Saturday, May 17, 2008

Armstrong leads athletes in humanitarian work


We all remember seeing them at one time or another. It seemed like it would be a trend that would transcend the way we look at charitable causes and it certainly has. The recognizable yellow Livestrong bracelet was released by Nike in May 2004 and created by Lance Armstrong, a world class cyclist and cancer survivor. Armstrong is one of the major athletes who has affected the world in a positive manner with his humanitarian efforts.

The “Wear Yellow Live Strong” educational program headed by the Lance Armstrong Foundation was launched to raise money for cancer research and awareness. By 2005, the foundation had generated more than $55 million in bracelet sales and there have been more than 70 million sold worldwide to date. Armstrong’s foundation now not only dedicates itself to fighting cancer by posting the latest information and resources but it donates money to other causes. For example, community programs for those affected by Hurricane Katrina were established. In addition, research grants and partnerships with other cancer awareness groups have become a key component of the foundation.

All this from a man, whose athletic career – and life – almost ended following the diagnosis of testicular cancer when he was 25. Despite many necessary surgeries to treat his disease, Armstrong went on to become possibly the world’s greatest in the history of cycling. His seven consecutive Tour De France wins from 1999 to 2005 is unmatched in achievement and perhaps a testament to his strength and will as a cancer survivor.

Before retiring in 2005, Armstrong established himself as one of the renowned athletes in the world. Besides being named Associates Press Athlete of the Year from 2002 to 2005, he was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 2002 and was the recipient of the ESPY’s Best Athlete award four consecutive years as well. Most recently, Armstrong was selected the No. 26 on the 2008 Time’s 100 most influential people in the world list.

Now at 36, Armstrong is three years removed from the competitive cycling world but has been relentless in his work with his foundation. Aside from the bracelets, his foundation has created several cancer survivor programs, endowments and benefits for education and awareness throughout the nation. Recently, the foundation held its annual LIVESTRONG Day on May 13, in which Armstrong traveled to several cross country destinations as part of the one-day initiative to raise awareness and money in the fight against cancer.

Undoubtedly, Armstrong is one of the most generous and conscious professional athletes to donate so much time and money to a cause. Sure, many pro athletes do their share of community work such as establishing their own foundations, making appearances, giving donations or speaking on behalf of organizations. But there is no lie that Armstrong’s effect on a worldwide scale for cancer awareness has surely been felt by its popularity and prominence in our culture today.

Many people who have followed Armstrong’s career and humanitarian efforts can also attest to the impact he has had in the cycling field and among cancer survivors throughout the globe.


Gary Boulanger, U.S. editor for the bikeradar.com, knows that from everything Armstrong has gone through makes him unique when comparing him to other athletes that give back to the world considerably.


“For one, he lived through agonizing chemotherapy, so he's experienced the blackness of cancer firsthand. His celebrity gains him access to the best researchers and doctors in the world, and he listens to their needs. He's always been driven to succeed, and after his first Tour victory in 1999, he won six more Tours for others,” Boulanger said in an e-mailed interview. “As head of the Livestrong Foundation, he's the one steering the ship and getting face time with senators, presidents and cancer scientists. He seems more determined to beat cancer than he was racing against Jan Ullrich.”


Boulanger also believes that Armstrong knows that he stands as an illustrious and accomplished figure who symbolizes hope to so many people.


“Armstrong has lived through what has killed millions, so for some he's a savior; for others he is light in a dark tunnel,” Boulanger said. “His star shines brightly because God knows He can use Armstrong to affect millions, as is evident by the response to the Livestrong wristbands.”


Like Boulanger, Associated Press columnist Jim Litke, who wrote his piece, “Armstrong prevails again,” on June 1, 2006, considers Armstrong one of the most influential athletes in the world.


“I'd put Armstrong at the top of any athlete's list, though many dowork for a variety of causes,” Litke said in an e-mailed interview. “I'd put himbehind only Tiger and Michael Jordan in terms of influence and he doesmore than either in terms of socially redeeming work.”

Litke thinks that Armstrong basically brought cycling to the forefront in popularity to the United States because of his success and prominence.


“He's put bike racing on the map in the U.S.,” Litke said. “Though it's been a big sport in Europe for decades, he's boosted its fortunes worldwide.

For sufferers of cancer, Armstrong has not only stood as a symbol of hope but an inspiration as well.


Ana Melendez, a mother of whose daughter, Stephanie Melendez, 15, suffers from leukemia, knows that Armstrong success and campaign has given faith to survivors like her own daughter.


“It’s given hope to my daughter and others to know that it is possible that there can be a cure,” Melendez said. “There are many people who have not given up their lives because they believe that it can happen a lot because of Armstrong.”


Melendez said she really respects the LIVESTRONG foundation for all its work and belief in the cause.

“He’s made a lot of people aware of the cause and what many people go through,” Melendez said. “It really makes you more human when you hear it.”


Certainly Armstrong has gone above and beyond what it means to be an athlete that gives back. Now he may most be remembered for his contributions made off the track in the advancement of cancer breakthroughs then through his victories in Tour De France. Armstrong has had a lifelong effect on people and forever changed the way an athlete becomes involved in humanitarian practices.

Friday, May 16, 2008

The David Beckham Effect

Becoming one of the most recognizable sports figures in the world was not difficult with a standout talent (and kick) that echoed across the world. Gaining popularity on a social level wasn’t hard either probably due being in a relationship with a former Spice Girl. Standing as a larger than life celebrity in many countries was not an arduous task as well with the international marketing and branding of his name and image. Now, David Beckham is faced perhaps with the toughest test of all: bringing popularity to soccer in the United States, a country where the pigskin and baseball, America’s favorite pastime dominate.

After all, Beckham, 33, has finished a runner up for the FIFA World Player twice in his career in addition to leading his club teams to seven league titles and three European championships. All of these accolades have been accomplished after making his professional debut with Manchester United in England at the age of 17. Not to mention, Beckham had been captain of the England national team for more than six years before stepping down after the 2006 World Cup Finals.

While Beckham has made his living playing soccer in Europe, he began his ascent in America after problems with his previous club, Real Madrid, with many on the club questioning his desire and work ethic. He left Madrid for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy on January 11, 2007, which launched a frenzy of media and tabloid coverage. His contract alone deserved serious interest. Beckham signed one of the most unique contracts in sports history, a five-year, $250 million contract laden with incentives, which only really guarantees $50 million in salary paid by the Galaxy and other MLS teams.

And the other $200 million? Most of the money will have to be earned by Beckham with his exclusive endorsement deals and jersey sales. Not to mention after confirmation of the addition of Beckham to the Galaxy roster, marketing plans were already in tact for the star including pre-orders for Beckham’s coveted Galaxy jersey. Shortly after signing with L.A., Beckham held his first press conference where he addressed the issues of not trying to be the messiah of soccer in the United States but did intend to make a difference with his play on the field.

In his first season, Beckham made his debut in a friendly match on July 21, 2007, against English club Chelsea but later he re-aggravated a knee injury from earlier in the year and WAS forced to miss much of the season. He finished the season with only eight appearances including one goal and three assists.

“It was a disaster in a lot of ways,” said Grant Wahl, senior writer for Sports Illustrated. Wahl alluded to the fact that on the field the Galaxy faced challenges as even with Beckham, the team missed the playoffs and Beckham faced injury that put him on the sidelines.

Still, Beckham’s effect has already taken hold. Galaxy jersey sales alone were rocketing over the course of announcing his signing in addition to the boost in ticket sales and sponsorships with major companies. His arrival has also brought international attention to the MLS and the Galaxy.

Wahl said Beckham’s play has had a huge impact abroad and in the U.S.

“The clip (of Beckham’s first free kick) was the most watched YouTube clip in that week,” Wahl said.

Playing now in his second season with the Galaxy, Beckham’s impact has been a bit more lukewarm but this process is not going to happen overnight. The important thing for the MLS and the Galaxy is that they have a budding international star playing in the United States for the first time in their history. Whether or not Beckham will have that lasting effect on America and make soccer one of the more popular sports in the future still remains to be seen.

“You have to play well, and the team has to win,” Wahl said. “Beckham can’t make soccer bigger without being on a winning team.”

According to several soccer experts and sports writers, Beckham has already made a splash with the MLS and improved its stature as one of the many professional sports leagues in America. Martin Rogers, a soccer writer for Yahoo! Sports, who wrote his column “Vend it like Beckham,” on August 6, 2007, proclaims that Beckham has already been able to transcend the image of the MLS on domestic and global levels.

“With his arrival in MLS, Beckham drastically increased the profile of the league. Bigger sponsorship and television deals were negotiated on the back of him signing, to the benefit of all MLS clubs,” Rogers said in an e-mailed interview. “Now, MLS is spoken about around the world - not yet as a top level league like the English Premiership, but as a product that is growing and more significantly, trying to better itself.”

Rogers thinks that Beckham does have that star quality about him, which makes him worth every penny he was paid to come play for the Galaxy.“Clearly, Beckham's limited playing time due to injury in his first season was disappointing, but events like the Galaxy's visit to New York to take on the Red Bulls (watched by 66,000) gave some indication of the kind of pulling power Beckham has,” Rogers aid. “So is he worth the money? For that we have to look at what his employers get out of it. Since signing Beckham the Galaxy has become an international brand, generated millions in revenues from sponsorship deals, exhibition games and shirt sales. So in my opinion, yes, he provides value for money.”

Steven Goff, a writer for the Washington Post, who wrote his article, “MLS Finds Growth by Reaching for Shining Star,” on April 6, 2007, expresses similar feelings. “He has had a major impact on the league’s visibility,” Goff said in an e-mailed interview. “Before Beckham, few non-soccer fans could name the team in Los Angeles. Now everyone knows it. From a marketing standpoint, his arrival has already paid off.”

Goff also believes that Beckham needs to continue to play better and consistently if he wishes to maintain the rise of the MLS.

“His performance, good or bad, will reflect on the league, no doubt,” Goff said. “Beckham needs to play well. Last year, he did not. This year he is.”

It will also be interesting to see if Beckham can lead a soccer revival similar to that of Brazilian soccer star Pele in the 1970’s. After coming out of retirement, he starred for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League beginning in 1975, which included a championship in 1977. During that time, Pele greatly increased the awareness for soccer on a national level and brought it to center stage in his final match on Oct. 1 1977, a match against Santos which was transmitted worldwide on ABC Wide World of Sports and played to a capacity crowd in New York Giants stadium. Perhaps, it is unfair to compare Beckham to a legend like Pele, but the attempts to duplicate the success are there.

However there are reasons to believe that because of circumstances now, the two cannot be compared because of the different time periods and other surrounding circumstances.

“Not so much a revival, but an increase in popularity to levels never before seen in this country. Beckham will not be the only factor, but he will have a part to play. I can see soccer overtaking hockey in terms of popularity within 5-10 years and then challenging the other sports with the exception of football after that,” Rogers said.

“This time it is different to Pele in the 1970s because MLS is built upon much sounder business principles than the old NASL.”The most important thing to remember is that one person, including Beckham, cannot make something popular overnight.

Wahl said he doesn’t think soccer will contend with other popular sports for a while and that it cannot be put on one person’s shoulders to put the sport in the spotlight.

“The lesson is (from the folding of the NASL) is one person can’t be a savior for an entire league,” Wahl said. “There is no lightning in a bottle that’s going to make soccer big. As time goes on, you’re going to see the MLS grow.”

Along with talent, a well-known and respected work ethic and popular image, Beckham’s wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Adams, and their children have also been brought into the spotlight. Prior to the Beckham family’s arrival to the United States, a short-lived reality show based on the Beckhams’ life including the rest of the family was already in the works.

Wahl said those who watched those shows and see the family in the entertainment media and constantly in the social spotlight has brought awareness to the MLS and is a big start in the development of fans; however, whether these people are in the for the long-term is up in the air.

At this point, the ultimate Beckham effect is still unknown. We do believe Beckham will have a prominent effect on soccer but will take him and serious effort from him. He will have to dedicate these next four seasons on putting out some amazing performances and hope that his name and image do the rest. For the most part though, Beckham has done much already in bringing prominence to the beautiful game on the home front. As for the social aspect, the Beckhams have definitely grabbed attention and have gone Hollywood.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Taylor has left a lasting impression

Prominent athletes losing their lives unexpectedly have affected many sports and their teams greatly throughout history. Many remember the career of Loyola Marymount basketball player Hank Gathers, whose death occurred in 1990. Two years ago, New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle lost his life after flying his plane and crashing into a New York City apartment complex. But few athletes that can attest to the kind of career Sean Taylor has had. He was one of the greatest defensive backs to play at the University of Miami and was a Pro Bowl selection in the NFL. His life was tragically cut short after being shot during a home invasion robbery. Taylor died on Nov. 27, 2007, at age 24. His legacy lives on with his family, friends, fans and many others he has touched throughout his career.

Taylor, a Miami native, was one of the top high school football recruits after a stellar season Guilliver Prepartory School. He then took his superior talents to Miami, where he became an All-American selection, Conference defensive player of the year award winner and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back every year. Playing a great junior season was enough for Taylor to enter his name in the 2004 NFL Draft. The Washington Redskins took Taylor with their No. 5 overall pick in hopes he would become one of the most feared defensive players in the game. He would sign a five year, $18 million dollar deal with the team but troubles would begin after his contract was finalized.


Skipping a mandatory NFL rookie seminar was the beginning of Taylor’s problems. He then was charged with a DUI but the charge was later dismissed in 2004. Following this he was several times during the season by playing dirty and making late hits after the whistle was blown. In 2005, he was accused of armed assault after reportedly brandishing a gun at a man following a dispute at Taylor’s home. He later pleaded no contest to the two misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to 18 months probation. Eventually Taylor would be able to get his NFL career on track.


In his rookie season, Taylor would finish second on the team in interceptions with four in addition to 89 tackles, two forced fumbles and one sack. The next season, Taylor would follow up with similar numbers but a little bit down from his first season in the league. In 2006, Taylor had an off-year but was still named to the Pro Bowl squad. It would not be until a year later that Taylor turned it all around. He was named one of the hardest hitters by Sports Illustrated and was tied for the most interceptions in the league before his untimely death. The league had begun to feel the impact of Taylor on the NFL and the Redskins but it would short-lived.


Taylor’s death sent shock waves across the media and those directly involved with the NFL. His game was finally starting to emerge as one of the best and his family had become a huge part of his life. Before the 2007 season, Taylor’s life changed dramatically because of the birth of his then 18-month-old daughter, Jackie, who had become a major force in his life. His game and improvement could be seen through his change in his personal life and people were beginning to forget the thug image he had embodied for such a long time.


With Taylor gone, those in the media close to the Redskins and those who follow the NFL have all consistently agreed that Taylor’s affect on the game has been unique and distinct.


Will Allensworth, a loyal Redskins fan and blogger on the Web site hogshaven.com, wrote a narrative on Sean Taylor following his death. He believes that Taylor was a once in a lifetime type player that affected not only the culture of the Skins but of the NFL.


“He was the unique type of player that could turn a loss into a win on his own. He gave our defense an attitude and a sense of purpose and I think all teams both benefit and need players like that to succeed,” Allensworth said in an e-mailed interview. “He really was a special, once in a lifetime caliber competitor.”


On an NFL level, Allensworth knows that the league and its fan will never forget what Taylor brought to the gridiron every Sunday.


“I think the impact is enormous because he was such a phenomenal football player that represented what many fans love about the game; big hits as a result of Sean's uncompromising passion for providing them,” Allenswroth said. “His on-field legacy will be that of a guy who played the game in the right kind of way; incoming NFL players can watch his highlights and immediately recognize that Sean Taylor exemplified the way the game should be played.”


Alex Marvez, a senior writer for FOXSports.com, who wrote his piece “Taylor was starting to figure the game out,” on Nov. 27 2007, believes that the former Miami star was turning into the player many envisioned him to be when he was lost but also a responsible young person.


“He was one of the NFL's top young players and a human highlight reel based upon his hard-hitting style of play. But Sean also was someone who, by all accounts, was starting to mature into a responsible young man,” Marvez said in an e-mailed interview. “He could have been a role model for young players who got into trouble early but ultimately turned their lives around.”


Marvez also insists that Taylor’s death was more unsettling because of the way it happened compared to the deaths of other athletes in the past.


“What separated Taylor's death from the others was how it transpired. This was a young man trying to defend himself and his family from a home invasion that, sadly, had roots to family members who knew the intruders,” Marvez said. “That is a true tragedy.”


One tragedy is hard to compare to another said Charles Robinson, a national NFL writer for Yahoo! Sports, who wrote a piece on the many burglaries occurring with athletes on Nov. 28, 2007.


“I think it's hard to compare the death of one athlete to another, but anytime someone loses their life as a victim of a crime - rather than an accident or something more natural - it creates a more elaborate outpouring of emotion. The deaths of Gathers and Lidle were viewed as both tragic and preventable, but they were also deaths that we could learn to cope with because there was some sense of reasoning behind them. We knew why they happened,” Robinson said in an e-mailed statement. “But in Taylor's case, there will always be an element of anger and questioning, because we can easily point the finger. In effect, we can easily look at someone and hold them responsible. The fact that Taylor died because of someone else's choice is what makes it more jarring and emotionally difficult to deal with.”


Robinson also agrees that Taylor has left a legacy for his performances on the field but eventually the game will move on without him despite him trying to become a positive individual.


“Without a doubt, Taylor has left a legacy in both Washington and Miami in terms of the way he played and the standard he set on the field. But in reality, that will fade,” Robinson said. “In a perfect world, we'd look at Taylor and his legacy would be to teach players (and maybe even fans) the fragility of their careers and lives, and help them to embrace every moment they are given. But that's not likely.”


Taylor was a player that did not deserve to be taken away. However his legacy has served as a way to educate the NFL and its future on how tragedies shape the way teams do things now and how great of a player he had become. His game was certainly one that was distinct and should last through many more lifetimes. His legend will continue despite being taken away from the game he loved early in his life. Time will tell if this indeed is the case.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Summitt is a major player in women’s sports

An NCAA championship is seen as the ultimate accolade for college coaches. Winning more than one is something very few can brag about as it almost never happens. But Tennessee women’s head basketball coach Pat Summitt can claim eight championships, the most in women’s college basketball, including back-to-back titles in the past two seasons. Additionally, Summitt has 983 career wins, which makes her the winningest coach in college basketball history ahead of Hall of Fame coaches like Bob Knight, Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski.

Despite the awards and recognition, Summitt seems to take a backseat at times to many athletes in the history of women’s sports such as Serena and Venus Williams, Billy Jean King, Marion Jones, Danica Patrick and Lisa Leslie. Summitt has done much to improve and grow the visibility of women’s college basketball. Although Summitt is not quite a household name, she has not risen to the level of fame of those athletes because of her low key and humble demeanor and because she is a coach and not an athlete. She has been able to establish herself as one of the best coaches in the profession but has not been a prominent marketer but more concerned about her program and her players. With her success in winning games and championships, she should have even greater recognition than she has received at this point. She has improved the image for the women’s game in the media and it has spread the popularity across the nation. However, it is safe to say that women’s basketball would not be where it is today if not for her.

Since beginning her career as head coach at the age of 22, Summitt has enjoyed tremendous success with the Volunteers. She has won numerous awards, including being a seven-time recipient of the Southeastern Conference and NCAA Coach of the Year awards in addition to leading her team to 14 conference championships. To put her in context with another basketball legend, Summitt surpassed John Wooden’s former record of 13 Final Four appearances in 2001-2002. To date, her team has made the semi-finals of NCAA tournament 18 times. Summitt also proudly institutes a strong policy of her players receiving an education and has been able to boast a near perfect graduation rate for all her players since her time as coach. Her illustrious career has seen little error and has been unmatched by many in the field, whether it be in the women’s or men’s game.

Several of those in the coaching and media seemed to share the same sentiments about Summitt and the strides she has made in advancing women’s athletics.

“I think (Summitt) is a very influential person,” said University of La Verne women’s basketball head coach Julie Kline in an e-mailed interview. “Her involvement is the community is admirable, her ability to lead young people is evident, and her willingness to speak in so many different forums and her professional achievements make her very influential.”

Kline also insists that she has set the standards very high and does not go away from them which set her apart in being very successful in their profession.

“She is a role model for other coaches to follow. Success is measured in many different ways, not just in wins and losses. There is a bigger picture with athletics and she gets it,” Kline said.

Mike Strange, a sports columnist for the Knox News Sentinel in Knoxville, Tenn., wrote a column on April 5, 2007 about Summitt’s achievements being unmatched in the world of sports.

“I would have to say she is one of the most influential women in sports at this time,” Strange said in an e-mailed interview. “Summitt has been constant for more than two decades. She won her first NCAA title in 1987 and is still going strong.”

Strange also thinks that Summit’s values and traits have been a big part of what she has been able to establish on her teams.

“Discipline and intensity have been trademarks of her own background,” Strange said. “That certainly toughened her up and she demands those commitments from her players. Tennessee will rarely be outworked. Defense and rebounding are byproducts of hard work and they are the basis of her program.

John Shearer, a contributing writer for the chatanoogan.com, a newspaper based in Tennessee, wrote about Summit’s rise to the top in his article on April 6, 2007.

“It doesn’t surprise me that she became such a great coach,” Shearer told me on Tuesday. “I think she was a real good player and has good leadership. She was kind of born to be a coach.”

Shearer also agrees with the notion that Summitt has been instrumental in raising women’s sports to another level.

“I definitely rank her as one of the giants in women’s sports,” Shearer said. “She has been real good as far as gaining popularity for the sport.”

As a coach, Summitt has done a lot for not just women’s college basketball but for women’s sports in general. Many years ago, the national media would not even care to cover women’s basketball let alone other sports. Now, because of her longevity and success at such a high level, Summitt has set an example of what it takes to take women’s sports to new heights. The respect for her in the sports industry is enormous and for good reason. Just on her prestige and name alone, women’s college basketball has received much more media attention, new fans and much more visibility to the public. She has led the way for women’s sports to continue to grow into the next decade with her contributions to college basketball and eagerness to speak on different issues facing the advancement of women’s sports. Undoubtedly, this makes Summitt a major player for women’s sports now and in the future even though her fame has not reached a high level just yet.

Friday, May 2, 2008

College Athletes deal with MySpace, Facebook

Facebook and MySpace are two social networking sites that almost every college student is familiar with. We both have accounts with the sites and actively use them. The reasons why we have profiles are to keep us connected with friends and most importantly, it’s fun. The sites allow us to see personalities of our friends and get to know more about them. Today, with the help of these sites, we are also able to hear news about people and events, updates on friends, get information about the current political race and hear about new movies and music all on these sites. As students, and Galo, as an athlete, have to be cautious with what is posted and what the information on each site is revealed because you never know who could be reading it.

Anything that can be written, indirectly said or visually understood could be taken the wrong way or be shown in a negative light. Albums posted that display pictures last weekend’s party or a message that discriminates against pupils or even personal moods can all give a sense of student-athlete that is fine for most but it could object others. The way someone is perceived online today is what people take you for many times in real life, especially for college student-athletes.
They have to be cautious not only for there own appearance and for the reputation of the school, but they have to be aware of the repercussions of having fans and what they may do as a result of athletes having a social networking site profile.

In his article “Vulgarity and taunting by college fans. How much is too much?” published on Feb. 26 in Sports Illustrated, writer Grant Wahl touches on the subject of college basketball athletes and the negative interaction with fans through Facebook.

“It seemed like this year had been on of the ugliest years with fan behavior,” Wahl said.
In his article he mentions an incident with an Indiana player who changed his commitment from playing at Illinois and choosing Indiana instead which sparked threatening messages not only through e-mail, but on the athlete’s Facebook profile.

“What's more, the popularity of social-networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace has made college athletes and their personal information far more accessible to the public, especially if the athletes are naive when it comes to, say, posting compromising photos of themselves or accepting friend requests from strangers,” Wahl said in his article.

Wahl said in our interview that through these social networking sites, the athletes are opening themselves up on a personal level to strangers and the unruly fans.

As for fixing the problem, Wahl said a solution is the education of the student-athletes by their schools, which some schools have done.

“Athletes will get smarter,” Wahl said.

As for regulating the use of these sites, it seems like each school will make their own policies rather than the NCAA creating a policy, Wahl said.

“In this case, I think they (NCAA) will leave it up to the individual schools,
Wahl said.

The use of these social networking sites is widespread among most, maybe even all universities and colleges throughout the nation, and even internationally. They are popular, and students use them for various reasons.

“I think this is just a part of life with college students,” Wahl said.

So why has something that is a part of college life become negative? For us, we have concluded that it is up to the discretion of the users. Putting information about your life is up to the author, but there also has to be a realization that for anyone, not just college athletes, the information is opening a door for potential negativity and danger.

These possible dangers are what has many schools across the nation worried and what San Diego Union Tribune writer Brent Schrotenboer explains is part of the reason why these athletes get in trouble with these networking Web sites. Schrotenboer has covered this story in his own article, “College Athletes Caught in Tangled Web,” which was published May 24, 2006.

“(College) athletes are in the public eye more in the average student,” Schrotenboer said in an e-mail interview. “Universities also want to protect them from unwanted advances from strangers or would-be agents, which are easier to do in the digital with these social networking sites.”
He also believes that universities and colleges will continue to track the situation with their athletes to ensure some kind of control over what is exposed online.

“Schools that want to avoid being reactive to a potentially embarrassing situation try to be proactive by setting a policy that either limits or bans student-athlete use of these sites,” Schrotenboer said.
Marco Pineda, a former Division I student-athlete at Gonzaga University, said that he was always told to be aware of what he posts and writes on his online profiles.

“There were a lot of times I was told to not post things that are related to alcohol or drug use,” Pineda said, who played tennis and now coaches at Gonzaga. “Just being pictured at parties and things go on behind you could make a connection to you.”
Pineda believes athletes need to be conscious of what they allow to be visible on their profiles for their own safety and peace of mind.

“If there is something out there you don’t want anyone to see, don’t post it,” Pineda said, who also has both a Facebook and MySpace account. “College athletes are held to such higher standards by many so they are always being watched because they are in the spotlight.”

To remedy this situation, both Pineda and Schrotenboer offer ways for student-athletes and schools to protect themselves.

“I’d say the safest and fairest way is to set a policy warning student-athletes that if certain team policy violations are evidenced online, then they will be held accountable,” Schrotenboer said.

“There should be some restrictions and guidelines but every student-athlete should be able to have these accounts,” Pineda said.

From a legal perspective, experts believe that schools have every right to restrict their athletes from their involvement with social networking sites. Because of their pledge to be part of the team, they are not granted the same rights as other college students.

“As a general rule, (colleges and universities) are allowed to do restrict their student-athletes,” said Deborah Zexter, an attorney and part time instructor at the University of La Verne. “To be on the team and play for the school, they are allowed to give these types of restrictions.”

“It’s basic contract law,” said Justin Janzen, an attorney and also a part time instructor at La Verne. “When student-athletes sign the contract to be part of the team, it overrules the basic amendment laws.”

In the end, the best way these institutions can protect themselves and their student-athletes is to set a policy that is strict but still allows them to use these networking sites. It will be very difficult to get them to stop using it all together. With a signed contract or agreement, schools and athletes can both get what they want, which is decreasing the chance of embarrassment while still being accessible on these Web sites. Yet, every school and student-athlete is different, so the way cases may be handled will vary. However there is no doubt that is problem will continue to arise for colleges and universities and its athletes if there is nothing done to contain potential trouble for both parties involved.