Bullying has always been a part of human society and culture. Television and film popularized the stereotypical nerd and its archenemy, the dimwitted vindictive jock. Bullying, like its conventional archetypes, is an outdated concept that should have been left in the past, but like a virus, it continues to evolve and stick with humanity.
Most often confined to that period of early adolescence when kids high on hormones single out the most susceptible of the herd, bullying has recently reared its head in the least likeliest of locations: the NFL.
The Miami Dolphins have recently endured a scandal when one of their players, Jonathan Martin, left the team due to alleged harassment from one of his teammates, offensive lineman Richie Incognito. Incognito has since been suspended after the team learned of a voice mail in which Incognito made racial slurs and death threats against Martin.
That such a thing could happen in professional football is truly saddening. That such bullying could happen between two grown men is truly pathetic. Incognito is in his 30s, far past the time in which one should have learned right and wrong. These are grown men with families and jobs, not children scrapping on the playground.
Sports have a somewhat magical effect in bringing together a large group of people for the singular purpose of playing the game. There is a sense of unity and brotherhood in the locker room unlike anywhere else. Where that failed is uncertain. Professional athletes are like rock stars of the modern era with millions of people watching their every move.
Children collect their faces on sports cards. YouTube has thousands of clips demonstrating their highlights in the game. Athletes grace the pages of newspapers and magazines, as well as television screens and the radio. People try to imitate them. As such, professional athletes should be role models, but as in the case of Incognito and the Miami scandal, that is often not the case.
More often than not, the headlines are of athletes fallen from grace – athletes who are caught engaging in illegal activities, cheating at the game or harassing others. There were others before Incognito, and there will be more after him. Athletes like Incognito have fallen under the influence of their own powerful ego, and as deadly as preadolescent hormones, they have reverted back to the stereotypical jock of the 50s.
The NFL and other sports organizations should pay more attention to their players in the future to prevent problems such as bullying from happening. Winning shouldn’t be a black hole that sucks up such virtues as honesty, integrity and respect toward others in the game and out.
