Sports Culture Contributes to Domestic Violence (From Domestic Violence: Opposing Viewpoints, P 82-90, 2000, Tamara L. Roleff, ed. -- See NCJ-185753)

• NCJ Number: 185764
• Author(s): Jeff Benedict
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Greenhaven Press
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Collected Work
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Opposing Viewpoints Series

Annotation

According to the author, news reports of athletes committing crimes, especially crimes against women, are becoming more and more common, but participating in sports does not cause men to batter and sexually abuse women.

Abstract

Rather, the author contends the fame and idolatry surrounding college and professional athletes contributes to their deviant behavior. When society and the sports establishment refuse to punish athletes for their criminal actions, athletes believe they are above the law, and being famous can dull adherence to social norms and lure athletes to indulge in illicit temptations. Nonetheless, sports leagues and corporate advertisers rely more and more on popular athletes to advertise. Celebrity is a poor substitute for legitimate leadership, however, and the primary function of athletes should be to entertain and athletes should be held to the same standard of conduct expected of the public at large. Although the sports industry continues to condone inappropriate behavior by athletes by offering scholarships and lucrative contracts to athletes who have been convicted of criminal acts, the practice needs to stop.