Integrity in sports?

Listening to sports talk radio in my car and every other word I hear is about keeping the integrity of a sport.  This got me to think about the history of the major sports leagues and wonder if they follow the rules that they impose, and if there is a double standard with the participants/employees/partners of these games.  This will be a series of exploration, because I have uncovered waaaay to much information for 1 blog.  Growing up in a sports family, I never looked at the big picture until it began to effect me.  The powers that run the games live by a total different set of rules than those that play the game.  The sad thing is that, the players of the game are harder on each other than the leagues could ever be.  @MoneLynch aka Marshawn (Beast Mode) Lynch has knowingly or un knowingly raised awareness to the power of a brand.  His refusal to give the bare minimum to reporters has been demonized by the mass media, but he fulfilled his obligation and in turn he has shown, that controlling your own content is power!!!  

The picture above of Legarrette Blount further shows the crabs in the barrel mentality that needs to be broken.  I don't know mr. Blount but he can take a page out of Marshawn's book instead of following the all to familiar status quo. (Break someone down to build yourself up).  Understanding the true power of your value changes the game and the conversation.  My father unknowingly had the luck and foresight to have good people in his corner that took a gamble on his appeal.  He was a free agent in boxing before there was such a thing and in turn, did not have to sign with promoters, because he controlled his brand.  @FloydMayweather is doing the same thing now.  @MoneyLynch will become the highest paid running back in the game, and has the opportunity to be one of the highest paid athletes if he can leverage and control his brand.  This is power and it levels the playing field.  The double standard of rules changes when you have something of value and know the power of it.  

Ok, so I went in a round about way of to discuss the double standard in sports and entertainment.  I did this to emphasize a point, that when you are in control you can adjust the narrative and rules to fit you.  The NFL unilaterally imposed a new personal conduct plan outside of the union and controlled the conversation through the media.  Although it is a good thing to have stronger stance on the issues that the league faces, there is a reason that the standards are collectively bargained!!  The general public will say that these athletes make so much money that they shouldn't complain.  WOW!  Its all relative.  Let me have mr. Einstein explain relativity: 


Einstein stated that the theory of relativity belongs to a class of "principle-theories". As such it employs an analytic method. This means that the elements which comprise this theory are not based on hypothesis but on empirical discovery. The empirical discovery leads to understanding the general characteristics of natural processes. Mathematical models are then developed to describe accurately the observed natural processes. Therefore, by analytical means the necessary conditions that have to be satisfied are deduced. Separate events must satisfy these conditions. Experience should then match the conclusions.


Did I lose you on that one?  Simply put, The majority of employers won't spend over 20% of gross revenue to pay for employees and this holds true in the NFL and other major leagues, no matter how much they try to convince you it is a true partnership.  


This is just a little "food for thought" teaser.  I will bring it all together in my next series of blogs and hopefully we can answer the initial question.  I welcome your comments.


Ray