Why Do Fans Treat LeBron James and Other Athletes Like Indentured Servants?
According to Merriam-Webster an indentured servant is "a person who signs and is bound by indentures to work for another for a specified time especially in return for payment of travel expenses and maintenance." By that definition it could be argued that college and professional athletes are, indeed, indentured servants, but should they be treated as such by the fans?
The question I propose is do we really treat them like they are people or just slaves to your favorite team? Fans love their team's star athletes but once they leave the team they are quickly forgotten or worse, vilified.
In 2003 LeBron James was drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had an abysmal record in the previous years and had not reached the playoffs since 1998.
The young man led the Cavaliers to a 214-73 home record and took them to the playoffs five years in a row from 2006-2010 (though he brought home no rings), all while building one of the most narcissistic attitudes in modern professional sports. Regardless, some fans only dream of their team going to the playoffs five times in seven years and Cleveland didn't seem to mind his ego.
However, in 2010, LeBron James became a free agent after leading his team to six winning seasons. He left for Miami and the "King James" era of Cleveland ended. Rather than keeping the fond memories of the Cavs victories, fans instead took to the streets in fits of rage and burned jerseys with the No. 23 on them. James defended his decision by making a commercial with Nike, which was edited into a response by fans in a very ugly mudslinging contest.
In 1992 the Green Bay Packers received a trade from the Atlanta Falcons—a young man from the University of Southern Mississippi by the name of Brett Favre. Sixteen years later Favre had led his team to 13 winning seasons with multiple playoff appearances, two 8-8 seasons and only one losing season. To top it off he took the team to the Super Bowl twice, winning one in 1996 and losing the next in 1997.
Before the 2008 football season after much deliberation and media frenzy the Packers and Favre supposedly reached a consensus decision that the two should part ways. Favre later claimed in an interview with Greta Van Susteren that he was displeased with how the Packers wanted to change their direction while limiting his own.
After a series of retirements and trades and an entire slew of sports fan/writer scrutiny Brett Favre ended up playing for the Minnesota Vikings, an intra-division opponent of the Packers. While some fans kept their No. 4 jerseys, most blamed Favre for leaving the organization whilst ignoring the fact that he had attempted to return to the Packers in 2008 and was denied by the Packers leadership. Favre's accomplishments for the team were all but forgotten.
Athlete scorn is not limited to the modern professional sports. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize complained about the amount of playing time he received while playing for the New York Giants (the eventual San Francisco Giants) and as a result he was traded to the New York Yankees. Despite having played well for the Giants and serving in the military during World War II, fans of the Giants were quick to spew hatred at Mize.
454px-johnny_mize_crop_340x234 Hall of Famer Johnny Mize
College athletes are not sheltered from fan hatred. These young players face a lot of adversity during recruiting processes, especially in college football. Star high school recruits are expected to sign with a school in their given state, and if they choose otherwise they are also labeled as "traitors and backstabbers."
An even worse offense is to make a verbal commitment with a school only to change it later. That is the biggest crime a prospect can commit during the recruiting process. Why, though, is that such a bad thing? These young players are about to make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Should they base that solely on a fan's desire for pride?
This year a star linebacker prospect by the name of Brent Calloway verbally committed to the University of Alabama, the 2010 BCS National Champion. Later on, however, he de-committed from Alabama and verbally committed to Auburn University, the 2011 BCS National Champion and instate arch-rival of his original choice.
Afterwards Alabama fans flooded blogs and message boards with hatred and criticism towards Calloway, saying how "stupid" the decision was; all whilst Auburn fans laughed and told the Alabama fans it was "his choice."
Several weeks later the shoe changes, and Calloway again commits to Alabama. Now Auburn fans yell "stupid" and Alabama fans say "his choice" as both fan bases call each other hypocrites.
This hatred during recruiting isn't restricted to just southern football rivalries. It is all across the nation. The problem is fans get too swept up in their team pride and desire for their teams to win. At the end of the day, what really matters? If your team wins a championship you get to buy a new T-shirt to brag about while your rivals claim you "cheated" or "if such-and-such or this-and-that happened" and other such nonsense.
Are sports fans too hard on "traitors and backstabbers"?
Yes, we all need to calm down. No, the wrath they incur is their own. Never! Let's string 'em up! Submit Vote vote to see results
Sports fans today too often seem to believe they are entitled to something by the players. In reality, however, these players don't owe fans a damn thing. As a fan myself, I wouldn't want LeBron James or Brett Favre or Superman or whoever telling me where I should live and what I should do for a living.
Playing a professional sport is a job for these athletes. How would you feel if your boss and coworkers yelled hateful things at you if you left for a new job with better pay and benefits that would allow you and your family to live a more comfortable lifestyle? "It's my life, not theirs" you undoubtedly would say.
Fellow sports fans: Simply appreciate how these athletes entertained you for however long their tenure was. Remember they are people too (though some better human beings than others) and they have real goals and aspirations. That is their God-given right, just like it's your right to get a new job or decide to call players "bums and traitors." Then again, "can do" doesn't always mean "should do."
Professional sports athletes are not objects of ownership. So why do we, as fans, treat them as such?
Relax, it's just a game.
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"fuck errrrrrryyybody!!!"
