Sports
High Life Wednesday, November 24, 1999
17
Ethics in sports becomes heavy
Gambling takes center stage Athletes’ morality steps into tne
By Kevin Macintosh
Reporter
Ever since the idea of sports
competition was first put into
effect, there has always been
gambling. Medieval kings and
lords would bet huge amounts
of gold and silver to determine
whose knight was the fittest.
Although archery, jousting, and
sword fighting have died out,
the gambling still remains.
Gambling has been an issue
in American organized sports
since the early 1900’s.
“Shoeless” Joe Jackson, who
was one of the best baseball
players this country has ever
seen and a member of this year’s
All-Century team, was banned
from baseball for being
suspected of taking money from
gamblers in the World Series.
Both Jackson and teammates
showed how gambling could
ruin a sport if athletes are paid
to throw a game. The movie
“Field of Dreams” puts baseball
in a better perspective as it
describes the “Shoeless” Joe
Jackson story in more detail as
well as displaying what makes
baseball America’s favorite
pastime.
Recently, Pete Rose, another
member of the All-Century team
and the all-time hits leader, was
faced with a barrage of
questions about his past
gambling by NBC reporter Jim
Gray. Controversy emerged over
the manner in which Gray
confronted Rose about his
gambling. Rose was banned
from baseball ten long years ago
for his involvement with betting;
meanwhile, many athletes abuse
drugs and are still allowed to
play the game. Freshman Ronnie
Lee Brooks agrees, “Gambling
is bad, but people exaggerate
how bad it really is.”
Baseball, like any other sport,
is about competitiveness; not
who can make the most money.
Today, football, basketball,
baseball and hockey players all
make millions and still join new
teams in search of even more
money. College careers are often
cut short as players seek the
millions of dollars awaiting them
in the major leagues. In addition
to the millions players make as
they go pro, many still accept
bribes to throw games. Senior
Leary Troy says, “Gambling is
one thing, but when a player
throws a game for money, that is
another thing entirely.” This
issue is accurately portrayed in
the movie “Blue Chips”, as it
shows how athletics are
becoming more concerned
about the money and less about
competitiveness.
However, despite the toll it has
taken on the careers of certain
athletes, gambling is not always
a bad thing. Many people make
harmless bets with their friends
all the time as to whose team will
win. On the other hand, gambling
can destroy lives. Many go into
extreme debt due to a serious
gambling problem, but this is
usually caused by greed, which
would take a toll on the weak
gambler anyway. Whether it is
at a football game ot in Las Vegas,
compulsive gamblers will find a
way to lose their money one way
or another. The only time when
betting ruins a sport is when an
athlete takes money to throw a
game. And if an athlete makes y
millions and is still greedy "I-
enough to take bribes, he or she ^
should be punished, but |
certainly not banished. “S
By Warren Kuhn
Stajf Writer
In today’s society one would
like to think that no one is above
the law. However, we see athletes
committing crimes and then being
quickly excused to go back to
fame and fieedom far too often.
We can no longer afford to place
these men and women on
pedestals, as role models, if they
cannot act accordingly.
Mike Tyson is perhaps the
mostfamiliarcase. Heisamanof
amazing talent in the boxing ring,
but that is no excuse for his
repeated acts of compulsive
violence. When he was 26, Tyson
served six years in prison for a rape
conviction. Earlier this year he was
again imprisoned for one year on
charges of assault. His record of
imprisonment may cause his
boxing license to be revoked.
In 1995, Darryl Strawbeny
served a 60-day suspension for
violating provisions of his drug
o
issue
public arena
after-care program. He also
admitted to beating his wife as a
result of his alcohol abuse. In
addition to his drug problems.
Strawberry was caught with a
prostitute. Later that season ,
when he made h is debut in Yankee
Stadium, fans gave him a 20-
minute ovation.
Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin
was sentenced to four years
probation and fined 10,000dollars
after he pleaded no contest to a
felony charge of cocaine
possession. Irvin was not
suspended but was placed under
suspicion by the NFL.
All of these men have
committed acts which society
deems unacceptable. If an
ordinary citizen committed them,
he would be hard pressed just to
find a job afterwards, but fans and
employers often welcome
athletes back quickly.
Perhaps most disturbing is that
athletes are surprised when they
are penalized Ibr their actions. In
an appeal to Judge Stephan
Johnson, Tyson wrote, “Jail
would mean I lose everything.”
Tyson’s lack of judgement is
indeed troublesome.
Professional athletes often
become role models for children.
What kind of message is today’s
youth receiving about ethics and
the consequences for going
against them? Athletes should
not be excused fham their actions,
but forced to take responsibility
for them. Society cannot afford to
set standards and then bend them
forselect individuals. If anything,
athletes should take it upon
themselves to surpass these
standards of morality in order to
positively influence their young
admirers.
Professional athletes clamor for more millions
By Warren Kuhn
StajfWriter
In the past, when workers
went on strike for higher pay
and better conditions, others
sympathized with them. But
today, strikes have become cli
che as athletes around the
world boycott for pay in
creases.
On August 12, 1994, base
ball players initiated what
would become the longest and
costliest strike in the history
of professional sports. In the
wake of the 234-day work stop
page baseball lost more than
$800 million dollars and can
celled the World Series for the
first time since 1904. In addi
tion, a total of 921 games were
lost for the 1994 and 1995 sea
sons. Following the strike, fan
attendance dropped more
than 12 percent from pre-strike
days in 1994. Effects were
most clearly perceived as fans
began to see “the Big Leagues
as a home for selfish, spoiled
players and greedy owners.”
The strike mania also hit the
NBA in 1998. Players boy
cotted on the basis that they
were not being paid highly
enough, although the average
NBA salary was $3 million a
year. This provoked many
NBA fans to turn to its col
lege and high school counter
parts.
“Perhaps it is time
we stopped indulg
ing the every whim
of athletes.”
Strikes are not limited to
just the United States alone.
Early in 1998, Paraguay’s
chances at the World Cup were
blown when the players went
on strike for free transfers
when their contracts ran out.
In response to the situation
Andres Colman, vice-presi
dent of the Paraguayan Foot
ball (Soccer) League said.
“This crisis will not do Para
guayan football any good.”
When athletes strke for
more money, they make no
significant gains. Instead, the
industry, fans, and sport itself
are hurt. These athletes will
eventually become their own
downfall. As their salaries
increase, so do ticket prices.
The only thing that extended
strikes and inflated merchan
dise bring is disinterest. Per
haps it is time we stop indulg
ing the every whim of ath
letes. The amount of money
being payed to athletes and
to market athletics is out of
hand. Indeed, how can we
continue to preach education
as the key to success when
many wealthy athletes have
scarcely finished high school?
One must only look at the
way professional sports are
run to see that money fuels
both players and owners
alike. Much unlike Holly
wood perceptions, athletes are
no longer driven “for the love
of the game.”