By Conner Williams Opinion-Editorial Editor
On last Friday’s episode of ESPN’s “Olbermann,” host Keith Olbermann called for a boycott of the upcoming National Football League Draft and the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao boxing match. The decision stemmed from the fact that Floyd Mayweather has had multiple convictions of domestic violence, yet he is still allowed to fight and make hundreds of millions of dollars in his sport. In addition, Jameis Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner out of Florida State University expected to be drafted in the early first round this year, was brought up on charges last year of rape and sexual assault. Regardless, the prosecution decided not to press charges, for whatever reason. Olbermann is sick of seeing this type of behavior in professional sports go unchecked and unregulated. Athletes seldom see penalties for similar actions resulting in more than a suspension from a few games and a fine amounting to a little less than pocket change. So, Olbermann has publicly announced that he will be boycotting the two upcoming events and that he will not be covering anything to do with them on his show.
I, for one, am right there with him.
I played football for ten years before I realized that I no longer had a passion for the game. It took me far too long to admit to and validate the inherent physical and mental dangers that loomed over me throughout my athletic career. It took me far too long to grow tired of the brutal mentality that was required to be successful in the sport. I was fed up with being regarded as a higher standard of human because I had the physical ability to violently triumph over others. I was no longer willing to risk my long term physical and mental health for temporary glory. After extensive personal research on the horrifying effects of concussions, and the subsequent complete lack of responsibility by NFL officials on the matter, I decided to walk away from the game. Being a football player was how I chose to identify myself for a long time, and I wish I would have realized my fallacies long before I finally did.
Football has long since been regarded as a strong representation of what a young man is to expect to come in his life. Football supposedly prepares one for the challenges of life through the physical and mental trials of the game. It apparently teaches such values as discipline, teamwork, mental toughness, and selflessness.
I don’t see much of those values being represented by today’s professional players.
I do, however, see plenty of cases in which mindless gladiators are unable to “turn off” the violent switch with which they play the game. Too many times does their violent and aggressive behavior carry over to their off-the-field lives. I have grown tired of the seemingly endless cases of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and, in the rare but not unheard of circumstance, murder.
This complete lack of morality has made me fully lose interest in the sport. I no longer support or encourage the viewership and support of the NFL and its affiliates.
This is not to say, however, that there aren’t some good eggs in the bunch.
J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans and Marcus Mariota of the Univeristy of Oregon Ducks are the first names that come to mind of exemplary role models. They are active givers in the community and they set great example for young children of how to be respectful, humble, and compassionate people.
These types of players, however, are few and far between. The league is overshadowed by a absolute lack of scruples, and I no longer have any desire to support the sport with my money and viewership.
