Sports Weasels

Recently I have written about Corporate Weasels and Religious Weasels. Today I write about a different flavor of weasel.. but weasels none-the-less. This past week has been resplendent with news of two "heroes" from the world of sports that have fallen a bit. Here are a few excerpts from their "confessions":

Swimmer Michael Phelps on his three-month suspension from competitive swimming after a controversial photo surfaced depicting him allegedly smoking from a bong.

"It's not my decision. It's theirs," Phelps tells the Associated Press of USA Swimming's suspension determination. "I have nothing to say, but if that's what they want to do, that's their choice. It's something that USA Swimming came up with. It's fair. Obviously, for a mistake you should get punished."

"It was bad and stupid judgment, and something I'll always live with."

NY Yankee Alex Rodriguez on the news that broke over the weekend that he used steroids:

“When I arrived at Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day.

“Back then it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naïve. And I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time. I did take a banned substance, and for that I am very sorry and deeply regretful.”

Last week I talked about the Phelps fall with my son and said that I thought that it was simply a reflection of the times.. Michael simply "got caught" doing what many people do.. I guess you could say the same thing about A-Rod.

I have had a few days to think about it and I think that my thinking is really part of the problem. Like those I chastised for supporting the bad behavior of pastors who strayed sexually I found myself making excuses for a different kind of a weasel.

I think that we all need to stop making excuses for weasels.. be they corporate executives, religious leaders or superstars of sports. Let's send a message to these folks that we are raising the bar. If they want our patronage, admiration and viewership let them act like people worthy of that admiration.