By now, I'm sure you are all aware of the
Gilbert Arenas-Javaris Crittenton situation. I've been reading the user comments posted on a number of different stories about this topic. Many users claim that they have stopped watching the NBA because of "thuggish" behavior.
There is no doubt that the NBA has had players get into trouble in the past decade. There was the Portland Jail Blazers, the mid '00s Pacers, the Kobe Bryant rape case, the brawl at the Palace, and more. However, there were just as many incidents in the NFL it seems. There was Michael Vick, Plaxico Burress, any number of incidents involving the Bengals, the Minnesota Vikings love boat, Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, Travis Henry, Pacman, and many other situations involving NFL players.
As the
Sports Media Watch blog pointed out, the NBA has seen declining ratings and numerous image problems during the past decade. Meanwhile, the NFL just keeps growing and growing. Granted, we can't assume that people are turning off NBA games because of the image problems, but I think it is a legitimate problem. Aside from the Vick situation, I don't know of anyone who thinks the NFL has image problems.
Yes, the NBA had the situation with Tim Donaghy this decade, but the NFL also had numerous cases of shoddy officiating. Of course, you have to consider Spygate as well. I remember the Mike and Mike radio show talking about how there is so much focus on PEDs in baseball, but nobody cares about PED/substance abuse in the NFL. It just seems like the NFL is coated in Teflon. Nothing bad sticks to it. Is it because the players are seen as mercenaries? Is it because MLB and the NBA are more focused on individuals and the NFL is more focused on the team? It is hard to make an argument about the race of the athletes, but maybe it is about the race of the perceived fan base? Maybe the NFL just has a better PR machine? Both the NBA and NFL have clamped down on bad personal behavior.
Do you think the NBA and NFL are held to different standards when it comes to the behavior of the athletes? If so, why?
