Sandusky, Fine, Bonds, Hurd, Braun, Rudy Scandals Cause Public to Be Wary

"Sports has the power to change the world."   

So says 1993 Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former South African President Nelson Mandela, who uttered the words many have lauded as the most poignant sports quote ever. But the famous quote, intended to extol the virtues of sports as an agent for moral integrity and positive social change, is of late coming under attack and demonstrating just how powerful sports can be to the contrary, at least here in America.  

Recent reports of sordid behavior from star athletes, sports icons, trusted coaches and storied institutions have sullied the public's perception and caused many to mutter that sports also has the power to change the world...for the worse. 

Recent scandals in the news include home run king Barry Bonds' sentencing on a perjury conviction, Chicago Bears WR Sam Hurd's arrest for drug trafficking, University of Notre Dame's beloved football icon Rudy Ruettiger's $382,000+ settlement with the SEC for bilking investors, MLB MVP Ryan Braun's charge of using performance-enhancing drugs and LA Lakers Kobe Bryant's divorce due to serial adultery claims.  

If the above run of negative sports news wasn't enough, sports fans' belief in Mandela's moral mantra and social ideals was challenged further by disclosures that former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and former Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine were using their sports positions to allegedly engage in sexual dominance over unsuspecting, innocent children. 

Certainly, this was not the kind of activity that Nelson Mandela had in mind when quoting his inspiring words.

Perhaps most shocking to America's sports fan base was the growing understanding that the college coaches' repeated sexual acts upon youth were perpetrated at well-known academic institutions. That the environs of two of America's respected universities could be involved in a sexual "power play" upon young children and that one of them, namely JoePa's legendary Penn State, could knowingly cover up for their pedophile coach went beyond the pale.

The result was shock, outrage and devastation amongst a loyal American population that considers sports a national pastime, passion and point of pride. 

Who could deny that the pain Sandusky and Fine have wrought upon their alleged victims won't endure for a lifetime? And who can state with certainty that other highly-regarded academic institutions aren't turning blind eyes to the power of sports to impact society in more degrading ways? 

Yes, sports has the power to change the world. But at least in America, where sports entitles one to privilege, access, opportunity and, not to mention, blind eyes, Nelson Mandela's words are taking on a whole new meaning. Sports at all levels will forever be under the microscope as a result of the heinous acts of only a select few. 

Let's all hope that the rush of recent disclosures in America's world of sports causes society at large and those in positions of authority to exercise power to restore Mandela's quote back to its original meaning and change the world for good.

Straight talk. No static.

MIKE - aka Mike Raffone - the ultimate talking head on sports!

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