Wordshiping Gods, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATION 163

Wordshiping Gods

By

Roger Behra

Sports in America on the professional level-baseball, football, basketball-is not only big business, it is so big emotionally that it can be classified as clear fanaticism. It is out of control, and American sports fans need to have their heads examined. The facts that American sports fans are such fanatic cause’s monumental problems in sports and the American culture. The fanaticism causes a dual problem: for the player and one for the team.

The player is the biggest problem and suffers the most, because his misdeeds are the root of the problems. The misdeeds are brought about when a player is so idolized he feels his brazen behavior is very acceptable. The idolized players convince themselves that normal rules do not apply to them as fans are falling at their feet with so much attention and idolization.

Some very big sports figures recently have become victims of their own serious and multiple misdeeds, which have increased and multiplied so much over the past five years. Misdeeds by players have become quite commonplace. It is a very, very worrisome problem for the fans.

Everyone in sports already knows how Tiger Woods has ruined his marriage, his personal life, his image, and his career may never be the same. He lost millions. Then, there is Antonio Cromartie who has paternity obligations to solve that involves his seven children by six different women. Wow! How is that for misdeeds! An NFL quarterback with million dollar talent and a 25₵ brain who is being accused for a second time of sexual assault. He has lost considerable standing in his community and with his team. Alan Iverson’s plain awful behavior on and of the basketball court has left his career and personal life in shambles. The same kind of disruptive behavior greatly marred the football career of Terrell Owens. And the beat continues to go and on.

The second big problem in the worshiping false gods saga are the fans. All the players mentioned here (and many others too numerous to mention) have been treated as sports gods, swelling them to larger than life figures, and suggesting that they are godlike royalty. When the fans stop holding the door open for them and realize they are accomplices, and that fan accomplice behavior greatly fuels the fire, some improvement may take place. As it stands now, things are very much out of control.

The idolization of player by fans is greatly not-productive for several good reasons. It hurts the players. It hurts the teams. It hurts the sports world. It has also hurt the team owners. Idolization and the worshiping of false gods in sports has created a fine mess, and many people have stepped in that mess. The whole mess badly stinks, and the stink is on many people.

R. B.