It is hard to look past the circus atmosphere in sports these days. Just turn on any sports channel and it is an absolute certainty that you will hear about the Spygate scandal; the Mitchell Report; cheating referees; or professional athletes lying, cheating, and being involved in criminal activities. And no sport, it seems, is above the fray. This truly is a trying time for athletes and fans alike. And, begs the question, have professional sports been corrupted beyond repair? While it is still too early to tell, the answer may lie just below the surface.
In just a few weeks, March Madness will begin and millions of fans across the country will watch as their teams compete in one of the biggest sporting events in college athletics. It is during the last weeks in March and early April, when the excitement of the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl are over and the Major League Baseball season is still in preseason mode, that many sports fans turn to college basketball and the NCAA tournament for their sports fix. This tournament pits 64 of the top college teams in the nation against each other in a bracketed playoff, culminating in a Final Four showdown and eventually, the crowning of a national champion. While this is an exciting few weeks of basketball, there is more to this tournament than meets the eye.
What makes this competition so special is that it is played for all the right reasons. No shoe endorsements or multi-million dollar deals here, just pure hunger and determination. Sure, a small percentage of these athletes are honing their skills for the next level, but for a majority, the college level is the end of the line; an NCAA tournament berth a reward for their hard work and dedication. Thus, the tournament becomes one in which pride and reputation take center stage. The "I" is forgotten and the "we" becomes a rallying cry. These teams are driven to be the best, the number one college basketball team in the country, and for the winner, a place in the history books.
The tournament is aptly titled March Madness, and the race to the Final Four always seems to be exciting and definitely worth watching. This year should prove no different. With so many great athletes throughout the country, a parity in college athletics has developed. This parity has resulted in some of the stiffest competition ever seen in the NCAA and should make for an interesting and competitive tournament. Equally important and adding to the intrigue are the great stories coming out of this years' teams. Whether it is the outstanding young Pac-10 freshmen O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love leading their respective teams to a tournament berth, or the successes of smaller programs like Xavier, Butler, and Drake, this year's tournament is definitely going to be one not to miss. Why, however, is the tournament so important this year?
The world of professional sports is currently at a crossroads, with its future hanging in the balance. Sure, professional sports have seen their fair share of scandals come and go, but could this be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back? Can sports fans welcome back leagues and players that have not only deceived them, but simultaneously tainted the history of their favorite pastimes? Surprisingly, the answer may rest in the very hands of the players who are currently preparing for the national stage of the NCAA basketball tournament.
While this time in sports may go down in history as the Scandal Era, there is still hope for professional sports. There are areas in desperate need of repair and, many issues that need addressing. In short, there must be change, and soon. If there can be change, surely the fans can forgive. And the best place for change may be at the collegiate level. It is these athletes that will write the next chapter on professional sports at a time when fans' confidence and patience are waning.
These athletes are tomorrow's superstars and role models. They are the future of their sports and have the ability to bring about change. More has been entrusted to these athletes than any previous generation. They must learn from their predecessors' mistakes and be willing to set new examples and restore the integrity to the sports they play. It can be, and truthfully, must be done. For now, sports fans are watching, waiting, and hoping.
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