Is a game worth jail time?
Some say that art imitates life. They also say that sports is an art form. If either is true, then the reflections we have seen in recent days. weeks an months is a sad commentary on our society as a whole.
Now that is not to say that every community is the same. Sure, we’ve had a few sports-related flareups over the years. Fights breaking out at ballgames, concrete blocks being thrown at buses, police escorts for teams and officials. And that has been seen at all levels.
But basically Powell County is pretty tame when it comes to bad sportsmanship. I for one am glad that we are. But it can not be said for other parts of the country.
Here’s a few examples:
• Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season saw a Giants fan beaten so severely outside of Dodger Stadium he is still hospitalized. He has suffered some serious brain damage, but is trying to make it all the way back to being himself. Police have arrested two suspects in the case.
• Last week at a Pee Wee Football game in Franklin Township, Indiana DeJuan Wells, a parent, became irate at a call. The league is set up to teach fundamentals and sportsmanship.
Someone forgot to tell DeJuan.
He approached officials and became unruly. Two off-duty police officers at the game, approached and asked him to regain control of himself. He would not, in fact he became violent. So the officers tried to intervene.
Mind you, they are off-duty. No guns, no taser, no handcuffs, no pepper spray – just common sense. DeJuan had sharp teeth.
Mr. Wells bit both officers, one man, one woman, as they tried to gain control of him. He has been charged with assault. The officers have deep wounds to show and they had to have a tetnaus shot, plus a Hepatitus B vaccination and antibotics.
Now really, is a game at that level so important that you have to bite people. Sounds like DeJuan needs more of a nap in the afternoon since he can’t play well with others.
• Last weekend they played the annual preseason game between the San Francisco 49′ers an the Oakland Raiders. It has been a preseason tradition dating back to 1969, maybe even before that.
But this past weekend, it too took an ugly turn. A fight broke out in the stands between the rival fans. Not a slapping and pulling contest. I’m talking about a knock-down, drag-out brawl.
Later officials found a man beaten unconscious in a restroom. Then two men were shot in the parking lot. Police believe the shootings were related and it could have had something to do with the shirts the two men were wearing.
Really? Now it becomes a life and death struggle to watch a football game. Senseless.
The NFL’s answer: More security needed, stop selling beer earlier and maybe the two teams shouldn’t meet for a while.
You don’t say.
Here’s a suggestion. Use the camera footage to prosecute those involved and put in a zero tolerance to all stupidity like this.
Sports are fun and they can teach many things. Here lately we have sports legends becoming less of a role model and more of an example of what not to become. It is sad, but true.
Maybe we should emphasize to our kids that such stupidity as we have seen recently is not what sports is about. Even better, maybe we should be honest with our kids and let them know that sports heroes are fun to have and watch as long as they are doing what is right.
Lead by example is what I was taught. By the way, that was by Godly people who liked sports, but looked to a higher power for guidance and joy.
I’m just saying . . .