I think you mean "fame," not "power and wealth." I mean, every time a wealthy corporate executive is accused of corruption, we don't sit around and say "wow, that guy really isn't living up to his responsibility as a role model." For some reason, sports stars are supposed to acheive some sort of personal perfection and be some sort of distant, surrogate mentor to our children. Athletes are entertainers. They have gone through no special training to serve as role models or mentors to our children. We see someone like Charlie Sheen or Rob Lowe run amok in their personal lives and we sort or turn the other cheek. "Boys will be boys." But somehow black athletes are "thugs" when they have overpublicized conflicts in their personal lives. Minus the gun that may or may not have been brandished, Iverson's conflict with his wife is not shockingly uncommon in the lives of REAL people. I personally am not of the opinion that acquiring wealth will automatically transforn an ordinary person into a paragon of our nation's prevailing Judeo-Christian morality. I am well-educated, middle-class, and white, and I have been witness to domestic conflicts quite nearly as bad as what apparently happened between Iverson and his wife. The fact of the matter is athletes private lives are overexposed and over-analyzed. Very few of us have personal lives that would stand up to the sort of "moral" scrutiny that we put on professional athletes. The number of 23 year-olds in this nation that smoke pot in my experience is quite high (no pun intended). Do we say that white college kids who habitually smoke pot and skip classes are shirking their moral obligation to society? In my humble opinion, a lot of the judgements we make on the moral turpitude of athletes have some nasty racial overtones placing black athletes in a position of trying to overcome "what is in their nature." I am not, however, arguing for unaccaountability. One post on this thread compared Iverson and Rae Carruth. BIG difference. What Rae Carruth did is a disgrace to humanity, not just professional sports, and is, in my opinion underpublicized as compared to some of the other incidents in athletes' lives.
It has nothing to do with racism. What about that one guy, Chumura (the Bronco who got caught with some little girl)? I believe he was white. Do you really think that if Dirk Nowitzki brandished a gun to a woman it would go unpublicized? Corporate executives are not public figures that most kids look up to. Athletes are. I agree that it is unfair that athletes have to be role models. When you are getting paid millions to entertain kids and adults though it is not too much to ask. No one is telling him he cant throw out his wife. Many "normal" people throw out their husbands, wives, kids, etc. However, brandishing a gun, hanging around with his posse of gangbangers, rapping about killing "b****es" and "faggots", ignoring practice, etc, etc, are not something most "normal" people do. He has not done one thing that has tarnished is reputation, but has done many many things.
It is "normal" in his eyes. It is "normal" in the eyes of his friends. It is "normal" in the neighborhood he grew up in.
You ever do any time in the state pen? That way of thinking sounds a lot like the average inmate. How suitable for Iverson.
Well then put all of those "normal" people in a "normal" jail. Just because a lot of people do it doesnt make it right. He is not living in that neighborhood anymore is he? He is an adult and its time for his crazy ass to act like one.
What exactly are you suggesting the Police do to Iverson? Let him go because the little baby grew up in a bad neighborhood and still cant tell right from wrong? Nothing is ever his fault I guess? rolleyes: I have a feeling I know why you are a junior member and it suits you fine.
I am suggesting that they punish him in the same way they do everyone else under the same circumstances. Did I ever say that they should let him go? It is his fault and he is admitting to it. Your ignorance comes from not understanding that his actions are due to his upbringing. Im sorry if he doesnt listen to classical music, hang out with choir kids, and eat his vegetables. Basically, it would be like asking you to get into an ivy league school. It just wouldnt happen.
What I want to know is; why arn't the likes of Ruben Patterson and D. Stevenson in jail? Money and fame shouldn't make you above the law.
Although I enjoy most of your posts, I'm going to disagree with you on this one because it really hits home with me. I think what's ignorant is people not being accountable and willing to blame everybody and anything but themselves for their actions. And why they do? --------------------------- giddyup: I did and do tend to simplify things. In principle, things are usually pretty simple and I find that complexities are all-too-often used as a myriad of excuses which the guilty hide behind. --------------------------- Ditto. Life IS simple. The more versions/degrees we attribute to an idea, the more complicated it gets. RR
I think the thing that is irking me is the thread title. The issues concern athletes that arent good role models. The fact that we are singling out Iverson is unfair. The thread should read: Kick Athletes Out, those Pieces of S*it!!
