Negative Behaviours in Pro Sport
Professional sport is a business first and sport second. This means things are accepted and encouraged in pro sport in the name of entertainment that we would not want to see in our community sport system. However, the problem is that while we play community sport, we watch professional sport.
A study done by the Kaisier Family Foundation found that children surveyed believe that it's common for pro-athletes to yell at the referees, resort to trash talk and take cheap shots at their opponents (A National Survey of Kids - and Their Parents - About Famous Athletes as Role Models, 2000). The same majority agreed that it was not uncommon to see the same behaviours from their peers. In this case, do we want children modeling pro-sport behaviours?
It is time for governments to look at regulating the pro sport industry in our country. For example: should we allow pro sport to operate in our country if it is not compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code?
Should governments also be looking at regulations around online betting in light of continuing accusations of match fixing in many sports? When the economics of cheating creates more financial incentive than winning, you’ve got a problem!
We need to explore the use of government regulation to ensure we have fair, safe and open sport in Canada and to ensure that all sport – including pro sport – supports these values and their underlying principles.
Melia's Take: The Influence of Pro Sport
I'm Paul Melia, President and CEO of the CCES. I’m also a parent, coach, sports fan and player. This blog is written from all those perspectives…
Getting the story straight
November 13, 2014
When we read Cathal Kelly’s column, from the November 5, 2014 issue of The Globe and Mail, entitled “Kelly: It’s not about A-Rod being clean, it’s about him coming clean,” we were shocked at how naïve and out of touch with Canadians the basic premise of the article was. We understand it can be a...Read more
Is pro sport too soft on doping?
July 11, 2014
Over 25 years ago, Ben Johnson tested positive for anabolic steroids at the Olympics in Seoul, Korea. He was once a hero in sport and overnight he became a villain. Contrast this with Major League Baseball (MLB) player Nelson Cruz’s doping violation last year. After his doping violation, it would...Read more
Vigilante Justice
December 16, 2013
We witnessed again, on December 7th , an example of NHL style vigilante justice, meted out by Boston tough guy Shawn Thornton in response to a borderline body check to his teammate. In the first period of the game between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, Shawn Thornton attacked Brooks...Read more
Is pro sport serious about clean sport?
July 11, 2013
The Biogenesis story linking Major League Baseball (MLB) players to the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) is heating up again. This simmering story, that will soon break and may expose over 20 MLB players, casts the spotlight on MLB but it also casts a shadow of sorts on a few other North...Read more
Lessons from Lance
January 23, 2013
What, if anything, can we learn from Lance Armstrong’s confession to Oprah Winfrey last week? When it comes to doping in the sport of cycling, the answer is: nothing we didn’t already know. But, are there any lessons we can take from Lance’s public admission to Oprah that he did indeed dope all...Read more
When good comes from bad
September 19, 2012
In today’s world of 24/7 sports radio, television and the internet, most kids are exposed to “all sports, all the time.” Given the media’s preference to sensationalize the darker side of sport rather than to highlight the sensational, young sports enthusiasts are fed a steady diet of athletes...Read more