The American Spectator

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Bad Sports

4.2.07 @ 12:01AM

GANGSTA BALL
Re: Paul Beston's Felon Ball:

A group of friends and I were leaving a bar recently, when a young woman who said she worked for the local NBA franchise walked up and offered us free tickets to an upcoming game. To a man, we laughed and walked away.

Not one of us even considered her offer. Talking about it later, every single one of us indicated that our reaction would have been the same had we been offered NFL tickets, brand new $500M stadium or not. In fact, none of the group has ever been inside that new stadium, nor are we likely to be any time soon.

Why? The poor quality of play, and the hoodlum atmosphere surrounding the leagues, which choose to deny any responsibility. Personally, I'd like very much to see a few dozen lifetime expulsions from both leagues. I guarantee the gangster crap would stop.
-- Steve Junor
Bellevue, Washington

I strongly agree with what Paul Beston's view about the element of criminality in two of the so-called "Big 3" sports in America. I have always found professional basketball nearly unwatchable, although more for "purity of the game"' reasons (when was the last time you saw anyone called for traveling, palming or charging in the pros?), and while I still enjoy football (go Bears!) the increasing "thuggishness" is demeaning to the history of the game and a turn-off to fans.

May I suggest the NHL as a model of exemplary player behavior? True, there have been a few on-the-rink assaults (why Todd Bertuzzi wasn't kicked out of the league is an unanswered question). But for the most part the players have a strong sense of right vs. wrong, and it is enforced largely by the veterans. In terms of major sports in America (and Canada) I put forth professional hockey players as inspiring role models and upright citizens.

More than one can say for basketball or football.
-- Paul Roth

Two sports Mr. Beston does not mention as having a problem with thugs are...NASCAR and ATP tennis. Break a rule, immediate fine, lose of points and in the case of some younger drivers using substances that might impair their driving skills, you don't drive for a year or two. Maybe the NASCAR model needs to be looked at as a model of how to deal with pro athletes. Look at ATP tennis. The guy beating Roger Federer lately is just back from a 15 month suspension for steroid use. If he gets caught again, he's gone. Their sanctioning bodies do not tolerate drugs or thugs. They should be the model to follow. Otherwise, the tattooed dudes of the NBA and NFL might just go by the wayside. Like the author, I have quit watching NBA thugs and I don't buy NFL tickets for the Chargers anymore. But I watch tennis and I watch NASCAR. And I attend as many of those events as I can. Thanks for reading this.
-- Bill Coulter

Thanks for a great column. I couldn't agree more. I'm a former NFL fan, never watched 1 game this past season. I can't stomach the show-boating and gang culture associated with the game. I have always been a hockey fan and will continue to follow that until the day comes (hopefully not) when the NHL gets sucked into our cultural sewer. If and when that day comes, maybe hockey will start getting some coverage on the sports networks, for now it's almost entirely ignored, especially at the college level. It's a great game and I'd argue that its players have a far wider range of talent than the NBA or NFL players. To answer the question at the end of your column, I truly believe the mainstream will start to reject the NFL and NBA.
-- Jeff Bruns
West Salem, Wisconsin

I enjoyed your article, at least as much as anyone can enjoy reading about the thugs in pro sports. You are not alone in your revulsion for, and uninterest in, pro sports. As a kid I grew up watching sports on TV with my dad. If the sound was off, it meant Howard Cosell had finally become too annoying for my dad.

I think the turning point was the NFL players' strike, and it was cemented by Dennis Rodman. This year when people started talking about the Super Bowl, I had to ask who was playing. I don't watch anything, and I just don't care. I can't in good conscience have any of my money go toward supporting the NFL or the NBA, which to me are little more than criminal enterprises.
-- Darrin Cook
Nampa, Idaho (Mountain Time)

"Felon Ball" by Paul Beston answers the question as to why I have long boycotted all professional sports, have no such bumper stickers, T-shirts, logos, etc....
-- Col. D. Moroco, USMCR (Ret.)
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Baseball generally requires parents nowadays, which generally implies the support and enthusiasm of fathers, which results in little opportunity for gangster cultures.
-- James Wilson

A quick word substitution in Paul Beston's tag line for anything in this country related with criminal behavior:

Sooner or later, the criminal element in politics will drive voters away -- won't it?
-- Diamon Sforza
Bartlett, IL

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