College Athletes are Held to Higher Standards than American Politicians
14 replies, posted
[QUOTE]Geno Smith got busted for a DUI last weekend. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban swiftly announced that [URL="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2013/08/20/geno-smith-alabama-crimson-tide-suspended/2679497/"][U]he is suspending[/U][/URL] the (by all accounts) otherwise talented and well-behaved football player for the big season opener against Virginia Tech. He may also miss the mighty clash with Texas A&M in week two.
I found out about Smith’s troubles when I sat down to write this column, and just grabbed the first example from the top of the results after putting “suspended” and “dui” into a Google news search. I knew I’d find something fresh, because there are thousands of big time college football and hoops players in America. At any given moment one of them is suffering a public shaming and punishment due to a scrape with the law that will get reported on due to who they are.
The motive for my search was the domestic assault allegation that Michigan state treasurer Andy Dillon faced earlier this week. (On Thursday, prosecutors announced they [URL="http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/no_assault_charges_for_michiga.html#incart_flyout_news"][U]will not pursue charges[/U][/URL] against him.)
Alleged mis-behaviors often get players disciplined by coaches at big time colleges, because fans expect “a message” to be sent that poorly behaved children will not be tolerated.
We don’t often apply the rules the same way to political figures. Before it was clear that Dillon would not be charged, Gov. Snyder was supporting him in the media, saying he’s “[URL="http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/gov_rick_snyder_sticks_by_trea.html#incart_river"][U]doing a good job.[/U][/URL]”
It is likely no such support would have been possible if Snyder were a college coach and Dillon a football player accused of shoving his girlfriend around. [B]Columbus police recently [/B][B][URL="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2013/07/30/ohio-state-carlos-hyde-assault-case-closed/2600221/"][U]declined to pursue assault charges [/U][/URL]against Ohio State star running back Carlos Hyde, yet coach Urban Meyer still handed down a [I]three-game [/I]suspension.
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[url]http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/ken_braun_we_hold_college_athl.html#incart_opinion[/url][/QUOTE]
This guy brings up some really good points. Read the entire article, it's a good one.
Football is big money, and money has always been above the law since the beginning of time.
[editline]24th August 2013[/editline]
Hopefully this'll change someday, but as it currently stands it doesn't look like anytime soon.
[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;41952656]Football is big money, and money has always been above the law since the beginning of time.
[editline]24th August 2013[/editline]
Hopefully this'll change someday, but as it currently stands it doesn't look like anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
I agree, there's a lot less importance and money in a state's treasury.
[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;41952656]money has always been above the law[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/3PCngrv.png[/IMG]
[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;41952656]Football is big money, and money has always been above the law since the beginning of time.
[editline]24th August 2013[/editline]
Hopefully this'll change someday, but as it currently stands it doesn't look like anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
You're implying lobbying isn't 'big money'?
I was super confused reading this because I was thinking of the Geno Smith on the Jets.
[QUOTE=breakyourfac;41952930]You're implying lobbying isn't 'big money'?[/QUOTE]
How did I ever imply that? I was just saying that Football is big money, quite literally.
Athletes are paid big money in the NFL, and given full ride scholarships to colleges for sports. They should be 100% innocent and law-abiding. The Carlos Hyde suspension is bullshit though. He didn't even commit a crime.
[editline]24th August 2013[/editline]
Though Urban Meyer is in hot water over his former Florida players, so no surprise he knee jerks.
I just find it strange how politicians being terrible is a mostly universal standard, and yet people still elect them every single time and nobody ever tries to improve or change things beyond a small doomed effort.
[QUOTE=Chernobyl426;41958217][B]Politicians[/B] are paid big money in the [B]Government[/B], and given [B]control of the Government[/B]. They should be 100% innocent and law-abiding.
[/QUOTE]
See how fun madlibs can be?
[QUOTE=Crazy Ivan;41958823]See how fun madlibs can be?[/QUOTE]
I don't think politicians are too comparable to players.
[QUOTE=Chernobyl426;41966673]I don't think politicians are too comparable to players.[/QUOTE]
People who's responsibility it is to decide the fate of your nation, who themselves shape the laws which govern you, are infact very different from people paid to entertain you. I'm glad you noticed.
[QUOTE=Chernobyl426;41966673]I don't think politicians are too comparable to players.[/QUOTE]
Did you read the article? This is just talking about disciplinary actions.
I go to Rutgers, which is infamously a new "Big Ten" team. In my experience, the Athletic program is pampered beyond belief on campus. $1k is shuffled out of every student's tuition per semester in order to fund the Athletic Department, and it's often spent on useless and frivolous investments (i.e. the disaster that was a search for a new Athletic director after the Basketball scandal). The Athletics Department is literally a sink hole for money, and the only people who actively support the Athletic budget are often the ones in administration.
Likewise, many football players act like little shits on campus. They come to class ridiculously late, they don't take their classes seriously, they're rude to their professors, and they seem to possess a superiority complex as if they're somehow superior to the students around them (even though, truth be told, 3/4 of the college couldn't name a single player if they're not a QB). I don't think all of college athletes are like that, though. But it seems like the more prominent an individual's team is, the more likely they are to treat others poorly.
But, all that said, I think it's also important to note that the NCAA and team owners often like to take advantage of their players when given the opportunity, too. With the EA Games & "NCAA Football" lawsuit being a prime example.
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