Mike Vick, Adam “Pacman” Jones, Barry Bonds, Tim Donaghy, the Cincinatti Bengals, Tour de France etc … professional sports scandals have cut across every arena this year. The situations that athletes have put themselves into are nothing new to sports fans. Athletes in trouble with the law or cheating has become an epidemic. And the trouble is not just at the professional level.
College and high school players are not immune to the pressure to perform or win at any cost. Over time, fewer are discouraged. Special treatment for athletes is nothing new, even at the high school or middle school level. Coaches and officials sometimes turn a blind eye toward bad behavior if a player has exceptional talent. But the special treatment can teach them that as long as they produce on the field, they are untouchable. I believe that student athletes should be held to a higher standard than normal students. They are often the most visible kids in the school and their actions set an example. Most people would agree that along with money and fame at the professional level, athletes have an impact on society as role models. The same goes for high school students.
During the six years I have been at the Reporter, questionable student actions —both deliberate and accidental — have seriously concerned me. With the start of high school tryouts and preseason scrimmages just around the corner, I challenge all you athletes to think before you act this coming school year. Hold yourselves to a higher standard. Realize that with your talent you not only have an obligation to teammates and coaches and but to younger players and students. Realize that whether you want to or not, you also represent your community.
Participating in sports in high school requires commitment. All athletes at Mercer Island High School must sign a pact with the school to stay out of trouble, especially with alcohol. The ramifications of such actions are normally to be kicked off the team for that season. But I believe the penalty should be much more severe. Kids who break these pacts, let their teams down and give their communities and school a bad name, should be punished with longer suspensions — and made to make amends.
Kids who play by the rules shouldn’t have to sit on the bench behind someone who doesn’t. Yes, I realize that these are kids and making mistakes is part of growing up. Yet playing sports is not just a right; it’s a privilege.
Most people believe that our student athletes drink, take drugs or steroids and get in trouble with the law because they see professional athletes get away with it. This is backwards. They do it because they see others do these things without receiving the punishment they deserve. Mike Vick, Adam “Pacman” Jones, Barry Bonds, Tim Donaghy, the Cincinatti Bengals, Tour de France participants and others are products of a failure to hold people and student athletes accountable for mistakes. Don’t put your future in jeopardy. Think of what your actions mean.
