Sports Ethics. Almost an oxymoron by definition alone. Sports are supposed to facilitate and instill positive character-building traits such as: perseverance, teamwork, and integrity. In an era in which premier athletes, on any level, are treated as larger than life, fans and media vicariously live through them. They are quick to praise their on-field accomplishments yet hastily disgrace their name when players' off-field behavior doesn't mimic their ideology and standard to which they had held these icons.
Now I'm not saying that athletes, being in the constant eye of media attention and ridicule, shouldn't garner a higher standard in which to live by, serving as an example for their fans. But I am suggesting that society quickly forgets one key fact about their "heroes”—they are still human. They are not immune to the trappings and enticements of the world. If the only way to make millions of dollars is to pass a test, then most will make it happen WHATEVER it takes. If the only way to stay competitive with the rest of college football is to grey the lines of the rule book, then the bylaws will be bent as much as possible. If you could have whatever you wanted due to an infallible cover up, regardless of how many rules are bent or broken, would you choose to take advantage of the opportunity? Many people would.
If anything, sports reflects a vivid portrait of society. The only way in which to pave a better example for others to follow, is not to look to the television at others, but rather look into the mirror, for the change begins with me and you