Off-Field Hazards
When player safety comes to mind, the majority of people tend to focus of on-field concerns dealing with rules and equipment. However, off-the-field hazards can be just as or more dangerous and can seriously tarnish not only a major sport’s reputation, but also scare away fans from attending events. Off-the-field hazards include all of the dangers that fans and the media can cause for an athlete. Some may be more personal as in dealing with the privacy and social protection of players. Others include the actual safety of players from fans and people in attendance who have potential to seriously harm them.
With the enhanced privileges of media access to the players, these athletes are under the microscope of society, leaving little room to slip up and make a mistake that could tarnish reputation or image. One of the more recent stories dealt with former Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te’o. He gained support from many Americans after his great story of losing his grandmother and girlfriend in the same week, then proceeding to have a great game vs. Michigan State and leading the Fighting Irish to an undefeated regular season and national title game appearance. However, it was later found out that his girlfriend did not exist and that he was a victim of a hoax played by a heckling fan. This ruined Te’o’s image and had many questioning his character, which previously was something NFL scouts were most impressed by. This off-field incident alone caused Te’o to drop from a projected top 5 pick, all the way to the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
With the enhanced privileges of media access to the players, these athletes are under the microscope of society, leaving little room to slip up and make a mistake that could tarnish reputation or image. One of the more recent stories dealt with former Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te’o. He gained support from many Americans after his great story of losing his grandmother and girlfriend in the same week, then proceeding to have a great game vs. Michigan State and leading the Fighting Irish to an undefeated regular season and national title game appearance. However, it was later found out that his girlfriend did not exist and that he was a victim of a hoax played by a heckling fan. This ruined Te’o’s image and had many questioning his character, which previously was something NFL scouts were most impressed by. This off-field incident alone caused Te’o to drop from a projected top 5 pick, all the way to the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
A nEw Era of Danger
The amount of danger athletes are exposed to by media and social media is unreal. Twitter has become an Achilles heel to more of the expressive athletes, leading to their downfall. When media has access to the privacy of players, then issues can emerge. Some leagues have considered banning Twitter to prevent the potential of danger that athletes are exposed to; whether by their own personal remarks or by fans harassing them. Unfortunately, the only thing that can be done that will not harm fan support is to make sure the athletes are very aware of their actions. Taking away athletes from social media and postgame press conferences takes a way one of the most interactive experiences fans get in sports. Fans are interested in knowing how athletes are off the field just as much as their athletic abilities. Basically, athletes need to be aware of the consequences of their actions, and that every action they make is highly regarded and it will only get worse as media is acquiring more and more access each year.
The more physically dangerous off-field hazard to athletes is the presence of dangerous fans in the crowd. Even with the enhancement of national security after 9/11, there are still gaps in the system that need to be addressed. With the numerous amount of people in attendance at major sporting events, it could be a prime target for fans to cause harm to players because of the low percentage chance of the act being prevented. Even with stadium security, there is still no way that all dangerous attacks on athletes can be prevented. The Pistons-Pacers Brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the bombing of the Boston Marathon, and the numerous soccer riots in other nations are a few of the various events that have endangered not only players, but fans attending major sports events. The Boston Marathon bombing in particular was one that not only threatened player and fan security, but even national security. Due to the numerous amount of people in attendance and mass amount of unsecure space available, the Boston Marathon was a somewhat vulnerable target for a tragic event such as this. The sad thing is the only way to prevent this from happening would be to completely cancel the event. Pro-safety supports may think it’s necessary, but most people would say that the race should be continued to run in the future, not only because it is a prestigious annual sporting event, but also to honor the victims who would want the tradition to continue.
The more physically dangerous off-field hazard to athletes is the presence of dangerous fans in the crowd. Even with the enhancement of national security after 9/11, there are still gaps in the system that need to be addressed. With the numerous amount of people in attendance at major sporting events, it could be a prime target for fans to cause harm to players because of the low percentage chance of the act being prevented. Even with stadium security, there is still no way that all dangerous attacks on athletes can be prevented. The Pistons-Pacers Brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the bombing of the Boston Marathon, and the numerous soccer riots in other nations are a few of the various events that have endangered not only players, but fans attending major sports events. The Boston Marathon bombing in particular was one that not only threatened player and fan security, but even national security. Due to the numerous amount of people in attendance and mass amount of unsecure space available, the Boston Marathon was a somewhat vulnerable target for a tragic event such as this. The sad thing is the only way to prevent this from happening would be to completely cancel the event. Pro-safety supports may think it’s necessary, but most people would say that the race should be continued to run in the future, not only because it is a prestigious annual sporting event, but also to honor the victims who would want the tradition to continue.
fAN iNFLUENCE
Another less catastrophic but just as much talked about concern is fan access to players. It all goes back to the 2003 NLCS between the Marlins and Cubs when Cubs fan Steve Bartman interfered with a live ball that outfielder Moises Alou was securing under, causing him to miss it, which would have almost locked away the win for Chicago. (10) The Cubs went on to lose the series leaving Bartman as a scapegoat and pressure among league officials to prevent fans from close access to player. (10) Another more recent incident occurred during a basketball game between the Duke Blue Devils and Virginia Cavaliers. Virginia won the game and proceeded to ‘storm the court’, which is one of the most prized traditions of college basketball for teams pulling off major upsets. (3)However, the Duke coaching staff and players were caught right in the middle of it and were verbally abused by many fans. (3) This lead to a mass amount of complaints among the Duke coaching staff to call for a ban of court-storming because of the safety hazards it provides for the players. (3)The pro-safety side would have a decent argument in this case claiming that players are being abused and could be tempted to fight back, only making themselves look bad. However, the pro-integrity side would have a strong counter-argument, stating that one of the great traditions that makes college basketball so unique should not be abolished because it would ruin the sport. There is a lot of sense in this claim considering all that would have to be done would be to step up in security to make sure the opposing team has left the floor before fans can celebrate with their team on the hardwood.
Ironically, athletes are exposed to just as many safety hazards off the playing surface as they are on. It would be quite radical for any major changes to take place at sporting events other than increased security. If fans were banned or taken further away from the action, the live experience of seeing major sporting events would be deteriorated. Fans would stop showing up for games, which would lead to less money made by the leagues and also the potential for lost fan support. Again, it is important to be reasonable with whatever course of action is taken. Cancelling events or restricting fans access to front row seats would be the worst thing that could happen for a sport. The fan experience is something that is special about major sports and is an example of how sports are so essential to life. Other than upgrading the amount of security present and increased security checks at the gates, there is nothing more that can or should be done to keep fans and players safe as possible, without taking away one of the best aspects of sports.
Ironically, athletes are exposed to just as many safety hazards off the playing surface as they are on. It would be quite radical for any major changes to take place at sporting events other than increased security. If fans were banned or taken further away from the action, the live experience of seeing major sporting events would be deteriorated. Fans would stop showing up for games, which would lead to less money made by the leagues and also the potential for lost fan support. Again, it is important to be reasonable with whatever course of action is taken. Cancelling events or restricting fans access to front row seats would be the worst thing that could happen for a sport. The fan experience is something that is special about major sports and is an example of how sports are so essential to life. Other than upgrading the amount of security present and increased security checks at the gates, there is nothing more that can or should be done to keep fans and players safe as possible, without taking away one of the best aspects of sports.