Another Empty Apology

THIS IS NOT BREAKING NEWS... same ol’, same ol.’ Last week two Redskins were suspended for testing positive for drug violations. Not one but three drug tests since entering the NFL. It really doesn’t matter who they are; just another couple of entitled players. But if you must know, Fred Davis and Trent Williams are pictured to the right. They disobeyed rules they promised to keep. They were suspended for the rest of the season and suffered a significant loss of pay (to you and me anyway). They were bad boys and given a time out.

In the theater of professional sports now comes the obligatory “Mea Culpa” ( or oops, my bad!). The production: executive production by the player agents, directed by the PR department of the team, sponsored by the fans. Scripts are on file for all occasions. The apologies, in Act One, are as transparent as similar performances of coaches fired (given a choice to resign) or a politicians who stage a preemptive maneuver to avoid a scandal with the all time favorite, flexible, and useful in all accessions quote, “I want to spend more time with my family.” Let’s face it these people really think we are stupid and will believe anything they say.

With appropriate press coverage the two Redskins panned sincerity; they were deeply sorry. Yes Sorry. Sorry they were caught! You really have to wonder the intelligence here; or do the abundance of money and temporary social power, deeply skew the cognition of consequence. One can only surmise the level of ignorance or delusion. Fellas, breaking news: this is the age where companies, actual industries, sole mission is to uncover celebrity behavior. What part of random drug tests failed to penetrate your inflated importance? Particularly after both of you failed the first two? There is a high price for fame. The check will be at your table momentarily.

Q) Why would anyone risk breaking the rules and suffering public humiliation?

A) American fan and voter amnesia and a combined culture coherence to a win at all costs mentality!

Go to prison - get a TV show. Run for President with sex scandals breaking very week - raise $400,000. Vilify a congressman while taking millions for the same accusation- dramatic rise in the presidential polls. We tolerate and in some cases contribute money to behavior in leader's and role model’s actions that we raise our children to condemn.

Could it be stopped? Whatever the sport, the administration of the game—the coaches, executives, owners and the unions, could surely stop it because they control the money. But they permit it all - the drug use, the clown hair, the tattoos that are as difficult to read as a road map of San Antonio, TX (“a permanent reminder of a temporary situation”, Jimmy Buffet). It’s all a part of the carnival, the bizarre side show they believe fans want or will tolerate.

Athletes, particularly pro athletes, have enormous support systems surrounding their professional life; agents, lawyers, strength and conditioning staff, nutritionists, sports psychologists, and criminal avoidance counselors. You would presume that the advice of so many educated people would sink in; apparently not. The players knew they we acting illegally all three times. They were willing to sacrifice their commitment to the team. Fans, coaches and owners sanction all of this.

Children, who we expect to make immature and poor behavior decisions in the process of maturing are expelled from school for the first drug offense. Why can't pro athletes be held to the same standard? I know, you are saying, 'who'd be left?' Pro athletes are held to a much looser standard in lies, cheating, arrests, wife beating, because the team needs to win right now. It's not about heroic character, it's about money and winning. They have empty seats and memorabilia to sell! Here’s where you come in—you buy it all.

We also know that illegal or criminal behavior really won't hurt the game, fans forget! So penalties are created that forgive and provide a support system for the most obvious rule violations. Fans should empathize. The players deserve a second, maybe third, ok—the fourth but absolutely the final chance. And then, well... we’ll trade them. All the sport asks is, please—please don't get caught. Don't get arrested. But if you do ... don't be in jail on game day!

You, the fans have the power to stop it all, don't give them your money. I know that should farfetched. I do. By continually financial support you personally enable the corruption and continues the side show farce. Redskins head coach Shanahan was quoted in the Washington Post December 6, “We will always be looking for… great character (seriously?). Some people will make mistakes along the way, (three times?). And that doesn’t mean we are just going to drop them because they made a mistake.” Yeah, they got caught.