Lowlights, Lowlives And Lowered Standards: Sports Violence Should Not Be A Game

Since this is a brand-new blog and I intend to keep things relatively light around here, I am unsure if this is the forum for such decidedly unfunny commentary. But, sometimes...like any good success story, you have to start at the bottom of things before you can rise up to the top.

That, and the fact is, there's no real way to make light of some of these unfortunate stories...

As completely done as we all are with the non-stop carousel of performance enhancing drug abusers across the pro sports world -- Von Miller of the Denver Broncos, Miguel Tejada of the Kansas City Royals, and, of course, Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees and Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers, it still boggles the mind that anyone thinks that they can continue stay under the radar while clearly violating the rules of an increasingly intolerant business.

But, as disappointing and sad as these cheaters of the game are, there are far more serious problems that have become far too common in the world of sports. Depending on who you are and which sport you enjoy, violence is part of the game. Whether it's boxing or one of its extended fighting permutations, or hockey, football and other aggressive, highly contested sport (which is just about all of them), there is a certain amount of physical pain that viewers expect (and rabidly anticipate in some areas). The merits of bloodlust in sports can be debated until the cows come home (and probably will be), but probably only the psychopaths would argue that it should be allowed to spill into the private lives of jocks or even those who only sit on the sidelines and watch them.

Among the more mild cases that were reported on this past week include a mutual domestic violence charge and joint stay in jail for Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson and his girlfriend Nicole Pettiford. Apparently, police arrived at their home following a call that reported screaming and loud noises emanating from their residence where they found the couple in the midst of a loud argument during which they smashed cellphones and property, though neither were injured. The fact that there doesn't appear to be any physical abuse from either side is the only reason that this doesn't rank higher with respect to the many heinous acts by athletes or sports-related figures that made the headlines in recent days and weeks. Far too many athletes engage in or have engaged in abusive behavior toward a loved one or several loved ones, but this seems to be a case of a loud verbal altercation that led to police action. They should both be ashamed that they let it come to matching orange jumpsuits.


Lawson and Pettiford in prison orange 

And, while the case of the Houston Texans' Antonio Smith could have ended in such a terribly different fashion, he was lucky enough to have missed when he tore the helmet off of an opposing player and then attempted to use it to hit said player in the face. Look, nobody's kidding anybody about football...it is by necessity, a brutal, violent sport in which the main goal is to physically crush and smash the opposition on each and every possession. Again, people can argue the merits of the sport itself (as they can and should the continued acceptance of brawling during hockey games), but, even in the exacting realm of gridiron gladiators, taking a dangerous and even deadly instrument and attempting to use it to inflict intentional damage to an opponent is rightly disdained.

But, for all of these shameful situations, as disheartening as they are to sports purists and parents struggling to teach their kids to have strong moral values, there are some things that are just completely devoid of any reasonable explanation or understanding.

By now, many people know about the sociopathic horror that is Aaron Hernandez, formerly of the New England Patriots. Essentially, he is being charged for murder, illegal gun possession and multiple other acts of scumbaggery. His history of past violence and rental of a widely reported upon flophouse appear to mark him as an especially rancid piece of garbage.

Murder victim Odin Lloyd

Disgraced, disgusting and detestable former Olympian Oscar Pistorius was finally indicted in the murder of his girlfriend and this was six months overdue. If there is any justice for Reeva Steenkamp, his conviction won't take nearly as long.

Accused murderer Oscar Pistorius

And then, there are people (if that term can still be used to categorize him) who seem to be the physical embodiment of the pure and rotting evil that lurks inside of them like the son of former Red Sox great and current broadcaster Jerry Remy, Jared. As much as it sickens me to give him any extra ink, even if it's used to condemn him, it's important to keep talking about domestic violence and searching for answers that can help to change the culture that continues to be so permissive of it.

Convicted abuser and accused murderer Jared Remy

The illness of violence that permeates the sports world is really just a microcosm of our far-too-violent society. It's reflected in the almost routine coverage of the latest school shooting tragedy (or attempt) or mass act of violence like the Boston Marathon Bombing, Aurora shooting, Sandy Hook, and Columbine, and it's reflected in the daily violence that is now beyond routine and sadly commonplace in communities that have been socially and economically neglected.

How else to explain the story of three kids -- and make no mistake about it, these boys ARE children, killing a promising young athlete as he jogged by and offering no other explanation for their heinous, cruel act than that they were "bored."

Murder Victim Christopher Lane

As angry as I find myself at Lane's murderers, I have to sit back and ask myself: are these kids worse than the Robert Zimmermans of the world? Charles C. Roberts? What about the leaders of the murderous regimes that are responsible for past and present genocide around the world? What about sending men and women to die and kill others in wars promoted under false pretenses? 

Obviously, the question of violence -- in all of its shapes and forms -- has answers and solutions that are extremely complex and elusive, whether it be on the field or in the streets. But, maybe the time has finally come for each of us to begin looking into the mirror to find that person who will begin to lead us back from the brink of darkness so that our children can start to believe that sport is only a game and a life of peace is something worth winning.