TheLastManInAmerica

No one’s frightened of playing it

Everyone’s saying it

Flowing more freely than wine

     “I, Me, Mine”-The Beatles (1970) 

                In the sporting world, highlight reels are dominated by the efforts of an individual on any given play during a game. Some are game changing plays that swing the momentum in D-Day-like fashion; others are career or historical milestones reached by the player; rarely do they showcase the accomplishments of a team. So it’s no wonder why more and more athletes become enamored with themselves, creating a world in which they exist in a one man highlight reel, impoverishing the ideals of sportsmanship and turning such noble events as sports into scenes of wanton, dissipation, meant to sell a few more jerseys so they can bolster their case for more money come contract time.

            I love sports, most notably football, and have often marveled at the achievements of players like Brett Favre, Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning who, throughout the course of their careers, have managed to produce gaudy numbers without it reflecting on how they conduct themselves on, or off the field of play. These players have remained committed to the success of their teams, players who play through adversity, who are willing to restructure their contracts to make room for more talent. These are players who do all they can to help their teams win. Then there are those who, in spite of their talents, make some change the channel whenever they come on. Their willfully, self-centered displays paint them as characters who don’t care if the are on a winning team as long as they get due time in the spotlight and a hefty contract to boot. Names need not be mentioned but there actions are well known. These players wear non-sensible placards on their jerseys, put on absurd showings in the end-zone and call out teammates at press conferences and coaches on the sidelines if they don’t get the ball enough.

            Their lack of team spirit is exemplarily displayed when it’s time to sign a new contract. These players “hold out” for the terms they believe suitable. When you think that the average player earns somewhere around $1mil for a few months of actual on-site work (not to discredit the effort put in during the off-season), the terms they deem acceptable are most likely superfluous. If they don’t get the right deal, they’ll shop around and if they’re lucky, they’ll have a suitcase full of highlight footage of them debasing themselves for a spot on SportsCenter.

            There are children and young people out there who idolize not just football players, but all kinds of sports figures. What kind of message is sent to them if all they see on sports news shows is this surge of sanctimoniousness? One example that can be given is that of Maurice Clarette, a stud running back out of Ohio State., who, a few years ago, at the age of nineteen, deemed himself ready for the gauntlet of professional football. Dropping out of college, he failed to make the cut of any pro team and has since landed himself in prison.

            The point is: these are SPORTS. Sports are games that children play for fun and mild competition. Like art, it is the love of doing it that should come first; money and notoriety should come afterwards. If you aren’t having fun getting paid millions of dollars for what kids spend their whole summers doing for free, then go home! You aren’t doing yourself, your team or “your” game any good by hanging around.       

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