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Conference quark::human_relations-v1

Title:What's all this fuss about 'sax and violins'?
Notice:Archived V1 - Current conference is QUARK::HUMAN_RELATIONS
Moderator:ELESYS::JASNIEWSKI
Created:Fri May 09 1986
Last Modified:Wed Jun 26 1996
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1327
Total number of notes:28298

1189.0. "Athletes and Crime" by --UnknownUser-- () Mon Aug 05 1991 15:52

T.RTitleUserPersonal
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1189.1QUARK::LIONELFree advice is worth every centMon Aug 05 1991 16:4915
Do I understand this correctly; you want to add another set of punishments
to those imposed by our legal system?  A set which does not have the concept
of "repaying one's debt to society" but instead brands selected people
(those in professional sports) with a "scarlet letter" which will prevent
them from resuming their profession for the rest of their life?

I'm just as horrified as you evidently are when someone uses their "position",
be it from celebrity, authority or whatever, in order to take advantage of
someone else, or to use it as a means of avoiding punishment, but I don't
see why being found guilty of a crime that, in itself, is unrelated to one's
profession (in the case of Pete Rose, his crime WAS related to his profession),
should prevent that person from resuming their profession when their
sentence is completed.

					Steve
1189.2benefit for bothFDCV07::MARINOMon Aug 05 1991 18:4017
    I understand what you're saying.  But in my opinion, these individuals
    lives are no longer there own.  They are looked up to by young
    children and admired for who and what they are.  I feel they
    have some responsibility.  Michael Jordon was interviewed by
    Maria Shriver last night, and he said "you have to be careful what
    you say and do because it can be misinterpreted, its a fact of
    life, these kids look up to, its your responsibility!"  
    
    If the judical system worked equally for everyone than maybe...but
    the wealthy get off.  What example does this set for children,
    if you are lucky enough to be a gifted athlete, you can commit
    any crime, go to a cushy prison, and resume your spot in the
    limelight.    I am not saying to make it some kind of surprise.
    When an athlete signs a contract, make a provision.  It just
    may make an athlete think twice.... I mean it would benefit the
    athlete and the potential victims.
                                                          
1189.3PULPO::BELDIN_RPull us together, not apartMon Aug 05 1991 18:578
We just recently had a case where a well-known athlete was convicted of the
brutal slaying of his wife.  He was given "community service" as his 
"punishment".  Doesn't seem very much like "justice" to me (and lots of others
who aren't hypnotized by the hero-cult).

Dick