Sports Stars and their off field Indiscretions

[Beck]

Was watching on the news about the tour de france doping scandal and it made me think in a more general sense about star athletes and the influences they have on young kids.

In particular I was thinking of The West Coast Eagles Micheal (?) Gardiner, who has been suspended from matches indefinately - putting his entire career at risk - and coped a whopping fine from his club and the AFL after being busted drink driving. Now while I think his drink driving is terrible (bad man!) it didnt have anything to do with his on-field actions, or anything at all to do with the club. Yet his career was put in jeopardy because of it. And it happens all the time - a star athlete's professional career is put at risk because of stupid behaviour in their off time.

Should athletes be made to suffer in their careers because of their off field indiscretions? Is it right to punish them more simply because they are in the public eye and meant to be role models? If you or I were caught drink driving, it would unlikely affect our jobs. Should it effect theirs?

[Glenn]

Over here football stars have been caught drink driving alot but it hs never had an effect towards their sports. They have been given community service and been tagged but nothing has happened to their sports club.

[buffymanic]

I don't believe its right to punish someone whole life just because of one stupid act, i could understand it if he had been caught numerous times but if its just a one off, there is definately no need to put the persons career on the line like that.

Like Glenn I've lost count the amount of times footballers have been arrested for drink driving, drugs or GBH and a fine or a few months banned is all the punishment they need

[Paul]

i think most footballers sign in thier contract that they wont do anything to bring thier sport or clubs name into disrepute, if thats true they they shouldnt "missbehave". i also think like it or not that celebs should be aware that more gullible members of the public will imitate them, e.g. clothes hair & behavior. so celebs should take more care in what they do, act more responsible and just grow up. just my opinion

[Deleted]

I view being an athlete as just another profession, so here's my take on things.

As a teacher, my actions outside the school building during non-school hours can put my career in jeopardy. If I'm seen drinking with friends on a Saturday I may be facing repercussions when I return to school on Monday. There are some schools and other employers who look to see if you have a MySpace (or other blog) or Facebook account so that they can see what kind of social live you'll lead to determine if you're fit for the job. Now, I very rarely drink and when I do it's one drink, so there's no risk of me ever getting drunk. However, if my actions outside school (hanging out with my friends at a bar or club even if I'm not drinking) can result in negative consequences I see no reason why other professions can't use these consequences as well.

Now, I openly admit that teachers have a much more consistent and personal interaction with children than sports stars, but if I can be reprimanded for having one drink or even sitting in a bar then I see no reason why athletes can't have major consequences for driving drunk (or whatever else they may do). It's against the law and I think the sports leagues need to show their players that they're expected to follow the laws.

[Lizzie]

As athletes, they are a representative of the company/team/club whatever. They should be punished to the extent that the club sees fit, as well as any other charges laid against them by the police or whatever. That's just my opinion though.

[buffymanic]

Fair enough if they have broken the law then they should be punished as a court sees fit and it will have an impact on their career, but one offence should not put their whole career in jepardy.

Marie I can not believe what you just said, employers have absolutely no right to dictate how you spend you social life, being seen in the p or even being drunk has nothing to do with your employer even if you are a teacher and all your students see you it should NOT be a problem....... what do they think your going to do? bring the student to the pub with you and get them drunk!

Over here teacher would never be reprimanded for drinking, we used to see them out all the time and even thought we we're out drinking illegally we'd still go over and have a chat. Thats because students can not be reprimanded for out of school behaviour- unless they're wearing the school uniform at the time- and it is the same for the teachers too.

As for checking to see if you have myspace to me thats taking it too far, again its none of your employers business how you live your life! granted they need to make police checks and such, but that is definately going to far! If I lost a job on the basis of what I wrote on kax it would be bordering very closely on discrimination.

[Beck]

Yeah it would be discrimination, I have heard of people losing their jobs because their employers didnt like what they saw on their myspaces - which as far as I am aware, they were sued for. I'm not sure about teachers here, but I don't think that what they do in their private lives is anyone else's concern - but it does depend on what it is they are doing. A teacher running a naked webstream for example wouldn't be in the best interest of the school and you could understand him/her being in trouble at work for that.

As for them checking Kax- bah, they'd have to join first

Sports stars I think should be careful with their behaviour, and I know some have clauses in their contracts about this sort of thing and what they can and can't do - but it being career threatening for one mistake is wrong.

Heh - check whats in todays SMH Secretary fired over Blog

[buffymanic]

there are plenty of sports stars over here that have done a lot worse than drink driving. Eric Cantona once kicked a fun in the face during a match, he was charged with GBH and had to do community service, he also got a fine and a couple of months ban from his club but that in no way put his career in danger

[Lizzie]

admin said:

Heh - check whats in todays SMH Secretary fired over Blog

Yeah, that's fairly common I think. There is even word describing it: dooced

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dooced

Anyway, my point is that these athletes are working in the public eye, and I think they do have a responsibility to act in a decent manner.

[Shaun]

It depends what the indiscretion is. These players are watched by a lot of people, including kids who worship them and look up to them. Doing drugs, drink driving, assault, these should be dealt with by their clubs as well as by the law. In the case of the West Coast Eagles, who have failed to even discipline their players for drug use, its sending the message out to kids that its ok to do that and not be punished or have it affect their career. They are professional athletes and that sort of behaviour shouldn't be acceptable, and deserves more than a slap on the wrist. It may not sound fair in theory that it could jeopardize their careers, but they are aware they are in the public eye and are role models to children. As Liz said, they have a responsibility to behave in a decent manner and not bring the sport, and their team into disrepute.

[Beck]

Its certainly different for those in the public eye, or should be. Kate Moss lost jobs because of her drug use and I thought that was a good thing, course now all is forgiven and she's got more job offers

[Allan]

That's the achilles heel behind all this, Beck. Any publicity is good publicity, so once someone is outed as doing drugs or whatever, their public profile rises...

[Beck]

So what does everyone make of the Wayne Carey thing? He was paid a lot of money by New Idea to sell his story, but should he be rewarded for being an ass??

[Allan]

He shouldn't. I don't think anyone should.

The thing is, the media will always reward people for it. Because, let's face it, stories about celebrities sell, especially when it provides an "insight" into their stupidity.

[Nico]

Well I don't know who Wayne Carey is, but I think everyone should behave decent in Public, regardless of their status and if Celebrities can't do that, they should be punished.

It's a tough one, if you are say a football manager, and there is a story out in the papers saying that 2 of your best players were doing drugs at a local nightclub, the manager isn't going to take you off the field for that. He will however ORDER the player to give a statement to the papers.

A show here called Blue Peter, a Childrens show one of the presenters was in the paper absolutely blootered, and before you know it, he was fired. When you are a role model, and choose to be in the public eye, have the decency to act decent!

[Beck]

So what does everyone think of the swimming scandal?

[Lizzie]

Assault and grievous bodily harm? Yeah, no Olympics for you! He has to face the consequences for his actions.

[Loz]

Bullshit. I hate fighting,but how do you know he wasn't provoked and it wasn't self defence? There are very conflicting versions of events out there. I say he deserves a fair hearing. This guy has worked to get to the Olympics most of his life.

[Lizzie]

That's true, and yes, he does definitely deserve a fair hearing. From my understanding though, he completely lost control and I don't think he should be allowed to compete. I dunno.