my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Community   » Film-Yak   » Corrupt culture in organized sports (Page 1)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1  2  3

Author Topic: Corrupt culture in organized sports Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 02-20-2004 12:01 AM                     Preface: I was going to post this in the "political forum," but this subject really isn't political, it's more "pop cultural." To get to the subject, we're hearing a lot of stories lately about ill-behaved athletes from the high school to professional levels. Right now, the University of Colorado football program is mired in a sexual abuse scandal that only seems to get worse with each passing day. Even if every allegation against the football players is proven false, it raises this question: just how much moral slack must we extend to athletes? Here's the most obvious example of special treatment afforded to professional athletes. There's lots of fights and no arrests. If I walk up to someone on the street and punch him in the face I'll certainly face assault charges and perhaps even a costly civil judgment if the victim wants to press it that far. Yet we not only allow athletes to beat on each other, I believe we encourage it. We indulge our bloodlust in finding entertainment value in people beating the hell out of each other. We get off on displays of cruelty and don't think there is anything wrong with it (hence the great ratings for shows like "Survivor"). I like hockey; it's a good sport. But there's a lot of hockey fans out there who get pissed if they don't see at least one good fist fight in a game. I believe it is exactly this kind of macho "kick his ass" culture that encourages athletes to think they have extra license to behave badly. And who's going to stop them? Will you stand up for what is right against a fellow who can bench press 450 pounds? Or worse, stand up against all the sheep who take sides with the bullies? Very often, a popular jock can dish out a lot of headaches to others with impunity. We're entertained by it. Instead of saying, "that's terrible," we enjoy it and cheer the villian on with, "kick his ass!" Women get raped by such men and few press charges out of fear for what their peers will think. Kobe Bryant's defense team is doing their best to paint the alledged victim as a slut. With the culture being what it is, I am not surprised by the scandal happening at Colorado University, or others happening at schools like St. Johns and elsewhere. Some of the women involved in this scandal could indeed be making it up. But knowing the latitude afforded to big name athletes, there's probably some shread of truth to some of the allegations. America is obsessed with sports, but doesn't know the price it pays by "winning at all costs". Ability is the only thing that counts these days. We seem to forget athletes, as absurd as it may be, are often looked upon as role models. As we populate teams with more thugs bearing no moral integrity, we have to deal with more consequences. I'm doubtful we'll see any criminal prosecutions in this Colorado University mess. But if it does turn out that things like sex parties with escort services were used as recruiting tools in the football program, then coach Gary Barnett needs to at least be fired.  |  IP: Logged Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-20-2004 09:08 AM                     Bobby, I think you've just about said it all. Similarly though, just this week several football players at a nearby college after having had sex with a couple of 14 year olds were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and released on personal recognizance. For anybody else it would have been rape and a substantial bond posted if they were released at all.  |  IP: Logged Ian Price Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1714 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-20-2004 12:22 PM                     I liked the Olympics, especially when they were amateur. I like reading about high school and collage sports in really small local papers. I love it when the only football on the news is the high school wrap-up. I detest professional football, basketball and baseball. I only tolerate professional hockey because I feel it takes great skill. But I'd much rather watch a bunch of drunk guys skating on the local pond. I loathe the fact that professional hockey, baseball, soccer and baseball are now Olympic sports. What's the point; don't these people already have a forum to determine who is the best? I much prefer individual sports like track and field, figure skating (something to do with short skirts ), gymnastics (people can't possibly be doing that! ), skiing and all those sliding sports like the luge. I guess I'm not much of a team player.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 02-20-2004 02:28 PM                        I too detest pro sports. The only way I watch is if someone pays me to, like broadcast TV video or audio engineering, or video projection. Swimming was, and someday will be again, my sport (I've never been much of a team player either). [ 03-14-2004, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: Paul Mayer ]  |  IP: Logged Aaron Mehocic Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 804 From: New Castle, PA, USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-20-2004 06:52 PM                     Bobby, your 100% correct in your observations. In the original post you mention the St. Johns' incident in Pittsburgh I'm assuming. Just for the record that woman had previously been arrested on prostitution charges and fraud too I believe. Nevertheless, those ball players were in the 'Burg to play Pitt. What in the hell are they doing in the bars and nightclubs afterwards? Get em on the plane, get em back to class - period!  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 02-20-2004 09:01 PM                     The St. John's thing was a double-whammy of sorts, exposing two double standards for bad behavior. First, you have the basketball players who think they can do anything they want. Then you have a woman who "cries wolf" regarding rape. If one of the basketball players had not video-recorded some of the incident on his cellphone the court may have believed the woman's story. The evidence on the phone was the only thing to prove the lady was a prostitute using extorsion to demand more money for her services. The basketball players were lucky to beat the rape accusation. Still, they should have remembered they were enrolled in a college centered around Christian faith. All but one were expelled.  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 02-20-2004 10:42 PM                     I hate all sports with a passion, well, not really the sports themselves but what they represent in our society. One thing that I really can't stand are people who will spend all day watching sports, any sport, doesnt matter as long as it is a sport. I hate the sound of the crowd behind the announcer. Personally, I think the only thing on television more mind numbing than football are soap operas. In short, I hate sports.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 02-21-2004 01:10 AM                     I like the Seinfeld joke regarding fan enthusiasm: "We Won! We Won!" "No. They won. You watched." But I didn't intend to get reactions whether people like sports or not in general. My concern is the climate surrounding it now; the conduct and culture being shaped by its participants. I am concerned the actions of a few bad apple jocks are adding to a very destructive influence on our society. For instance, a particularly disgusting incident recently happened on a school bus (in Jacksonville, FL, I think). The on board video camera recorded how the entire bus load cheered as seven kids beat the living hell out of one victim. The bus driver did not do anything to stop it. Anyone can make the point we've had bad behaved sports stars for the entire history of organized sports. This is true. But in the past, much of the bad behavior was kept off the field. And it usually didn't get into felony territory. Today, athletes freely disgrace themselves on the field. During one game Terrell Owens, a receiver formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, freely screamed insults at the team's offensive coordinator in full view of the cameras. Warren Sapp Style Football One of the biggest disgraces I've seen in recent memory was the infamous blind side hit Warren Sapp laid on Chad Clifton during a 2002 Tampa-Green Bay game. Clifton wasn't anywhere near the ball in play on the field. He assumed his part of the play was done. He didn't see Sapp coming and got leveled by a brutal hit. Clifton crumpled to the ground and Warren Sapp celebrated all over the field. Minutes later, Clifton was carried off the field on a backboard and hospitalized. There was no penalty against Warren Sapp on the play. The ball was still live (even though it was on the opposite side of the field) and no whistle was blown. An NFL investigation judged it was a "clean hit." One could make a devil's advocate type argument saying Clifton is partly responsible for his injury for not paying attention, especially when a guy like Sapp is cruising in your vicinity. Still, Green Bay coach Mike Sherman confronted Sapp about the hit, which had Sapp saying "if you're so tough, put on a uniform." Sapp later said to the press, "If I was 25 years old and didn't have a kid and a conscience, I would have given him an ass-kicking right there at the 30-yard line." Yeah, that's really good. A 300 pound football player beating up a middle aged White guy. You'll win lots of people over with a stunt like that. Here's the thing. Warren Sapp didn't have to lay the hit on Clifton. But he took advantage of the "clean" opportunity anyway. And, IMHO, I think that is what makes the difference between someone who is out there just to play a game versus someone looking to kill somebody. NFL culture seems to be about killing opponents rather than just beating them honorably. Sapp is not the only guy to "de-cleat" someone. Lots of NFL players hunt around, hoping to cherry-pick an unsuspecting opponent. That still doesn't make it right. And audiences should be ashamed of themselves for deriving entertainment value out of it. After all, their cheers for the thuggery only encourages the problem to get worse. Thuggery like this is turned into an cultural institution, with the players being in their own special club. With this type of environment there can be little surprise that things like sex parties for recruitment and rape can exist in the institution.  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 02-21-2004 02:42 AM                     Well, just to add, I cant really speak for professional athletes as I could care less what they do, but I was always sick of how athletes were treated in high school. I had an English class once with three or four baseball players in it. Everyday the teacher would let them leave about 10 minutes early to go to baseball practice. Of course I got fed up with it and as soon as they left I would put my things up and stare out the window until class was over. And of course I got in trouble because the teacher felt that it was so important for me to listen but it wasn't important enough for the baseball players to have to listen. Sorry I cannot comment to exactly what oyu are wanting Bobby, I do agree and I feel that athletes getting partial treatment and being "above the law" is unacceptable and one of the weaker aspects of our society.  |  IP: Logged William Leland III Master Film Handler Posts: 336 From: Charleston, SC, Registered: Aug 2002 posted 02-21-2004 03:07 AM                        having read bobby's first statement, i agree that sports people get away with more things. that is wrong, but america always liked bigger and better stronger atheletes. it's not right but we have driven our society that. in the case of CSU i think it's wrong. it happened a few years ago nad now it's eeing light. give me a break. the women wants to harm someone's career and get her name in a newspaper. sports atheletes will always have an upper hand (pun intended) when it comes to us nomral people. the law becomes blind (litlerally) and allows them to get away with it. will it change?? probaly not, considering the mkney they make for shoe companies or television. i was drunk will writing this, excuse the grammer  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 02-21-2004 02:02 PM                        quote: Chris wrote: Of course I got fed up with it and as soon as they left I would put my things up and stare out the window until class was over. And of course I got in trouble because the teacher felt that it was so important for me to listen but it wasn't important enough for the baseball players to have to listen. So did you stand up for yourself and give the English teacher your reasoning for doing that, or did you wimp out and just do as the teacher said because it is wrong to question authority? At my job we have a few smokers who go outside for breaks all of the time. So I just stop working for around 5 or 10 minutes each time they do. So far the bosses haven't cared. That's what they get for hiring smokers. quote: William Leland Part III wrote: in the case of CSU i think it's wrong. it happened a few years ago nad now it's eeing light. give me a break. the women wants to harm someone's career and get her name in a newspaper. What evidence do you have to corroborate this? Remember, this is America, and it's guilty until proven innocent.  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 02-22-2004 12:52 AM                     Actually Joe, when the teacher saw me putting up my stuff she told me to look forward and pay attention and I said "no." I told her that I saw no reason to pay attention because what was being said was not important enough for those guys so I didnt feel it was important for me. I pick my battles carefully and always win. I'm a kinda quiet guy but when I feel strongly about something I make it known. I dont do anything at work anyway so the smokers just go out and smoke and I jsut keep doing nothing inside  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-10-2004 10:07 AM                     Here's a new story to bump this topic back into play. A couple nights ago Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore was seriously injured from a cheap shot hit by Vancouver's Tood Bertuzzi. Vancouver was losing a game that would end as a 9 to 2 rout in Colorado's favor. Bertuzzi came up behind Moore, punched him in the side of the head and then drove him face first into the ice. Moore suffered facial injuries, and worst of all a fracture in his neck. Now, a couple days later, the Vancouver police department is "investigating" the incident. Can anyone tell me why the police were not arresting Bertuzzi right then and there!!?? It's not like there's any lack of evidence. You only have, what, around 15,000 witnesses and videotape views of the hit from a couple different camera angles? Sounds like a clear case of assault and battery to me. If I did some similar shit to a stranger I passed in Wal-Mart and they caught the incident on the security cameras, I know I would be going to jail. But then that's just me. I'm not a professional athlete. Days later, Bertuzzi is apparently distraught over the harm done to Moore. IMHO, I just don't think that is good enough. Steve Moore could have been paralyzed or killed right there on the ice. Some may say, "fighting is just part of the game." I say bullshit to that. It is high time police departments started doing their jobs when it comes to these incidents. Some guy punches another guy, arrest him. That's what happens in the stands. The same thing should extend to what happens on the field. A very harmful message is getting sent to the public and encouraged through our culture when professional athletes are given the license to commit criminal behavior in public. Assaults like the one Bertuzzi committed upon Steve Moore should not be tolerated. What has to happen for things to change? Does a hockey player need to die from getting a broken neck?  |  IP: Logged Dino Panagiotopoulos Expert Film Handler Posts: 139 From: Windor, Ontario, Canada Registered: Jan 2003 posted 03-10-2004 10:19 AM                     quote: Some may say, "fighting is just part of the game." In a way it is (whether some people like it or not) but what happened the other night wasnt fighting it was assault as you mentioned. Theres a big difference between two guys mutually dropping the gloves and settling a little difference with a little fisticuffs and what he did. They drop a few bombs for a minute and its over. No harm done, nobody hurt. To see someone blindsided with a sucker punch like that was horrible though. I used to have tremendous respect for Todd Bertuzzi as a great player and a physical presence but after seeing that I lose a good deal of it. To say it was accidental is because that was totally pre-meditated. When you want to fight someone you dont go after him like that.......you tell him to drop the gloves. It reminds me of the McSorley job a few years ago. He was charged with aggravated assault and received a one year suspension (it was towards the end of his career anyway and he retired). Not a good way to go out in my opinion as he was a highly respected player around the league.  |  IP: Logged Gary Crawford Expert Film Handler Posts: 200 From: Neptune NJ USA Registered: Nov 2003 posted 03-10-2004 01:26 PM                     You guys have said what I have thought for many years. Count me among those who have no use for sports. I'm old enough to remember things like Mickey Mantle hitting his 500th, back in the days when sports were dignified. Today thugs are providing hero worship idols for both kids and adults. Other obscenities too, such as the pro player who makes $1500 an hour who is on the "injured list" for six weeks with a finger boo-boo. Pro games on TV are a ho-hum anymore too. I can't stand commercials as it is and these televised sports events are nothing more than fluff filler between ads. I'd much rather get out on a field somewhere with a few guys and play an afternoon of softball. Maybe for another thread...kids playing sports for blood and the parents who push them.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1  2  3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.