Too Many Crimes - So Little Time

If professional sports wanted to impact the culture in our country, the action it would need to take would be very simple. The National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball are all independent, commercially viable products. The image of their leagues is directly affected by the individuals who make up the rosters of each team. Each contract that is signed, either for $100,000 or $300 Million, contains a simple clause that can have more affect on the psyche of a fluid shooting guard, a shifty running back, or even the most dastardly and intimidating goalie. That is the “Conduct Unbecoming” clause.

This in its many states and forms is included to protect the image of many a storied franchise. The reason for it is simple and straight forward. We want to be associated with law abiding citizens and do not want our image tarnished by your actions. So, if you want to play professional sports for our franchise, you abide by our rules. Pretty simple huh?

There’s only one sticking point. NO ONE ENFORCES IT!

Let’s just speculate for a second. Maybe, just maybe if the prospect of never receiving another penny for throwing a football, never again having the opportunity to get a multi-million dollar shoe contract, never , never EVER being in the public spotlight again…were not just words on buried on the back pages behind hundreds of zeros’s and were actually enforced mechanisms in a contract, would there be a second thought made by these hoodlums.

Pretty simple – You break the law – YOUR OUT. No petitioning the league President – just GONE. Maybe JUST out of the slightest realm of possibilities- these good for ONE thing waste’s of life would fear the consequences of their actions. Just MAYBE.

The impact that Professional Sports could have on our culture could be tremendous just by making a stand. Found guilty, your athletic career is OVER