Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support the IDS in College Media Madness! Donate here March 24 - April 8.
Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

Sports heroes should lead by example

Firing Bobby Knight is one of the best decisions this University has ever made. While Bobby Knight has been an excellent coach in the past, times have changed, and Bobby Knight has not.\nIt has never been acceptable behavior for an adult to lose his temper in public. It has never been acceptable for an adult to use physical force out of anger. Bobby Knight was excused from responsibility because of his status as a hall of fame basketball coach. What this represents is a changing of attitudes in society. Many people are tired of seeing sport heroes get special treatment. People are tired of seeing people like Mike Tyson get away with illegal behavior because of who they are. Bobby Knight is another "victim" of the changing attitudes. People will not ignore this behavior any longer. Sports heroes will be held accountable for their actions.\nSports heroes have a moral responsibility to lead by example. They are in the limelight, and many of them will be extraordinarily wealthy because of it. These people are always on duty and should always behave appropriately. They are more than compensated in scholarships and salaries in the six and seven digits. These sports heroes need to be held to a higher standard, rather than a lower standard. They get special treatment all the time, and that should continue. But the special treatment should not include permission to behave illegally or abuse their position of power to harm others.

Get stories like this in your inbox
Subscribe