2008 Woodie Awards
State of the general sports fan
With controversy surrounding major sports, where are sports fans to turn?
Nick Gionfriddo
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
From game-fixing in the NBA, the all encompassing debate of steroids in the pursuit of Barry Bonds' 756, to the horrific fall from grace that public icon Michael Vick has experienced, the everyday fan has been bombarded with a litany of negative entertainment.
Long has the day passed when people of authority and players in high profile professional positions were given the public's trust and admiration, rather it has been replaced with skeptical critics and an affected fan base. The ongoing drama, controversial allegations, and convictions that have transpired over the course of the summer have shocked many in and around professional sports.
Most of the skepticism was due to the steroid debacle, and continues to plague the validity of scores that should remain historical.
Bonds, a proud local athlete, has been shamed and mocked by allegations of steroid abuse in the early 2000s.
Chronologically, next came the allegations in late April 2007 that Virginia-bred Michael Vick had reportedly owned property that had been used in illegal dogfighting. This development ends with his three other co-defendants making guilty pleas, thus forcing our hallowed super icon into a guilty plea.
Now, Vick faces between 10 months and five years in prison, and most now deal with questions from fans as to why the need to engage in such shameful acts. Still, fans accept the fact that he's just another role model that ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. Regardless of certain individuals, fans still flock to the sport.
Then on June 20, a mere six days after San Antonio dispersed of Cleveland in five games, FBI-backed information confirmed NBA referee Tim Donaghy had been involved in an alleged game-betting scandal. Donaghy later admits to betting on games, and pleads guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to engage in wagering over state lines.
Enough is enough!
Basketball was already looked at with skepticism due to lackadaisical effort defensively and exponentially large scoring numbers, so when this was uncovered, all bets were off (literally). Historically we should already be immune to this type of behavior, right? No, if you can't trust the people who keep the game in order, then who can the fans trust?
Long has the day passed when people of authority and players in high profile professional positions were given the public's trust and admiration, rather it has been replaced with skeptical critics and an affected fan base. The ongoing drama, controversial allegations, and convictions that have transpired over the course of the summer have shocked many in and around professional sports.
Most of the skepticism was due to the steroid debacle, and continues to plague the validity of scores that should remain historical.
Bonds, a proud local athlete, has been shamed and mocked by allegations of steroid abuse in the early 2000s.
Chronologically, next came the allegations in late April 2007 that Virginia-bred Michael Vick had reportedly owned property that had been used in illegal dogfighting. This development ends with his three other co-defendants making guilty pleas, thus forcing our hallowed super icon into a guilty plea.
Now, Vick faces between 10 months and five years in prison, and most now deal with questions from fans as to why the need to engage in such shameful acts. Still, fans accept the fact that he's just another role model that ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. Regardless of certain individuals, fans still flock to the sport.
Then on June 20, a mere six days after San Antonio dispersed of Cleveland in five games, FBI-backed information confirmed NBA referee Tim Donaghy had been involved in an alleged game-betting scandal. Donaghy later admits to betting on games, and pleads guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to engage in wagering over state lines.
Enough is enough!
Basketball was already looked at with skepticism due to lackadaisical effort defensively and exponentially large scoring numbers, so when this was uncovered, all bets were off (literally). Historically we should already be immune to this type of behavior, right? No, if you can't trust the people who keep the game in order, then who can the fans trust?