Winning At All Costs

As a sports fan it is getting more and more frustrating and much harder to actually follow the games that are being played on the field without being subjected to the constant distraction of all the off field problems that accompany our sports teams in this day and age. Sports shows begin numerous broadcasts with lead stories concerning steroids, DUI's, sibling assaults, gun possession, club fights,and even murder. Game action and strategies become a backdrop for these reports. News is news no matter where we find it and athlete's crimes are after all more newsworthy then the final score of their games. That will never change, but the rub here for me is the focus on what's really important. Right now the big story is DeSean Jackson's alleged involvement with the gangs in LA. The media's focus was not about the issue of gangs and the connection and influence they have with many of our major sports leagues, NBA ,NFL, etc. which is a serious problem, it was on the fact that DJ was somehow a victim because people were not rushing to his doorstep to resign him. Are you kidding me. Let me make sure I understand this, DeSean has a history of gang related problems and is released from the Eagles because of it and then is rewarded with a 24 million dollar contract from the Redskins. Who says crime doesn't pay. The Media is only outraged because they don't understand how a talented player no matter what his sins are isn't idolized and rewarded with money. Athletes have always been given special treatment, in local sports, College and the Pros. They are our modern day gladiators and role models. But when we honor the thugs and criminals that are playing our games we have lost our way. How did our standards as a society ever get this twisted, and we wonder why our kids don't get it...