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Violence in Sports
epidemic proportions. Solving the tragedy of male violence against women, she writes, begins with: "Telling men and boys, starting at the age of 4 or 5, that violence against another human being is not permitted. For more, see "Not Only Jocks Hurting Women," Johnette Howard, Newsday, July 24, 2002.
Recollecting Nicole Brown Simpson's fate as a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her football-playing husband, Tom Knott of The Washington Times names and chastises those who tolerate and enable this abuse. See "Dangerous liaisons," Tom Knott, The Washington Times, July 24, 2002.
With athlete crime now part of the flow of sports news, Michelle Hiskey writes: "It's hard to summon much outrage about something that happens so often. Faced with such a relentless march of badness, sports fans fall into an acceptance, that the heroes they celebrate on the field regularly misbehave off it. We even defend an athlete/lawbreaker with an array of excuses: a misguided youth, a troubled soul, victimization by the press." No longer surprised by this kind of news, she adds, "Criminal behavior, and fans' acceptance of it, is just another example of sports mirroring the world we live in." See "Growing numb to athletes' misdeeds," Michelle Hiskey, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 24, 2002.
It's time, writes sports columnist C. Jemal Horton, for big league sports and "model sports citizens" to send a lasting message to athletes and victims of athlete crimes. Players who are unquestionably involved in crimes such as domestic abuse should receive severe suspensions and fines. And he means s-e-v-e-r-e. Like half the season and half the salary. See "Sports must get tough on domestic abusers in their midst," C. Jemal Horton, The Indianapolis Star, July 23, 2002.
Why is it that the burden of writing about athletes accused of violence against women generally falls to female sportswriters, wonders Miami Herald's Michele Kaufman. No matter, she writes, when four high-profile athletes are arrested in one week for some type of domestic violence, it is reason for alarm. It's also a clarion call for serious consequences. For what should not be allowed, see "Women victims almost becoming a sports clichй," Michelle Kaufman, The Miami Herald, July 23, 2002.
On solutions to prevent post-game celebrations on college campuses from turning violent see "Providing students outlets may curb postgame violence," Thomas O'Toole, USA TODAY, July 12, 2002, Page 12C.
A New Jersey sports complex may have inoculated youth baseball against obnoxious sports parents with a unique design of its diamonds. See "Youth sports complex finds way to control rowdy parents," Associated Press, Indianapolis Star, July 4, 2002.
Last week in a New York Times story about former NFL star Jim Brown, who chose to be jailed for violent behavior rather than to undergo counseling and do community service, sports columnist Mike Freeman wrote: "Every superhero or larger-than-life figure has a gross flaw; with Brown, it is his brutal treatment of women."
"A flaw," wonders Los Angeles Times sports columnist Diane Pucin. "That's what it is now to be jailed for aggressive behavior toward women." [next page]