There is a reason why you can't "do what you used to do"

It seems in popular culture, that the most successful sports stars are bound for an ultimate fall from grace. This fall is relished in the media. Posted everywhere, it fuels the popularity of tabloids and magazines.  If you need a recent example, you can't go past Tiger Woods. All he did to start the 'falling process' was crash his car! However this idolising then demonising of public sports stars is dangerous to the general publics perceptions about the 'high life' sports stars lead, dangerous to the sports stars perceptions about themselves, but most dangerous to the most vulnerable media consumers, children and teenagers. But despite this, the very culture of these sports (particularly certain clubs in the AFL and NRL) must stop. You can not have a group in society that believe they are more above the law than others. Especially when such a group is as influential, and identifiable as particular sports and clubs.

Most recently in the news, AFL player, Geelong star Mathew Stokes has been on charges of drug trafficking and possession. Though one day before, Nick Maxwell, captain of Collingwood Football club made these comments.

"the game is getting bigger...you just can't do what you used to do" 

"you can't go out and enjoy yourself"

I'll make comment on this later, but for further quotes, check out the link at the bottom of the post.

The effects of sports players behaving badly in or out of public is a driving force behind binge drinking culture, violence and general flouting of the law. A culture that is misogynistic towards women, a culture with no respect, no decency or value. This is because sports players are idolised within society. A man who can kick goals, or score tries better than any other is highly valued. Demonstrating their "masculine capabilities" to mates, on or off the field through violence, sexual assault, recklessness and disregard for the law is not overly expected, but it has been ingrained into the culture of the sport to the point it becomes traditional. While formally within the sport it is acknowledged as a "bad thing", it is also frequently noted how talented these 'stars' are, and how sad it is that their careers might be over, etc. To that I say, so what! The message this mopey babbling sends - if you're influential and you stuff up, that seems to cover it for the wrong deeds you've done. Whether a derelict or Demons player, you can't break the law! It would be safe to say most people wish to live the "high life", to be famous and well loved. People aspire to be like these 'role models', hence their actions are made less shocking or bad, because they have so much talent.

The publics perception that sport stars are larger than life, indestructible gods of worship because of their amazing talents, only further fuels these players egos' about themselves. A culture within some clubs and groups that has been festering away over the years. While these players happily take the credit, fame and fortune from their talented works, which I am not denying is any easy feat by all means, they also need to take with it greater responsibility. Responsibility to behave. If they so choose to continue their massive careers and continue playing, but can't handle the media and public pressure, or are being swept away on their own egotistical fantasies, then deal with it! See a councilor, maybe try to be less of a public figure, don't drink (because then you can't get drunk and do something stupid). Just as sports men and women can't continue competing and representing their club because they are not fit or able enough, neither should they continue if they are not fit and able enough to handle the pressure. I'm not advocating that this handling of pressure would be easy, but the alternatives are never acceptable.

The greatest harm these "bad" role models do is to distort the reality of the real world to children and young teenagers. The capacity to think beyond ones actions to the consequences are hard enough for adults to comprehend, let alone children or teenagers. The court ruling 6 months later is ignored, or doesn't mean as much as holding the premiership cup or winning the gold medal. The fame and fortune, "enjoyment" these 'stars' on the field, track or pool is valued more, and remembered more to the point they (can) believe they are perfect. It is barely reasonable, if not bad parenting, to try and explain what "sexual assault" or "drug trafficking" to a young fan. Some blame the media for all the hype that is created about idolised sport stars behaving badly, however, if these public figures never behaved badly in the first place, there would be no reports. Even though the majority of sports players don't behave badly, the effects of just a few is enough to send the wrong message.

Lastly, I would like to look more closely at Nick Maxwell's words he mentioned on the 2nd Feb.

(1) "you just can't do what you used to do" just doesn't cut it. Sexual assault, pack rape, indecent exposure, drunken binge drinking cruises and events, defecating in public, assault and violating the law was never acceptable then, and isn't acceptable now. If you do step out of line, yes you will be made into a media spectacle, however you also wish to be a spectacle in your own right. If you want to demonstrate how great you are, put it into practice on and off the field.

(2) If "you can't go out and enjoy yourself" by getting drunk, taking drugs or breaking the law, either go to Amsterdam or redefine and you think "enjoyment" is. There has been members of the community try to provoke violent brawls, but a) not getting drunk b) not putting yourself in a situation where you could be provoked or attacked, prevents such harms. The President of the US can't just go for an "enjoyable" stroll around Washington whenever he likes, he most likely would be attacked. So if not going to a pub or club means your safe, and your precious career is too, then deal with it.

These players put themselves up onto public scrutiny. It is part of their job. While not everyone is perfect, simply obeying the law and setting a reasonable example does more good for the community than a few hundred dollars being thrown at a local children's sports club. While the media shouldn't glorify and defame these players and athletes in the shameless way they do, the problems starts, and can end at the source. The person breaking the law or making a debacle of themselves.

Links
Sports stars' bad behaviour shouldn't be rewarded - The Age

Media scrutiny will cause players to walk: Nick Maxwell - The Herald Sun

Will AFL Football Players Ever Learn? - aflfootyblog.com
NRL men behaving badly - The Daily Telegraph