The problem doesn’t go away. It re-emerges. And that, sad to say, is a certainty in sport nowadays.
On Tuesday, an independent report detailed a sexual assault involving a player in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. It’s a new chapter in a recurring story, as we find ourselves in a familiar but unacceptable position. Time and time again, athletes have come forward to express failed responses and wholesale lack of protections employed by sporting entities in response to allegations of reported misconduct.
Penn State, USA Gymnastics/Michigan State, Ohio State men’s wrestling (other sports also lodged complaints), Michigan football players from the late 1960s through the 1980s, to name a few, have fallen under immense scrutiny–and rightfully so–for their failure to protect those under their care.
As someone who loves sports, I find those frequent revelations to be nauseating. Just how deeply must someone lack the qualities of basic human empathy and compassion to turn a blind eye to those suffering under their watch.
Does this behavior reflect the values of our society? Does organizational and brand protection and winning at all costs–regardless of the pain and hurt incurred–trump doing the right thing? Why do we continue to allow victims to endure trauma?
I wish I had the answers to those questions. I also wish I understood why right-doing isn’t a fundamental, automatic choice–to ensure that those around us are not being preyed upon and exploited. Sadly, the only plausible answer is that we’ll likely be debating this matter and voicing concerns again … just as soon as the next scandal emerges.
The problem doesn’t go away. It re-emerges. And that, sad to say, is a certainty in sport nowadays.
