Naomi Osaka, the tennis champion, had a meltdown on the court at the U.S. Open and lost to her unseeded opponent. Afterwards, she said she is once again stepping away from the game. Simone Biles, the Olympic champion, scaled back her participation on the gymnastics team at the summer games. Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimmer, is on TV advertising therapy sessions.
So far, all have been receiving a lot of empathy.
Do famous athletes create the times or reflect the times? I was thinking about this as I watched Untold: The Malice at the Palace, the Netflix documentary about the brawl between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons.
The riot was very disturbing to watch, but even more unsettling was the attitude of the (overwhelmingly white) sports media world. The players were universally described as “thugs.” David Stern, the Commissioner, levied unprecedented fines on the players. Lost in the coverage was the outrageous behavior of the “fans” who stormed on the court, showered the Pacers with drinks, and threw a chair.
Yes. I am a sports devotee. Games keep me company, and continue to give me so much more to think about than the score.
How much is gender related? And you point out the racial aspect of the melee which is not a shock. I know nothing about the fight.
ReplyDeleteYou raise important questions, Joan. I have no simple answers.
ReplyDeleteRon Artest, who changed his name to Metta World Peace, took a lot of blame at the time. He talks openly now about his therapy and state of mind. He went on to win a Championship with the Lakers.
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