Sports Stars: Heros or Zeros?

Introduction

  In the past sports stars such as Lou Gherig have been considered role models for kids. Today's sports stars such as Roger Clemens have been taking steroids and other drugs.

  I am not showing Andre the Giant because I have already published his mugshot for roughing up a TV cameraman.

Wrestling

  Wrestling and boxing and football have been replete with criminal incidents. The wrestler Dino Bravo was shot to death, possibly for involvement with cigarette smuggling across the Canadian border.

  In the case of Joe Frazier, the incident was long after his boxing career was over. Still it gives boxing a bad name. The O.J. Simpson incidents were long after his brilliant football career was over, but Simpson was a movie actor. He did a fair job of acting like he was innocent. Simpson murdered two people and later was involved in an armed robbery incident. 

The Smoking Gun

  This is an excellent forensic website where one can do research on these matters. The also have mugshots of entertainers, mobsters, serial killers, etc.

The Hound of the Basketballs

  Kobe Bryant is still an active superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers. I do not know if he was guilty or not. He knows, but claims innocence.

Conclusions

  There is a similar situation in acting and in music. There are mughots of Jane Fonda, James Brown, etc. Unfortunately drugs have been a major problem with celebrities, although Mel Gibson and Rip Torn were arrested while drunk. Substance abuse is perhaps a better expression to describe the celebrity problems although the wrestlers have often been involved in violence.

  But what is to be done? Don't worship these people because they aren't worth it. Sure, they are rich. That is what gives them the access to the drugs! I have not included some because I have already posted images for some (including David Bowie).