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By: Ian Essling
Where have America's pastimes gone to? What has happened to the world of professional sports? Did I miss the giant headline that said, "Newsflash: America's Sports are now Required to be Corrupt and ablaze with Scandal?" I think not.
Every major sport in the United States has had some sort of scandal within the last two years or so, and the spread of this problem is both sickening and dismally sad.
While the famed 'Wardrobe Malfunction' of the 2004 Super Bowl was caused by idiotic entertainers and not by players, it still shows us how moral fiber and dignity have been sucked out of our society, and cast aside like a bug-ridden jacket. Janet Jackson's little stunt set off a firestorm, and led to massive crackdowns by the FCC, which, for better or worse, have instituted a Nazi-like stranglehold on the airwaves.
Professional basketball, however, cannot push off its problems on a half-time show. The Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons showed the pinnacle of the destructive immorality that has gripped professional sports in this country. Players attacking fans, all justifications aside, is the absolute bottom of the barrel. I don't care if the guy threw his beer at you, or called you some derogatory name, you don't fly into the stands and take out the fans! Don't these greedy endorsement-machines realize that they are playing the game for the fans, not for themselves? How moronic is it then, to physically attack the very people who you're supposed to be putting on the show for? How enjoyable would it be to go to the next big action movie, and during the show the cast pummels you? I don't think they'd be in the movie business much longer.
Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last few months, you know that the National Hockey League canceled their entire season due to a strike by players. These sorry saps are whining and complaining that they don't get paid enough money. Last I checked, contracts for NHL players were in the millions. Not enough money eh? These lazy asses need to get all their cash and endorsements taken away and work a blue-collar construction job for a few months. THEN they'll have a right to complain about not getting enough money.
Even America's 'favorite pastime,' baseball, is now afire with scandal and finger pointing. Superstars are admitting to using steroids (or being caught using them) over and over. I'm not talking about little fish; big names like McGwire, Bonds, Canseco are the ones in the limelight. These men are accepted stars, MVPs, yet they all have (basically) admitted to or are suspected to have violated every principle and hallowed tradition of the sport to simply further their own career. These men have ruined the integrity of a hundred year old tradition, just so they could hit a few more home runs. Pathetic? You betcha.
We live in a world where we hear who tested positive for steroids before we hear the highlights of the game. We hear who got charged with sexual assault, instead of who is going to the playoffs. Sports 'superstars' are no longer the pearly white role models that they once were. In fact, they are probably better examples now of what NOT to do. These men long ago forgot what it means to be a "superstar." They forgot that the game is for the fans. It's not for them to build up their stats, or run their mouths off, or make mountains of money; it's entertainment for the fans.
Professional sports stars have become money grubbing, selfish, immoral and arrogant jackals.and they're not worth our time.
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