I was watching the New England-Dallas football game last weekend. I began thinking about the state of professional football and sports in general. Watching Deon Sanders waiving his arms and taunting both the crowd to focus their attention on him and the Patriot's punter to kick to him. It reminded me of watching Jesse “The Body” Ventura posing and waving to the crowd as he jumped off the top rope when I was kid. Later on in the evening I watched the highlights of Sunday's games. I saw Atlanta Falcon’s cornerback Ray Buchanon running back an interception and doing a “Heisman Pose” as he ran into the end zone. I saw the Rams do their now famous “huddle dance” as they scored a TD against another team with a losing record. After almost every play I experienced new type of antic that was either aimed at the opposing team or an attempt to draw the crowd’s attention. A few weeks ago the NFL banned the “cut throat” motion many players were doing after the "big play." It seems odd to me that the league would have spend their precious time setting policy for actions that should not have been happening in the first place.
Did anyone see Jim Brown, Paul Horning, Dick Butkus, Alan Page, or John Riggins stoop to pound his chest or even point at an opposing team after a big play? They would have never even thought about doing such a thing. It was considered a team effort on the field and off the field. Players were concerned about the sportsmanship, their fans, and winning the game. Now however, the game is about money and individual notoriety. A player is more concerned about drawing the fans and teammates attention with the “funky chicken” than sportsmanship. To the modern day player it is all about me, me, and more me. I scored the TDs, I blocked the kick, I led the league in rushing behind MY blockers, I didn’t get the 30 million-dollar contract I wanted, or I made the interception. The game has become a stage for players to show the goods. So that when their contracts are up, they can get what they really want which is the money and a boost to their self-esteem.
This situation permeates throughout professional sports not just football. I guess what bothers me is the effect this has on the kids. Recently, I was talking with a friend who has a kid that plays 7th grade basketball at the local junior high school. His son, Wes plays guard and specializes in defense. He was closely guarding the opposing team's point guard all game long.The opposing team's guard taught Wes how to "trash talk with letter F", point fingers, obscene gestures, and the "in your face dance." I do not remember unsportsman-like conduct like that when I was in junior high school. That was a good way to get kicked off the team.
Technologies such as cable television, Internet, the satellite dish, sport computer games,and ESPN have the strong exposure to the world of sports to both adults and kids. Professional Athletes have become our youth's new idols. I believe more players should act like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Roger Staubach , and Bart Starr and act professionally both on the field and off the field. - For KIDS sake!