"The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road; long before I dance under those lights."
Muhammad Ali
This time on "HE SAID, SHE SAID" Rev and I debate the following...
With all the negativity surrounding professional sports, is it worth our while as fans to continue to watch and support the teams and players?
Being a rabid sport’s fan, it is very disheartening when a story like the Michael Vick incident takes over today’s headlines. Professional sports is certainly taking its hits with the NBA referee scandal evolving into a horrible situation ranking right along side with the consistent testimonies involving steroid use in Major League Baseball.
However, this is one gal that has not given up on professional sports just yet. Here is why.... For every Pacman Jones there are twenty Peyton Mannings or for every Barry Bonds there are twenty Derek Jeter types representing their respected sports with the highest professionalism and class.
Now I’m not dissing the sports networks for their twenty-four hour coverage of these important yet negative stories. BUT, it does seem it is the only news reported in the world of sports. Apparently controversy draws viewers and numbers is what it is all about with any network. Please keep us informed, but don’t keep beating a dead horse (or dog – forgive the terrible pun.) The sad truth is no matter the network, be it sports or news, negative will outdraw positive almost every time. What does this say about our society as a whole? I don’t think I want to know the answer.
I hope this article will cause you to at least remember that the majority of professional athletes are solid, well perceived human beings. Don’t allow a few thugs to rob you of precious memories; memories such as mine including The Steel Curtain, The Big Red Machine or Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Memories I have carried with me, shared with my children and plan to one day share with my grandchildren.
When I watch a pro-football game on a Fall Sunday afternoon, I know I am watching the best in the world at their profession and the quality of the game is superb. When I see Peyton Manning change a play while at the line of scrimmage and then hit Marvin Harrison on a dead sprint in the corner of the end-zone, I know I have witnessed perfection. And guess what?? Michael Vick never even crosses my mind!! Yes, his is a story that needs to be told but let’s not forget…it’s not the only story. One bad apple really doesn’t spoil the whole bunch. All you have to do is throw it away and enjoy the rest.
*Note - "He Said She Said" is starting a suggestion box. If there is a topic you would like for us to debate just let me or Rev know. Leave your idea here or on Rev's blog. We will be happy to take a look at it!!
This "He Said She Said" would have been up last night but I had a family emergency and was unable to post mine. I know Rev had his ready and was only waiting on me. I apologize...sorry Rev!! Could Not be helped!
I am sure he will have the losing side of our debate up soon ;)
And for every Abdul and Harold there is an Outlaw who is just thrilled to death to be able to see things like the controversy of Bonds and the controversy of Aaron when he broke the record. No, they weren't the same controversy but there was the uproar when it became obvious that he would break the record.
It's always something. Personally I would prefer the controversy be on field related things, I even prefer the Rose controversy to the Pacman/Vick type ####.
try not to let "family emergencies" interfer again. You're only getting away with it this time because Rev has really bad legs and looks terrible in a sundress.
Psst in this case (and it is spelled both ways) Ali spelled it MUH
Last edited by OneLastOutlaw on July 27th at 5:09 PM.
Hey outlaw, I don't have enough time in my day to critique your stuff.
BGL, nice read. It gets to the point, doesn't dwell on the obscenely obvious, reminds all that the good, the bad and the ugly will forever be with us and that in a few short weeks we'll be BBQ'ing in the "REAL" season.
You are absolutely correct BGL. Of the thousands of professional athletes, there are only about a few dozen that seem to grace our headlines with negative publicity. But like I always say, instead of calling it the Nightly News at 6, they may as well call it: And Here is the Bad News for Today at 6. The good people and stories are always in the back pages or in the final minutes of news broadcasting. Unfortunately feel good stories aren't what sells in our country. Most people have more enjoyment in watching their enemies or foes fail, opposed to enjoying their own players or teams success. Just take a look at all the blogs on Vick, Bonds and the like. I rarely comment on those blogs because it reflects so poorly on the sports that I truly enjoy.
I sincerely hope your family emergency wasn't too serious and you and yours are safe and sound.
Hi Outlaw ;) Controversy will keep coming and people will continue to report it and blog about it. You can just about take your pick with any sport. But there is more good than bad and there are so many pro athletes that donate to charities....give their time and actually act like decent human beings.
I believe a news station tried all positive news at one point and it failed. We love a "car wreck" and will slow down every time to see blood. I guess the same applies with sports.
As far as my family emergency goes, my mother has cancer. They thought they got it all but it has come back. The good news is, it isn't bad and doesn't require any treatment. We will just watch it. She is an awesome Lady...the bravest and sweetest I will ever meet in my lifetime. She isn't only my Mother, she is my best-friend. All is well for now but for those of you who believe in prayer, please remember her and my Dad. He is handling this much worse than she.
Haven't read REV's opinion yet, but I already I agree with ya.
And I am not a big pro sports fan...like you, I enjoy the college sports..it's more pure!
So while thugism hasn't changed my opinion of pro sports, my opinion of pro sports was never very high to begin woth ! LOL!
Nice job BGL...I'll read Rev's just to be fair. But I agree with you.
I will keep your mum in my prayers...she must be a heckuva woman to have such a beautiful daughter, inside and out.
Veerrry nice, BGL. But who is this Michael Vick fella you speak of?
Seriously, we have three sports radio stations here in Phx. Today, one of them in the noon to three time slot came on as said they weren't going to talk about Vick, Bonds, Donaghy, or any other negative story. The two guys said they got into the business to cover sports, and that this has been a rough couple weeks for them. They took calls from people about their favorite players, favorite sports stories and memories, etc. It was great. I called in and metioned Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn, the soon to be inducted Hall of Famers.
Agreed. Forget about (fill in the blank) and move on. Enough already.
Thank you Marty. I do believe it is only a negative world because the networks only report the negative acts. There are countless that do good deeds and are very good human beings. Thanks for dropping in!
Thank you for remembering my Mom Lisa. Also, I am more of a college fan than pro. I agree it is more pure. But I am a fan of professional sports and hope the few don't spoil the many for present and future fans!
BGL, I'm in agreement with you although I tend to tolerate, and, at times, support the behavior that is deemed "immoral" these days (i.e. I'm a proponent of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in sports).
Remember when the Phillies helped out the Colorado Rockies' grounds crew when they had trouble laying out the tarp during a storm? That did indeed get nationwide press coverage, but only for a day. It got the coveted #1 slot in SportsCenter's Top-10 Plays, but they haven't mentioned it since.
In contrast, they've talked about Vick/Donaghy at least three times every single hour of every single day since the scandals first began.
BGL - No....one bad apple does not spoil the whole bunch. But you have to get that rotten apple out of the apple bin before it starts to spoil the apples around it. What do we do when we find a rotton apple? We throw it away right?
Yes negativity sells and not just in sporting news. My father-in-law keeps his TV on a news channel all day. I think I would shoot myself if I did that! Just watching for a little while makes me depressed!!
In college, I believe a student deserves another chance to make things right, in Professional Sports, I think if an individual is violating team rules, break the law, then this person needs to be removed from the sport. We have young people who are growing up and and learning from watching and listening. If they see someone, that a big name getting away with it because he talented, then they are going to do the samething. IT'S TIME WE SEND A MESSAGE..........
All of this bad news really isn't new. We are just hearing about it more. The media is everywhere and athletes just can't get by with what they used to...as it should be! BUT, there are still plenty of upstanding players to keep me coming back for more. We shouldn't give up on professional sports. We SHOULD lean on the different leagues to clean it up! It looks like Nke and Reebok sent a powerful message to the NFL and all Vick wanna-be's.
Last edited by bluegrassLady on July 28th at 8:07 AM.
Hey, BL, The professional sports players haven't done anymore damage than we as non-professionals have done ourselves. We just don't get all of that camera time because it does not benefit the news teams!
I guess the sports world is a reflection on us as a society (especially rev;) But, as in society, I believe there are more good than bad. To give up on professional sports would be a mistake. I have so many wonderful memories including The Big Red Machine, The Steel Curtain andof course Jordan in the playoffs. I hope to have many more and wish the same to generations behind me.
BL, that was sarcasm at it's best. That's all that I was doing. I know there are good players out there that are trying to live their everyday lives just as we do.
BG, ten years or twenty years down the road, THESE are the things you're going to remember about professional sports. You're not going to remember that the Cardinals won the World Series, but rather that Vick got suspended (or worse yet) for dogfighting and that NBA games were fixed.
Rev, isn't that why we have a NFL commissioner? It just isn't up to the Bengals. It would seem this commish is trying to thorw out those rotten apples. Let's just hope he keeps his drive and guts to do so.
BG, so what does Goodell do in the case of the Bengals? Take away game revenue? Suspend their players? What does Cincy do with the vacant roster spots?
Hey All! I am a sports nut....especi ally college hoops!! You have to be if you are from Kentucky. Basketball is a religion here in The Blue Grass. We love our WildCats and can be tough on them at times. However, you will never find more loyal or passionate fans! I am a Steeler fan, I am a Reds fan but, I am a WildCat!!
BLEED BLUE!!
the gym, and out there on the road; long before I dance under those lights."
Barry Bonds there are twenty Derek Jeter types representing their respected sports with the highest professionalism and class. 
carried with me, shared with my children and plan to one day share with my grandchildren. 
is a story that needs to be told but let’s not forget…it’s not the only story. One bad apple really doesn’t spoil the whole bunch. All you have to do is throw it away and enjoy the rest. 
