Aloha, readers. The sports world has reeked disappointment throughout the country yet again, but this time, sports fans are stunned more than ever.
Once loved and idolized for his heartfelt journey to success, Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o may now be one of the most either hated or embarrassed individuals in the history of sports.
(If you find yourself confused at this point, go to deadspin.com and read the cover story about Te’o’s made-up girlfriend.) I won’t go into the details because by the time this story is published, numerous new revelations will be uncovered in the hoax.
In a press conference aired on Sportscenter, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick called Te’o “the single most trusting human being I’ve ever met.”
While journalists and fans continue to wrap their minds around this story, the main point must be recognized: yet again another highly-respected athlete has fallen from his throne and fans are left to wonder who can be truly trusted and loved.
Te’o’s story broke the same week Lance Armstrong filled the news with reports of him acknowledging he used prohibited performance-enhancing drugs in his career in an interview with Oprah.
Te’o’s story also broke months after the Penn State scandal where fans lost respect for beloved Joe Paterno.
In a world where sports icons are admired by so many, what are we to think now? Who else may be hiding something?
Just think about all the kids with Te’o posters in their rooms or cherished autographs wishing one day they would be just like Te’o. What about the kids who aspired to win an Olympic gold medal like Armstrong or be as successful of a coach as Paterno? Where do those kids turn now?
All of these scandals beg the same question: can sports heroes be looked up to and idolized for anything other than their athletic achievements?
Of course sports stars are to be admired for their accomplishments on the field and court. To aspire to be as good of a linebacker as Te’o or cyclist as Armstrong is a noble goal.
But even though they know all eyes are on them off the field as well, athletes make choices everyday with only themselves on the forefront of their minds. So should highly-renowned athletes be held responsible for their actions or should they be able to live their lives however they please?
Opinions vary, but athletes know they are in the spotlight. They know people of all ages look up to them, and to a degree, that’s what they want. Most athletes crave the spotlight.
With this in mind, they should be held responsible for their actions. As Peter Parker knows, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Those who aspire to be in the spotlight must realize the aspects that come along with the fame and be willing to act accordingly.
But actions such as these should not come as such a surprise to fans because these idolized athletes are only human. We all mess up and make mistakes. Our mistakes are not made as public as theirs, but that does not make our actions any less significant.
Should famous athletes be held more accountable than we? No. We are all held to the same standards. Athletes should be responsible for their actions, but so should we.
Since Te’o, Armstrong and Paterno have left sports fans wondering which athletes and coaches can truly be trusted, fans may be forced to turn away from the athletic fields and courts to find role models who exemplify honorable behavior