Due to the greediness of sports figures, professional athletes are not punished
in the same manner as other professionals are. It is like they are in a
completely different group that uses an entirely different set of morals. Team
owners care more about making their money than they do about setting a good
example for young kids and making pro sports fun again rather than a business.
Three good examples of this greediness are Roberto Alomar, Curtis Joseph, and
Dennis Rodman. Team owners and their respective leagues need to do something to
turn this situation around before they have murderers and rapists playing sports
for millions of dollars a year. Roberto Alomar makes 5.5 million dollars a year
due to his stellar defense and five Gold Gloves. He is one of majors’ best
all-around players and destined for the Hall of Fame, but he has performed one
of the most unthinkable acts in all of sports. In a 1996 playoff game, Alomar
was up to bat and then Umpire (John Hirschbeck) called Alomar out on strikes.
Alomar went back to the dugout where he started to argue the call with
Hirschbeck who finally tossed Alomar. Oriole’s manager (Davey Johnson) along
with Alomar went racing to home plate to argue the ejection. As Alomar was being
pushed away by Johnson, he spat at Hirschbeck. Alomar was suspended for five
games, which was to be served at the beginning of the 1997 season, so he could
continue to play in the playoffs. In my opinion, this act was indefensible and
warranted a stiffer penalty than a five-game suspension. Major league umpires
threatened to strike during the playoffs due to Alomar’s behavior and
inadequate punishment. I believe that the league did not suspend Alomar during
the playoffs because he is such a high profile player that he brings in enough
money for the league that officials felt they could justify their actions.
Curtis Joseph is one of the premier goalies in the league a favorite among fans
and the media and on his way to getting the Vezina Trophy for the best
goaltender in the NHL. He is currently leading the Toronto Maple Leafs in the
stanley cup playoffs but in a recent game he lost his concentration and his
temper. In a recent playoff game an Ottawa Senators player was bumped into
Joseph and the go ahead goal was scored. Joseph stormed out of the net and
collided with the ref knocking him to the ice. In the NHL rulebook if a player
makes contact with an official they will be suspended and punished by the
league. In this case Joseph received no suspension and no fine and the league
didn’t even review the play. Since it’s the playoffs and Curtis is a star
player he wasn’t punished and didn’t even get a minor penalty in game. In a
similar play Ottawa Sen’s player Andre Roy shoved an official aside in a much
less harmful incident but received a three game suspension mainly because he is
minor player. Dennis Rodman, the National Basketball Association’s bad boy, is
notorious for getting in trouble. In a January 15, 1997, game, Rodman lost his
balance after going for a rebound. He fell into a row of photographers where he
kicked one of the photographers in the groin. The photographer, who doubled over
in pain, was removed on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital. Rodman only
received an eleven-game suspension, was fined $25,000 by the league, and ordered
to get counseling. Compared with millions of dollars in salary he is paid a year
for playing basketball that fine is just a slap on the wrist. That fine is less
than one percent of his annual salary. Someone who makes $30,000 a year would be
fined more for littering. Attorney Fred Wiesman compared Rodman’s behavior to
that of Major League Baseball player, Albert Belle, when he said, "It’s
the same bullying, arrogant, obnoxious behavior. This is not the way reasonable
people should conduct themselves" All of the situations mentioned prove one
point. Professional sports are corrupt and need to have a serious facelift when
it comes to punishment. Roberto Alomar should have at least been suspended
immediately rather than the owners allowing him to continue playing, lessening
the severity of his actions. Curtis Joseph shouldn’t get special treatment
just because he’s an all star and a fan favorite. All players should face the
same punishment and follow the rules that are in the rulebook. Lastly Dennis
Rodman should be the reason the NBA does not allow violent people into their
league. In my opinion Dennis Rodman does not do anything but degrade
professional basketball and himself with his actions, thank god someone stood up
and decided to kick him off their team. If something is not done soon,
professional athletics will crumble due to lack of support and former team
owners will have to turn to illegal activities like some of their players to
make money.