caught gambling on NBA games. We all know about Pete Rose, the great baseball player who could be in the Hall of Fame if it wasn't for his involvement in gambling on baseball games. Then there's also allegations of cheating, like the whole Patriots scandal about coach Bill Belichick videotaping plays from another team.

The most negative controversies are those when the athletes get in trouble with the law, like Tank Johnson and also Adam "Pacman" Jones who "made it rain" in a club and that led to a shooting. Everyone knows the allegations of rape against Kobe Bryant. Then, of course, we all know about the whole O.J. Simpson story. He was accused of killing his wife and his wife's friend. Although he was found not guilty, lately he has had more run-ins with the law.

Just exactly how do these controversies affect the student athletes, the ones who don't play for money or fame, but instead play for respect and love of the game? Mr. Scott Connolly, coach of the football team in the fall and the track team in the spring, said. "It's very unfortunate because if an average Joe does any of these it won't be documented as much. But these athletes are in the public eye and student athletes see all these things and they mimic a lot of what they see professional athletes do, whether it is positive or negative …Because of that, professional athletes should start to do a good job and realize that they are role models and young kids are looking up to them."

Most student athletes say it doesn't really change their view of the game or their own behavior. Sophomore Collin Lynch, who plays third base and outfield for the baseball team in the spring said, 'I think that when students play sports they play because they love the sport and to have fun. I don't think that sports controversies affect young kids play, or at least me." Junior Luis Montalvo, who plays tight end and defensive end for the football team said, "Just because a couple of individuals do the wrong things, it shouldn't overshadow the whole outlook of the game and how it's played."

As long as professional athletes are in the public eye, they will be watched by student athletes. They should understand that they have to do the right thing. Fortunately there are professional athletes that set an example, like Shaquille O'Neal, who is an actual police officer in the state of Florida. Many athletes also support charities and don't get in trouble. Professional sports organizations like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and the Olympic Committee have commissioners that penalized these athletes that give a bad image to the sport. For example, Michael Vick was suspended indefinitely for his role in the dog fighting scandal. As long as schools have a good coaching staff supporting and staying involved with the students, the students athletes should be safe from the negative influence of some pro athletes.

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