This week, the theme has been the issue of drugs and bad behaviour in sport. With bad boy Ben Cousins telling us all in a confronting documentary, and Hawthorn fringe player Travis Tuck overdosing, drugs have become a hot topic of conversation and condemnation.
This coupled with Newcastle Knight’s player Chris Houston and Fremantle star Michael Johnson arrests for drug possession, and many minor indiscretions, has the moral do-gooders of society out in force. It raises passionate debate about sports stars and their role in society.
As a sports loving country, we look at our sports stars as heroes who save us from evil. However, when a player goes down a misguided path, the fans are the first to berate them and place the pressure on the stars.
One cheap and age old argument used by fans and muckrakers like Rebecca Wilson is that they are spoiled little brats, with loads of money and doing something they love.
It’s a cheap statement but overlooks the truth.
Yes, it’s true: sport stars are young, earn copious amounts of money, and live the dream. But they are also human. As humans, sport stars make mistakes and go down paths that lead to consequences.
It is amazing how quickly we, as a supporting fraternity, condemn actions that many of us do each week, like taking drugs and getting hammered on a Saturday night. These “kids” sacrifice their ability to partake in these activities to provide us with entertainment.
It takes discipline to absolve yourself from these activities that many of their friends partake in, and like humans, they will lapse at one stage in life. It is all part of being human and learning from your mistakes.
Watching Ben Cousins struggle, I was amazed at the lack of compassion that some sections of the community had for him. If Cousins was a member of these people’s family, he would have got love and support from not just his family, but from the community.
However, because of his status, it is expected that he does not need support just condemnation for being involved in an activity normal people do.
In conclusion, if a sports star does something illegal, like assault and drug trafficking, let’s punish and condemn their actions. However, if a sports star drinks a bit too much or goes down the path of drug addiction, let us as fans be a little sympathetic and supportive.
These are 18-35 year olds who are human and will be tempted by drugs and alcohol just like we are as fans.
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Thoughts, Crows fans?
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