There has long existed a double standard in sports, though the extent of this hypocrisy is only now become clear. After another loss to the hapless Atlanta Falcons in the NFL’s Monday night game earlier this month, five Falcons players were fined for wearing shirts and decals the league found inappropriate. The displays the players brought to field were in support for ex-Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. The franchise quarterback was sentenced last month to a shade under two years for his involvement in a dog fighting ring.
Five of his teammates were fined a combined $45,000. Receiver Roddy White wore a shirt underneath his jersey saying “Free Mike Vick” while the others sported black eye strips displaying Vick’s number and initials. Fellow receiver Joe Horn received a $7,500 fine simply for lifting White’s jersey.
That Vick received more jail time, as a first offender, than other, more serious offenders who have harmed actual humans – such as assault, drunk driving, etc – is not the issue. Nor is it issue that the restitution the court ordered Vick to pay the dogs is more, per canine, than any war veteran receives upon his return home from Iraq.
No, I’ll leave those arguments on the table and deal with just this one. Why aren’t players, in any professional sports organization, allowed to freely express themselves as other, regular citizens are able.
The NFL’s official explanation for the fine was:
“NFL rules prohibit clothing that advertises any product other than a direct sponsor.”
The rule, it should be said, is ironclad. Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 for wearing a nonapproved hat during Super Bowl weekend last year, and Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens was fined in the same season for waving a towel inscribed with his initials.
This rule, according to the NFL, does extends as far as personal messages. Several years ago, knock-around QB Jake Plummer was fined for placing on his helmet the number of deceased safety Pat Tillman, who left his team and six-figure contract to serve the United States in Afghanistan.
Athletes, due to their perceived luck and the privilege of occupying such a prestigious position, are subjected to draconian rules and regulations in their respective leagues – and we, as fans, seem to welcome it.
The first thing athletes are forced to abandon, as they are assimilated into the league, is their freedom of speech. In the NBA, players are forbidden from wearing certain articles of clothing deemed too “urban” by league headquarters. Fines are thrown out for speaking ill of referees or calling attention to the vaguely racist tendencies of Commissioner David Stern. For example, Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford received the same punishment for intentionally hitting Toronto Raptors guard T.J. Ford, a foul which sent Ford to the hospital, than the NBA would level if someone were to suggest the referees tried to sway the outcome of a game. Besides, we now know the notion of referees fixing games is not as outrageous as the league wants us to think.
It should be said that Horford says his foul on Ford was unintentional, something Ford himself has backed up. But, the point remains: leagues fear so much the free expression of their players that they are willing to impose a more severe punishment on a rabble rouser than someone who intentionally smacks another player in order to save a basket.
Somebody smarter than me must know why this is.
Tags: atlanta falcons, david stern, freedom of expression, michael vick, nba, nfl, sports
