[7thson]

On a serious note - have you noticed that most of the crimes committed were during the last ten or so years? This begs the question - are sports franchises in general bringing in more thugs or is it just being reported more?

[sinkspur]

This begs the question - are sports franchises in general bringing in more thugs or is it just being reported more?

It starts in high school, when gifted athletes don't have to make grades, when they don't even have to attend class.

On to college, they attend class even less, don't graduate, and get paid under the table.

Why should a kid from the 'hood, conditioned to think he's special, be expected to adhere to the same laws those who can't catch a football have to observe?

And, when franchises look the other way, it reinforces that they're "special."

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

You are correct there. I think that with the booming information age all of these crimes were probably going on with every team well before but are now just being reported more often. Back in the 70's Dallas was the most high profile team so I am sure that most of their transgressions were written about more than say someone who was a backup TE for X team. With that being said, I have never claimed the Cowboys to have taken moral stances on players. It was another poster that claimed the Redskins never brought in or drafted those kinds of players. Dallas has sure had its share of bad apples but don't say that any other team hasn't had them or wont have them.

[HenryLeeII]

are sports franchises in general bringing in more thugs or is it just being reported more?

My guess would be a combination of the two. First we have the advent of the 24/7 news cycle, cable with its multiple sports and news channels (and the need to fill their programming slots), and our culture's tabloid mentality with its need for the prurient details.

Then, we have the Latrell Sprewell's and Ray Lewis's, involved in attempted murder and a double homicide, respectively, with very light penalties from their leagues. Do you think either would be playing back in the 60's or earlier when society would have demanded a quick end to their careers (and they probably would have seen jail time). And athletes mirror the general breakdown of society as far as hooliganism, drug abuse, wife-beating, etc.