Does Winning Solve Everything?

If only for a few minutes a day, your sports news seemingly resembles something out of Court TV. Try and go a day without hearing, at least one story, about an

If only for a few minutes a day, your sports news seemingly resembles something out of Court TV.

Try and go a day without hearing, at least one story, about an arrest or steroid controversy and the impending troubles that may follow either of them. 

No, athletes aren’t perfect and some clearly aren’t fit for role model status some people place on them. 

But where does you’re personal morality and your love for winning collide?

In light of recent events, we’ve heard comments from numerous sides and their takes on athletes that have made headlines that aren’t performance related issues. 

This article isn’t about Michael Vick, Alex Rodriguez, Plaxico Burress or even Michael Phelps; necessary. But maybe it is. 

Without expanding our scope too big, what do you think about the aforementioned people? Most responses may not be too favorable.

Now what if I altered the question? 

What do you think about the aforementioned athletes? 

Far too often we scold these individuals and others like them for being people who have made mistakes, but are quick to praise them for their incredible athletic talents.

What’s your favorite team? Any sport in any city?

Not think about their performances in the last year, two, heck even five years? Odds are you’re teams could use a few of these players. 

And whether you choose to admit it or not, you’d take them in a heartbeat. 

Ask the Detroit Tigers fans; what if I told you Alex Rodriguez was traded today from the Yankees. Jerseys would sell, tickets would sell, and undoubtedly fans would cheer when he hits 35-45 home runs this year. As long as you’re team is winning you won’t care about his admitted steroid use, when just two days ago you may have been infuriated.

Or even better lions fans; Michael Vick is looking for a job and it appears Plaxico Burress may have some free time if and when the Giants release him. Do you have room for him? Or is your team filled with superstars and is too busy winning to at least entertain the chance of them heading into town?

The point is simple. If you’re going to criticize people for the mistakes they make, that’s fine; you have every right to do so. 

But hold true your convictions or they’re not your convictions at all. 

Don’t fault Michael Phelps now and praise him in 2012 when he shatters all Olympic records and solidifies himself as quite possibly the best American and Olympic athlete of all time.

Because it’s easy to scold those when they can’t help us or our teams win. But it’s even easier to put them on the highest of pedestals when they are winning for us.

So again, exercise your right to condemn the actions of a few, but beware. Because if you do, I may exercise my right to call you a hypocrite and challenge any position you may take saying that you wouldn’t want any of these troubled athletes on your team if they would help you win.

 

What do think? Are we often to quick to criticize those then they can't help us and praise them when they can?