What has happened to our sportsmen?

[Littlepeahead]

Last week Mervyn Westfield, the Essex bowler, was jailed for spot fixing during a match against Durham. He then claimed that Pakistan player Danish Kaneria was the middle man between him and the illegal bookmaker.

A few weeks back we have footballers making racists remarks and look at the fallout from that.

And over the weekend we have boxers brawling in the press conference rather than the ring.

All incidents of different types but whatever message must this send out to kids watching sport and being influenced by sporting heroes?

The match fixing was particularly disappointing for me. I happen to know both players and to think that they could go out to bowl wearing their Essex shirts and then cheat for the sake of a few thousand pounds makes me very angry.

[Bri w]

Totally agree. I grew up idolising our sporting legends and like so many young lads, trying to emulate them. I well remember my lad 'winning' a penalty by diving. He admitted after the match that he'd seen Ian Wright of Arsenal doing it so he thought he would try it. I ripped into him about honesty and integrity. That's the dangerous message that gets sent out when our sporting legends misbehave.

Sad times...

[MisterTommyH]

What has happened to our sportsmen?

A: Money - what do I win?

Make them all amateur again (I know it's not really practical, but it'a professionalism, sponsorship and greed that leads to most of this).

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Littlepeahead

Last week Mervyn Westfield, the Essex bowler, was jailed for spot fixing during a match against Durham. He then claimed that Pakistan player Danish Kaneria was the middle man between him and the illegal bookmaker.

A few weeks back we have footballers making racists remarks and look at the fallout from that.

And over the weekend we have boxers brawling in the press conference rather than the ring.

All incidents of different types but whatever message must this send out to kids watching sport and being influenced by sporting heroes?

The match fixing was particularly disappointing for me. I happen to know both players and to think that they could go out to bowl wearing their Essex shirts and then cheat for the sake of a few thousand pounds makes me very angry.

Greed, pure and simple.

Match fixing is a different kettle of fish, thats a crime not a cheat. Its not a tabloid filler its something which can and will disgrace a person and their sport. It doesnt do well to compear it to events this week with the boxers.
Firstly: Boxing has long since become the farcical show that America goes nuts for. Press conferences and other attention seeking tactics, I'll put money on the incident this week been staged/pre arranged. Haye has long since been saying he's done with the fighting and is going to choose a pundits life and this gives him a way out. I belive that this weeks actions were all "part of the show" so to speak, think more along the lines of the wrestling where they always have back stories to fights. Its no longer just a strength/stamina competition between two athleats that can last less than 3 mins its now a 2 week event based on hype and expectation.

As regards the racism in football, the Louis Suarez situation inperticular depending on what you rear/hear it was all a false accusation. But because we're all so PC crazy he had no choice but to be banned, its a screwy world is sports and media but the pro's make that choice and they get paid handsomely for it. Diving etc is a sad part of the game but a part of it no less, if FIFA want it out of the game then they need to enforce it and the only way to do that is to bring in the cameras....

Appologies if thats all fragmented but its been a hectic weekend.

Originally Posted by Tommy H

Make them all amateur again (I know it's not really practical, but it'a professionalism, sponsorship and greed that leads to most of this).

spot on

[Nobbylad]

I agree with pretty much all the responses so far, from the money angle, the 'celebrity' need to fill column inches and even the FA making a (incorrect in my opinion) example of Luis Suarez.

There are very few sports in my view that are left untarnished by cheating in some form or other.

[Paul the 6th]

Anyone else on here only follow bsb like me?

[dizzyblonde]

Overpaid, spoilt brats. Get everything on a platter and want more besides. Can't get their own way, throw toys out of pram, have no sense of responsibility for themselves, as their chosen sport wipes their backsides with gold leaf toilet paper......think that covers it.

Take a look at the sportsmen and women that will be taking part in this years Olympics.
These are elite athletes who train every day of their lives to make their living and to have the honour of winning something fantastic. Two main differences between most of them and the eejyts mentioned in the OP.

1. The amount of easy money involved
2. The amount of press coverage

Both are linked and both elements feed off each other. The vast majority of sports professionals are hugely dedicated and extremely responsible, even most of those who are overpaid.

The weak willed ones are irresponsible, prone to corruption and get reported. They're just people, we're all flawed.

In any case, there always has been corruption in sport, drunkenness, debauchery and easy money. That's why I tried to be footballer for so long.