Drugs, DWIs, thefts and assaults by famous professional athletes happen much more frequently than they are reported in the news. Talented people are given plenty of passes of lots of leniency when it comes to breaking the rules. High school stars are routinely gifted grades they don’t deserve to maintain eligibility. College athletes in po-dunk towns can behave badly knowing that Officer Booster will sweep his sins under the rug. If you believe Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson are the first pro football players to beat their wives and/or kids, I’ve got some beachfront property to sell you on the south side of St. Louis. Looking the other way in sports is just as much a hallowed tradition as the Star-Spangled Banner.
The one horrific ‘crime’ that is rarely handled with kid gloves however is that of criticizing the powers that be. Yes, criticizing commissioners, front office execs and, referees and officials. In nearly all sports, criticizing officials (office or field) will get a serious chunk of change deducted from an athlete or coaches account. Even if the official deserved criticism, leagues make sure they drop the hammer when it comes to the serious violation of backtalk.
ESPN reiterated the notion that freedom of speech does not exist in sports when it suspended writer/on-air analyst Bill Simmons for three weeks for calling Roger Goodell a liar on his “B.S. Report” podcast. Simmons, just like everyone else in America, was very critical of how the NFL commissioner handled the Rice’s disciplinary process and when league executives saw the now infamous tape. For speaking out against the man some call the most powerful man in sports, Simmons actually received a longer suspension than Rice did for beating his wife (initially).
Whether Goodell lied about the investigation and suspension process shouldn’t even be a question. According to the preponderance of evidence that conflicts with the commissioner’s statements, it’s not if he lied, but about how much. Firsthand accounts, phone records, audio messages, etc. all point to the fact that the league office and Ravens front office both knew what took place in that elevator and possibly saw the tape well before it became a public spectacle. Yet instead of pressing Goodell on why his story doesn’t quite add up, ESPN sent a message to Simmons. Don’t mess with our money.
We shouldn’t be surprised. ESPN has a history of suspending its TV personalities when they say anything that might make sponsors or activist groups upset. Steven A. Smith was suspended for suggesting that women shouldn’t attack men or “provoke” them into fights. Max Kellerman was suspended for talking about his own personal domestic violence incident after the management warned on-air personalities against discussing the topic. Scott Van Pelt was suspended a few years ago for criticizing MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.
It’s strange that the world of sports has gotten so ‘PC’ that people talking about those behaving badly are subject to penalties just as severe as the people who broke the rules themselves.
RIP Dan Goossen
Longtime boxing promoter Dan Goossen passed away from liver cancer this week at the age of 64. Goosen was the promoter of #2 pound for pound fighter Andre Ward and was the mastermind of the acclaimed “Super Six” super middleweight tournament. Goosen’s passing was a shock to many boxing fans, as he kept his illness largely under wraps until the end.
Though Ward and Goossen were embroiled in a fierce legal battle as Ward tried to free himself from Goossen’s promotional banner, the Super Six champion expressed his sincere condolences to the promoter’s family.
“I was deeply saddened to learn the news of Dan Goossen’s passing early this morning,” Ward said in a statement. “My thoughts and prayers have been with Dan and his family since I received the news of his illness last week. While Dan and I recently had our professional struggles, he was a great man, father and husband. He will be greatly missed by the boxing community. I will continue to keep the Goossen family in my prayers.”
Over his career, Goossen promoted fighters such as Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mike Tyson, James Toney, David Tua, Bernard Hopkins, Terry Norris and others. While boxing is generally known as a corrupt, shady sport, Goossen appeared to be a pretty standup guy.
Rest in Peace Dan.
