S.O.S: Save Our Sports

EDITOR’S NOTE: September was a rough month for professional athletes, the NFL in particular. It stirred strong feelings in our Sac-Joaquin edition coordinator and writer, Jim McCue. He sent this to me and I felt it deserving of this page this month. Hopefully you do too.

   I am reaching out to high school student-athletes, particularly male athletes, with a desperate plea for help.

   Professional sports are a mess right now and the public’s trust in its leaders, stars, and everyday players is dwindling due to scandals erupting in most of the major sports over the last decade or two. While the National Football League is at the forefront of the numerous disasters threatening to bring down pro sports as we know it, the problems persist in most sports leagues and competitions.

   The root of the problem seems to be the misbehavior, bad decisions, and illegal actions of numerous “adult” athletes. Domestic violence. Child abuse. Performance-enhancing drugs. Racism. The list of ugly transgressions goes on and on.

   Because the adults in professional sports are seemingly unable to correct their errors in judgment and actions, I am calling on the next generation of student-athletes to save professional sports for future generations to enjoy. Athletes—even high school athletes—are role models that can shape the way that future generations of athletes act and transform the image of amateur and professional sports.

   Because it would be weak to call out student-athletes and provide no suggested solutions, I offer the following ideas to improve the image of sports and the trust and faith that spectators and fans have in them.

   >> Be a man. Respect parents and authority, using reason and logic to voice a difference in opinion rather than force. Treat your girlfriend (future wife) with respect and never lay a hand on her. Love and respect young children, especially your own. If you were raised in an abusive environment or were disciplined with force, you can learn and know a different way to act. You are the one that can break that cycle.

   >> Lead with actions. Not everyone is a team captain that calls a team into action, but everyone can display leadership without speaking a word. Be inclusive on campus and on the field/court. If you see someone being bullied in person or online, step up and bring it to an end if you can. Reach out to students outside of your social circle and discover people interested in music, art, and engineering, as well as students in special education classes with diverse abilities. You might learn some new things, including some things about yourself.

   >> Work hard and compete naturally. Physical training/therapy, time, and hard work is what will raise your level of play and make you better in your sport. Resist shortcuts. If you achieve success through hard work and determination, others will notice and follow your work ethic.

   >> You are a student-athlete. Period. On the playing field and off, be color blind and accepting of different beliefs, cultures and languages. Compete with an display good sportsmanship toward opponents regardless of what they look like, what they say to you, and how they act. Hold the high ground.

   >> Behave like someone is always watching. Don’t think that you can be a model citizen in the classroom, on the playing field, and in the community while acting foolishly online. What you do and say on social media sites and apps matter. Recruiters are watching, the media is watching, parents are watching, and the next generation of athletes is watching what you do and say on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.

   These are just a few things that you can do. Today’s student-athletes fortunately have the mistakes of current and past professional athletes and amateur student-athletes to learn from at their disposal. They also have excellent resources such as the Character Combine to teach student-athletes how to improve sportsmanship and reputation through character lessons.

   I believe the future of professional and amateur sports can be saved from today’s scandals and tragedies by today’s student-athletes — from the state record-breaking quarterback to the third-string outfielder that may not get a single at-bat, but shows up and works hard every practice. I have seen many of the actions I call for, but hope that they might be more openly or consciously displayed.

   And I believe that you can do these things, not because it is good PR or looks good on a transcript, but because it is the right thing to do. For you, your family, your friends, your teammates, your classmates, and your community. And maybe even for the future of sports.