Morality and pro sports players

So there’s all sorts of talk about Tiger Woods coming back to play in a couple of weeks despite his “sex addiction” (see: wandering eye) and Michael Vick is back in the news for a new documentary series that follows his “true” self. I find it a little disheartening to think that in a profession that has so much influence on youth and their actions, such indiscretions are being accepted and seemingly pushed under the rug. I’m not saying people don’t deserve second chances, I just wish they didn’t have so much influence on the media while they were getting them. Michael Vick claims to be oh-so-sorry and to really have changed and I just don’t buy it, but football fans seem happy—eager even—to accept his newfound sense of wrong and right. And these things happen all the time. There are shootings, gambling crimes, drug trafficking charges all the time. At least Vick is trying to do something redeeming by working with the Humane Society of the United States to speak out against dog-fighting. It’s nice to see someone try to make a difference in their lives, even if it is for publicity’s sake. I suppose it’s impossible to keep crime out of any profession, whether it’s professional sports or politics or even law enforcement. Hopefully Tiger can keep his wandering eye focused on the green this time.