For those of you who are unaware, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was reinstated by Commissioner Roger Goodell this past week after he was handed a four-game minimum suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Jones was involved in an alcohol-related incident at a Dallas hotel on Oct. 8, prompting the league to slap him on the wrist for the second time in as many seasons. I say ‘slap him on the wrist’ because Jones has been implicated in more than 12 -- 12!!! -- off-field issues since being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2005. That’s four per season, considering Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season after several conduct policy violations.
His actions and decision-making, which have included participating in altercations and fights at hotels and clubs, as well as an arrest on counts of misdemeanor assault and felony vandalism, have made him the black sheep in a league that prides itself on a positive image. There’s a reason the NFL is the most popular and lucrative American professional sport, making Jones an automatic hindrance to its reputation and profits. With all of that said, Goodell seems to believe otherwise, as this is the second time he has reinstated Jones following a multi-game suspension.
Simply stated, Jones is not a good person, which is illustrated by the accusations that he spit in the face of a college student and initiated a fight with one of his team-issued body guards. He lacks the understanding that maturity and responsibility go hand in hand with being a professional athlete, as well as the ability to adjust to the spotlight-heavy role. As professional sports continue to become a dominant force in American society, professional athletes are being called upon more and more to be constructive and influential members of society, which doesn’t seem like too arduous of a task when your salary is greater than 95 percent of all Americans.
When Goodell was chosen as commissioner in 2006, one of his goals was to reevaluate and strengthen the personal conduct policy -- and he did. Relative to past commissioners, he has raised the bar on the behavior requirements of his players and made violations much more costly. Yet, his weakness lies in his failure to realize that some players are not worthy of NFL readmission, no matter how strong or costly his policy may be. When a guy is involved in more than 12 off-field issues, it’s pretty obvious his willingness to change and learn from his mistakes is non-existent.
After being traded from the Titans to the Cowboys this past offseason, Jones requested that people drop his nickname and only refer to him by his first name to show that he is a changed man. Mr. Jones, I respect your request, but you’ll always be Pacman in my book.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Greek Life vs. Athletics
I love San Diego State.
The opportunities that I have found via SDSU are more than I could have ever imagined -- last year I became the Sports Director at KCR Radio, the student-run radio station, where I began co-hosting sports talk shows and eventually created a live broadcast division exclusively for SDSU athletics, and recently I have been given my own column at The Daily Aztec, the student newspaper. Thus far, my professors have given me nothing to complain about -- knock on wood -- and I have made many good, genuine friends.
However, if I could change one SDSU aspect, it would be the lack of enthusiasm and interest most of the student body has about and in our athletics, which are currently at the Division I level. For one, the football team plays its home games at Qualcomm Stadium, which is about five miles from campus. How many students can say their school’s football team plays at a stadium that is primarily for a professional football team?
The stadium holds about 60,000 people, yet the average attendance per game through five games this season is just 25,682. Last Saturday versus Utah, it appeared as though there were more Ute than Aztec fans. Though Utah -- which came in ranked seventh best in the nation -- travels well, there is absolutely no reason why a visiting team should have more fans in attendance than the home team. After all, what’s the point of home-field advantage?
There is a common argument among SDSU students that, if the football stadium was on campus or right off campus, more students would attend the home games. I understand this argument, as rolling out of bed, heading over to campus to tailgate -- a vital pre-game ritual -- for a few hours and then walking less than 100 yards to the stadium is nothing short of ideal, but the alternative to us SDSU students isn’t all that bad. Students, if you haven’t received the memo, there is a public trolley system directly on campus which takes you to Qualcomm for less than five dollars roundtrip in about five minutes, and you can tailgate the asphalt out of Qualcomm’s parking lot like every visiting team that comes to town.
Don’t get me wrong: the football team outright sucks. With a 1-10 overall record and seven-game losing streak -- not to mention its still-winless record in the Mountain West Conference -- as a sports fanatic I understand just how difficult it is to support a team that has lost more than triple the amount of games it has won over the past three years (8-27, to be exact). However, aside from the last home game in which the team suffered a 63-14 blowout, the team has been very competitive at home in three of its four games this season, winning one of them and only losing the other two by an average of three points. Give the team some credit.
Contrarily, SDSU Greek life couldn’t be more passionate and involved in campus life, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I am all for the principles of passion and involvement. But there seems to be a particular prestige about being in an SDSU fraternity or sorority, as if being a part of its Greek life is like being part of an exclusive club. ‘Frat Row’ looks as nice as some quality condominiums in San Diego -- from the outside, at least -- and some of the sorority houses are some of the best-looking houses in the entire area. SDSU fraternities and sororities make those at Arizona State and UC Santa Barbara, both of which are known for their Greek life, look like petty organizations. Furthermore, I see more Greek-affiliated than SDSU-affiliated clothing when I’m on campus. Just as many students aspire to attend a certain school based on its athletics, many students aspire to attend SDSU based on its Greek life.
In multiple ways, our athletics program represents SDSU and its student body. Shouldn’t we want our teams to represent us well and respectably? Outside of its members, what does Greek life represent? As of late, it has only represented drug and alcohol use, as illustrated by the drug-bust last semester and Student Body President James Poet’s arrest for allegedly driving under the influence and possessing marijuana earlier this semester. (For those of you who are unaware, Poet is a member of an SDSU fraternity of which he was the president.)
If SDSU students could only transfer the amount of passion, involvement and interest that its Greek life embodies to its athletics, there is a decent-to-good chance that our teams -- not to mention our image -- will inevitably improve.
But even if such a transfer doesn’t take place, I’ll still love San Diego State.
It is the largest university -- 34,000+ students -- in a city with near-perfect weather, gorgeous women, a professional football team (something my hometown of Los Angeles doesn’t have), great beaches and a downtown that boasts more restaurants and nightlife than imaginable. I even get the Lakers home game telecasts down here, which, if you know me, makes life that much better. The university itself, with its uplifting ambiance, diverse student body, beautiful scenery, unique library and ideal location is just as great.
The opportunities that I have found via SDSU are more than I could have ever imagined -- last year I became the Sports Director at KCR Radio, the student-run radio station, where I began co-hosting sports talk shows and eventually created a live broadcast division exclusively for SDSU athletics, and recently I have been given my own column at The Daily Aztec, the student newspaper. Thus far, my professors have given me nothing to complain about -- knock on wood -- and I have made many good, genuine friends.
However, if I could change one SDSU aspect, it would be the lack of enthusiasm and interest most of the student body has about and in our athletics, which are currently at the Division I level. For one, the football team plays its home games at Qualcomm Stadium, which is about five miles from campus. How many students can say their school’s football team plays at a stadium that is primarily for a professional football team?
The stadium holds about 60,000 people, yet the average attendance per game through five games this season is just 25,682. Last Saturday versus Utah, it appeared as though there were more Ute than Aztec fans. Though Utah -- which came in ranked seventh best in the nation -- travels well, there is absolutely no reason why a visiting team should have more fans in attendance than the home team. After all, what’s the point of home-field advantage?
There is a common argument among SDSU students that, if the football stadium was on campus or right off campus, more students would attend the home games. I understand this argument, as rolling out of bed, heading over to campus to tailgate -- a vital pre-game ritual -- for a few hours and then walking less than 100 yards to the stadium is nothing short of ideal, but the alternative to us SDSU students isn’t all that bad. Students, if you haven’t received the memo, there is a public trolley system directly on campus which takes you to Qualcomm for less than five dollars roundtrip in about five minutes, and you can tailgate the asphalt out of Qualcomm’s parking lot like every visiting team that comes to town.
Don’t get me wrong: the football team outright sucks. With a 1-10 overall record and seven-game losing streak -- not to mention its still-winless record in the Mountain West Conference -- as a sports fanatic I understand just how difficult it is to support a team that has lost more than triple the amount of games it has won over the past three years (8-27, to be exact). However, aside from the last home game in which the team suffered a 63-14 blowout, the team has been very competitive at home in three of its four games this season, winning one of them and only losing the other two by an average of three points. Give the team some credit.
Contrarily, SDSU Greek life couldn’t be more passionate and involved in campus life, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I am all for the principles of passion and involvement. But there seems to be a particular prestige about being in an SDSU fraternity or sorority, as if being a part of its Greek life is like being part of an exclusive club. ‘Frat Row’ looks as nice as some quality condominiums in San Diego -- from the outside, at least -- and some of the sorority houses are some of the best-looking houses in the entire area. SDSU fraternities and sororities make those at Arizona State and UC Santa Barbara, both of which are known for their Greek life, look like petty organizations. Furthermore, I see more Greek-affiliated than SDSU-affiliated clothing when I’m on campus. Just as many students aspire to attend a certain school based on its athletics, many students aspire to attend SDSU based on its Greek life.
In multiple ways, our athletics program represents SDSU and its student body. Shouldn’t we want our teams to represent us well and respectably? Outside of its members, what does Greek life represent? As of late, it has only represented drug and alcohol use, as illustrated by the drug-bust last semester and Student Body President James Poet’s arrest for allegedly driving under the influence and possessing marijuana earlier this semester. (For those of you who are unaware, Poet is a member of an SDSU fraternity of which he was the president.)
If SDSU students could only transfer the amount of passion, involvement and interest that its Greek life embodies to its athletics, there is a decent-to-good chance that our teams -- not to mention our image -- will inevitably improve.
But even if such a transfer doesn’t take place, I’ll still love San Diego State.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Peers: Our Time Has Come
The 44th presidential election marked a monumental moment in both the history of the United States of America and the world, a moment that has layed the foundation for a nation who has always talked the talk about being the best, but really has never walked the walk.
On November 4, we took the first step on that path.
For many of us college students, this election was even more historic, as it marked the first time we could vote; for those of you who were responsible enough to exercise your right, you have done both this country and the world a great service.
Since its founding, the United States has always held the blueprint for being the primary leader of our world. Our ideologies are superior to every other country, but the realities on which these ideologies have materialzed are far from superior. With Obama now the next president of this country -- essentially a metaphor for equality, opportunity, and the notion that anything is possible -- we can finally materialize that blueprint and ultimately make this world a better place.
However, there are many aspects of our country that we must change in order to fully allow for the greatest and most prosperous materialization. For one, we must lead by example. That means holding ourselves accountable for the same things to which we hold our enemies. For example, like our enemies, we are committing acts of terror, especially in the Middle East. There is no such thing as good or bad terrorism; terrorism is terrorism, whether it is committed by American soldiers or Muslim Exteme Fundamentalists, or anyone else.
Secondly, in order to be the best, we must breed the best. That means putting education first and putting an end to outsourcing. American schools should be given as much money as necessary to achieve a promiment level of education that allows states to govern their own curriculums and requirements -- not the national government (see: No Child Left Behind Act).
Another: American companies should only employ Americans. There is no reason why our economy, educational and health care systems, and alternative fuel programs shouldn't be superior to every other industrialized country; it is simply a matter of financial allocation. If we can stop spending so much money abroad (i.e. the war in Iraq) and instead keep it within our borders, the upside is limitless.
As emerging adults and the next generation, Barack Obama -- whether he is in office for the next four or eight years -- will directly impact our near and far futures. We must assist him in bringing about change in this country so that we and our families and friends can enjoy a better life than did our parents and their generation.
This is our time.
On November 4, we took the first step on that path.
For many of us college students, this election was even more historic, as it marked the first time we could vote; for those of you who were responsible enough to exercise your right, you have done both this country and the world a great service.
Since its founding, the United States has always held the blueprint for being the primary leader of our world. Our ideologies are superior to every other country, but the realities on which these ideologies have materialzed are far from superior. With Obama now the next president of this country -- essentially a metaphor for equality, opportunity, and the notion that anything is possible -- we can finally materialize that blueprint and ultimately make this world a better place.
However, there are many aspects of our country that we must change in order to fully allow for the greatest and most prosperous materialization. For one, we must lead by example. That means holding ourselves accountable for the same things to which we hold our enemies. For example, like our enemies, we are committing acts of terror, especially in the Middle East. There is no such thing as good or bad terrorism; terrorism is terrorism, whether it is committed by American soldiers or Muslim Exteme Fundamentalists, or anyone else.
Secondly, in order to be the best, we must breed the best. That means putting education first and putting an end to outsourcing. American schools should be given as much money as necessary to achieve a promiment level of education that allows states to govern their own curriculums and requirements -- not the national government (see: No Child Left Behind Act).
Another: American companies should only employ Americans. There is no reason why our economy, educational and health care systems, and alternative fuel programs shouldn't be superior to every other industrialized country; it is simply a matter of financial allocation. If we can stop spending so much money abroad (i.e. the war in Iraq) and instead keep it within our borders, the upside is limitless.
As emerging adults and the next generation, Barack Obama -- whether he is in office for the next four or eight years -- will directly impact our near and far futures. We must assist him in bringing about change in this country so that we and our families and friends can enjoy a better life than did our parents and their generation.
This is our time.
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