With the month of July ending we can finally look forward to some 'real sports'. The long drought (for me at least) that is the month and a half from the end of the NBA finals to the first NFL preseason game is coming to an end. The first NFL preseason game is Sunday, and while the games don't mean anything in the big picture of the NFL season they do mean that football is finally upon us. So I thought I would take some time to address some of the big sports stories of the past few weeks.
1. Mike Vick
-If he is guilty I feel that Mike Vick should pretty much be treated as persona non grata by professional sports, but
-If it turns out he is innocent then the NFL should treat him like any other player. Which brings up the Duke Lacrosse team quandary. It would not be right for the NFL to suspend him or treat him any differently until he is actually proven guilty, not just charged.
-But, since one of his 'friends' has already pled guilty and is turning witness, things look very very bad for Vick, which makes it very hard for the NFL to do anything but keep him suspended.
2. NBA Referee
- Once again there is the little matter of innocent until proven guilty... but this looks even worse than the Mike Vick case because it's not what 1 player did off the field, this had a direct affect on the outcome of games.
- I won't condemn the entire NBA yet. But it does bring some events into question the past 2 seasons, and if any other referees are implicated then the whole shebang comes into question.
- The NBA reffing was already questionable as far as quality was concerned, and adding this just makes that look worse. And if I am a player I really start to wonder about the events of every game that referee was in. Because it's not just a matter of what calls were made and not made, it's also when fouls are called, all a referee has to do to throw off some players is call 2 quick fouls, and the rest of the game they are looking over their shoulder.
- Having this come on the heels of a season where the NBA was trying to crack down on how players treat the Referees does make them look a little foolish. Especially when the main referee in question has been involved in some of the biggest controversies in recent years that involved referee judgement (or misjudgement): the Detroit Brawl, the Rasheed Wallace suspension (for threatening this same referee). Who is really going to know how much his gambling issues affected his judgement in those situations?
Why should the NFL forego due process whe dealing with Michael Vick? Shouldn't Vick have the opportunity to defend himself of the charges brought against him? What compelling reason is there for the NFL to presume guilt instead of innocence?
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying they should (although I was pretty unclear so I can see how you could get that idea). But they are a private entity, and as such have the right to suspend him as they please, within their policies. Now if they do so and he's innocent they look bad. But if they let him play, despite all the protesters etc. and then he's found guilty, I would think they would look even worse. And the NFL is all about PR these days, which gives an idea which direction they are heading...
ReplyDeleteThe compromise solution would be to give Vick a hearing where evidence and witnesses are produced to coorborate evidence against him and where he has a chance to confront the evidence and witnesses and present his defense. Unlike a criminal court the NFL could rule on whether they think it's more likely he's guilty or if it's more likely he's innocent. They are covered either way if they do this.
ReplyDeleteIf they just arbitrarily suspend Vick, they open themselves to a huge lawsuit by Vick and action by the NAACP, ACLU, and "civil rights" activists. Look what happened to Don Imus for his "nappy headed ho's" statement. No way that was good PR management.
The best path for the NFL PR wise is to adhere to the basic principle of innocent until proven guilty. Give Vick a hearing and decide innocence and guilt based on facts and not wackos protesting.
Duke made a huge mistake in suspending the Duke Lacrosse team when ficitious crimes were alleged against memebers of their team. They paid out a huge settlement and had some serious damage done to their reputation. Fortunately for Duke the players were members of any traditional minority groups like Vick is, or the fallout could have been much worse.
My comment above should have read :
ReplyDeleteFortunately for Duke the players were [b]NOT[/b] members of any traditional minority groups like Vick is, or the fallout could have been much worse.
I don't have a cut and dried answer, I guess that's why I don't work for the NFL...
ReplyDeleteI think they are in a no win situation, but the CBA will probably be the deciding factor in what they actually can do, and I have no idea what it says as far as personal conduct v. convictions etc.
I pretty much agree with you that the NFL is in a no win situation. Their job is damage mitigation, but no matter what they do they will most likely take some short term damage. Though if I was them I wouldn't risk too much on potential long term loses trying to mitigate short term damages. They can afford a short term hit in PR much easier than a long term one.
ReplyDelete