From Terrell Owens to Dennis Rodman to Ron Artest to Rasheed Wallace and back around to Terrell Owens, we all know our fair share of obnoxious, temper-tantrum throwing athletes.  It’s annoying, it’s a disgrace to their team and their sport­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­—and it needs to stop.
These athletes grow up hearing their names plastered all over ESPN. It makes them swear and scream in frustration after a missed putt or a bad call. It makes them think they can do anything they want to and get away with it. Sadly, this behavior has become the truth in our society; they act this way because we let them.
No one denies Tiger Woods’ prowess on the golf course, but we live in an age where a legend like Woods can swear loudly during a mostly silent golf match and not be told to settle down just because he’s a legend.  He doesn’t need to be told he’s the face of the PGA and that’s not the way that group wants to be represented. He also doesn’t need to be told he’s a role model for many boys who want to be just like Woods when they grow up.
These men make millions of dollars to entertain America, not to appall it. For that kind of money, it shouldn’t be that hard to remember your manners. What happened to sportsmanship? What happened to congratulating the other team? These egos are a problem in professional sports that have trickled down to the collegiate level.  Case in point, Oregon’s running back LeGarrette Blount hitting a Boise State player earlier in the month after the Ducks lost. How soon until we see that in high school?
I never did see former starting quarterback Morgan Newton ’09 kick a cameraman after a lousy play like Dennis Rodman once did. So far, I haven’t seen Adam Shaffer, this year’s starting quarterback and senior, attack a member of the crowd as Ron Artest so memorably did. I hope I never do.
Professional sports have all the drama of players’ egos and their demands. It’s a shame those egos have superseded the sports themselves, and it’s a sad testament to what sports have become and what their future holds.
Faraz Majid is a reporter for the Hilite. Contact him at <[email protected]>