This week has been a busy one for commissioners of the major professional sports (note: "major professional sports" does not include the National Hockey League because (a) it's not a huge draw in the United States, (b) I don't watch hockey and (c) it doesn't fit my argument because the most recent suspension was 2 weeks ago). Let's take a closer look at each of these suspensions and find out what it means for the respective league.
NBA
In the NBA, Kevin "Anything Is Possible!!!!!!!!!!" Garnett was suspended a measly one game for elbowing Q-Rich in the face. It looked somewhat malicious, but considering the fact that the game was effectively over at the time, it was a little too malicious for my liking. I understand that in a 7-game series there are a ton of psychological games occurring, and I understand a player's desire to stand up for his teammates. But this just reeked of a tired, irrelevant old man attempting to show another past-his-prime player who the Alpha Dog on the court was. It reminded me of KG barking from the bench in a sweater during the 2009 playoffs. Pathetic.
Overall, this suspension is not a huge black eye for the NBA. David Stern is a wizard with conduct violations and nobody paid much attention to this suspension. Sadly, that is a testament to a few things: (1) the NBA's reputation as a somewhat-physical and confrontational sport, (2) David Stern's ability to spin anything in a positive manner and (3) KG's irrelevance to this Boston team. Case in point with regard to #3: The Celtics blew out the Heat last night to the tune of 29 points. Garnett who? Exactly.
NFL
Ben Roethlisberger was just suspended a maximum of 6 games for, well, I'm sure you've heard the story by now. He can reduce that suspension to 4 games with good conduct. In my opinion, this is a serious black eye for the NFL. Here you have a white (yes, it matters) quarterback (this also matters) who plays for a storied franchise (matters again) that is currently at a championship-caliber level (also matters). I think Roger Goodell made the right choice here, as I think six games is an appropriate suspension considering the fact that the District Attorney decided not to press criminal charges (Rapesgirlsberger is going to have to face a couple of civil suits, though).
The NFL is widely seen as having the most conduct issues of the three major sports, and this incident is a clear example why. Roethlisberger is a high-profile player in the nation's most beloved sport, yet he is prone to getting completely wasted and either driving his motorcycle drunk without a helmet or exposing himself to unwilling females in a locked bathroom. The guy is an idiot and a creep, but he has also been built up as a role model. How does the NFL and the media cope with this dichotomy now? Likely by distancing themselves as much as possible and conveniently forgetting how much praise they heaped upon this player in the past. At least now the slobbering from sportscasters who endearingly call him "Ben" might stop. But I am worried that, upon his return to the playing field, the slobbering will pick right back up where it left off, and all of this will be forgotten.
MLB
Finally, we come to the 50-game suspension of Edinson Volquez for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). PEDs are, obviously, still a serious problem for Major League Baseball. So many names have come out over the past few years, and most of those names have not been superstars. This, to me, shows a rampant use of PEDs throughout all levels of baseball - the minor leagues, the major leagues and the winter leagues. While Bud Selig and Company have slapped a pretty hefty suspension on players failing drug tests - 50 games for the first offense, 100 games for the second offense, etc. - it's still a joke. Why?
It's a joke because Edinson Volquez can serve this entire suspension while on the disabled list. He's currently on the 60-day DL and can begin serving his suspension immediately (which of course he will). So what is the downside of a player taking PEDs to attempt to recover more quickly from a serious injury while he is on the 60-day DL? None, other than giving up some salary. I'm sure the team loves it.
Realistically, though, this situation is not likely to occur a lot in the future, since not many players are placed on the 60-day DL. Still, it's an embarassing loophole for a league that is trying to show that it is serious about dealing with a problem that is rampant in its ranks.
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So, which is worse? The NBA for having violence occur on-court at meaningless points during games? The NFL for having alleged sexual assault occur off-court and off-season? Or the MLB for having a joke of a punishment for a serious PED offense, which is obviously rampant?
For me, it's the NFL. The NBA's problems are mostly image-based (as in, race-based). MLB can fix the loophole in their PED punishment. The NFL has serious issues with the character of their players. Let's not forget Rae Carruth, Ray Lewis, Pacman Jones, and Michael Vick. The NFL has got a long way to go toward cleaning up its image.
Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments.
With regards to the NFL, I'm very surprised Goodell was ready to levy this sort of suspension on a white player. I can't remember the post - it was on Free Darko linking to another blog - but the Goodell morality play almost always involves a black player as the villain and recipient of punishment. Given Limbaugh's statements on the NFL and the racial makeup of the NFL's fanbase, racially biased punishments don't seem too surprising. To make things interesting, let's wonder whether Kurt Warner would have received the same suspension - he's objectively a much more attractive dude, though with a dwindling fan base compared to Roethlisberger's.
ReplyDeleteAs for the NBA - the question remains - should it be a physical league or no? Indiana fans are likely to think no. The truth is that Stern has increased viewership (with a primarily white audience) by reducing the physicality of games (I mean by making black men less intimidating in the eye of the white viewer). 20 years ago, that elbow would have been acceptable. My view is that Garnett's elbow during a break in game is completely unacceptable. I don't want players collared around the neck while attempting a shot. I'll accept an elbow in the face during play, but I will not accept an elbow outside play of the game. As to whether KG is washed up, I don't think so. He is obviously no longer in his physical prime, but he still has a hell of an effect on the game and remains electrifying and polarizing. Sorry, Bobby, you still sound upset about 2008.
With regards to the MLB - they clearly clearly clearly clearly have to remedy their steroid issue in actual performance and in perception. Would this suspension be better if it were 20 games without being on the DL? Probably - and that's where Major League Baseball is making a big mistake. Get rid of the loopholes and reduce the penalties and people will still come to accept that MLB is serious. The mere existence of loopholes kills credibility. Make the process for suspension fair, able to be appealed, and set in stone. Length of suspension isn't as important as credibility at this point (obviously within reason).
I am a Celtics hater, what can I say. That now includes KG.
ReplyDeleteWith respect to the NBA, I think the suspensions have gotten a little out of hand. While I'm not saying we should go back to the times when it was kind of accepted that Larry Legend and Dr. J would get into a fist fight (video at around 5 minutes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2yaRk2u7sE), but I think some policing is okay.
ReplyDeleteQ-Rich drilled Pierce and Garnet was standing up for his teammate. What's wrong with that? It is like a pitcher throwing at somebody's back, or a hockey goon protecting a star player.
Q-Rich didn't drill Pierce! Pierce popped his shoulder a bit trying to squeeze between two guys. Q-Rich went over and pretty much as soon as he got over there, KG nudged him away kinda roughly. Then, Q-Rich said something back and caught a quick KG elbow to the face.
ReplyDeletePierce got popped! But can we at least agree that Q-Rich is one tough SOB. He can take a hit.
ReplyDeleteThat was a pretty solid elbow that Q-Rich took. No doubt.
ReplyDeleteKobe RapesgirlsBryant?
ReplyDeleteI like the nicknames. What about Ben "she wanted to be locked in a bathroom and violated" Rothlisberger?
ReplyDelete