WHEN: Anytime during the past 12 months - not that it really matters.
WHERE: Anywhere in sports-minded America ...
(Theme music comes to an end. Cue host, and:)
PAUL GABA: Hell, and welcome to Sports Forum, with a look at what's going through the minds of listeners and athletes alike. I'm your host, Paul Gaba, and today we're discussing the topic of "Stupidity in Sports" with out guest, former major-league star Bucks Malone. Welcome to the show, Bucks.
BUCKS MALONE: Thanks, Paul, it's always a pleasure to be here.
GABA: "Stupidity in Sports" covers a wide variety of areas. It can be used to discuss the fans who paid $12 for a Willie Mays autograph at a card show over Thanksgiving, which was the case this past weekend in Detroit.
It can relate to the case of Dexter Manley, who was given the heave-ho out of the NFL last week for violating the league's drug policy.
It can be used in accordance with Pete Rose, who hocked baseball bats and other pieces of equipment on television the same day he was kicked out of baseball. Or the Ben Johnson steroid situation. Or the Steve Garvey "two kids, two women, marry a third" syndrome. Or the media overkill on the Wade Boggs-Margo Adams scenario. Am I on the right track?
BUCKS: You hit the nail right on the head, Paul. Take the Manley situation, for example.
Here's a guy who violated football's drug policy three times! Can you believe it? If you, or I, or anyone out there right now were caught doing drugs, would we get a third chance at redemption? I doubt it.
For most of us, if we got caught doing illegal substances, we probably wouldn't get a second chance. And you'd think after the Len Bias situation a few years back, people would get the message. He didn't get a second chance. He blew it the first time, and it cost him his life. But obviously the impact hasn't set in.
Three chances. God, I can't comprehend it at all.
GABA: But couldn't it be said that the NFL and the Washington Redskins are just as stupid, in this situation, as Manley? I mean, obviously they knew he had a problem, but they let him go on playing. And when he got caught for the third time, well, then he's let go.
BUCKS: This is true, Paul. Even as stupid as Manley, or anyone like him - Bob Probert and Roy Tarpley are two recent cases - are apt to be, it's hard to blame them completely. Their stupidity was tolerated by higher levels. And this is what really boggles my mind. No one wants to take responsibility for a situation gone bad. No one wants to crack down on a dangerous situation.
GABA: We're going to the phone lines now. Hello, you're on Sports Forum.
CALLER 1: Yeah, I have a question. With all these athletes doing drugs, do you think the "Just Say No" thing is working?
BUCKS: That's an interesting question. Personally, I think the "Just Say No" campaign is limited in what it can do. It's mostly a system of information for kids.
GABA: I have to agree with you to a point, Bucks.
A lot of kids are being told, "Drugs are bad. Drugs kill. Don't do drugs." And, in terms of information, it works. People are certainly more aware of what drugs can do. But it's hard to battle peer pressure, even if one of the kids' sports idols takes a fall - like, for example, Manley or Probert.
But you also have to remember, the number of athletes associated with drugs is in a state of hype, too. Not all athletes take illegal drugs, and many who used to have battled back from drug dependency. Dave Parker and Willie Wilson, just to name a few.
We have another caller. Talk to me.
CALLER 2: Hi, Paul. This is Mark, I'm a first-time caller.
GABA: Well, welcome to the Sports Forum family.
CALLER 2: Thanks, Paul. Listen, what about alcohol? It's a drug, and you always hear athletes complain when beer and that sort of stuff is not allowed in the locker room.
GABA: Good point, Mark. As a matter of fact, alcohol is the biggest-selling drug in the world, And, once again, you're hitting on a prime subject.
BUCKS: But the difference between alcohol and other drugs often mentioned - cocaine and steroids are the biggest - is that alcohol is legal. And because it's legal, the crackdown is not as harsh.
GABA: This is true.
BUCKS: It's hard to swallow something of the magnitude of a Bruce Kimball, or a Reggie Rogers, or the late Pelle Lindbergh - the former Philadelphia Flyers goalie who was intoxicated when he crashed his car into a tree.
Driving drunk is stupid. I doubt you'll find anyone who says the opposite.
GABA: And yet, drinking and driving seems to be tolerated when it comes to the sports world - as long as no one is injured or killed.
Scott Skiles is still revered in his home state of Indiana, despite a drunk driving conviction. John Langeloh is still playing for Michigan State, despite his recent woes. Petr Klima and Probert - there's that name again - were allowed to play against Edmonton when the Red Wings were trying for a Stanley Cup berth, even though they had been out drinking past curfew the night before. The double standard goes on forever, and I doubt it will change.
BUCKS: It won't change, at least not while the average American tolerates it.
And the alcohol-athlete connection will be tolerated as long as the major breweries continue to have a stranglehold on sports television broadcasts. And on sports in general.
You know what's really sad? I'm no longer amazed by the amount of alcohol advertising that goes on during a sportscast. It's advanced to the point that announcers will salute a home run, touchdown or goal with an alcoholic salute. It's rather depressing.
GABA: I know what you mean. We only have time for one more caller. Hello, you're on.
CALLER 3: Yeah, I want to touch on something you mentioned earlier. I don't see anything stupid about paying money to get an autograph. We pay to watch the guys play, why not to talk to them, or get an autograph?
BUCKS: Hey it's your money. Stupidity has no price level.
GABA: I'm afraid that's all the time we have today on Sports Forum, but we'll be back soon with another edition.
(Closing theme music.)
This article originally appeared in The Marshall Chronicle.
