Message: Open your mind, not mouth

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

Europe has its foot-and-mouth disease and here, in the new world, we have an outbreak of foot-in-mouth.

Both, given recent events, look to have reached epidemic proportions.

They have their livestock, we have our laughingstocks. Here, you know them as Charlie Ward, Jason Williams and Julian Tavarez. There are others in the herd, of course. These are just the most recent professional athletes to spew their intolerance in public.

In the space of a week — and what a week it was — Ward publicly disparaged Jews, Williams threatened Asians and Tavarez unloaded on gays in particular and fans in general. Pretty much the John Rocker triple crown of hate, which we will not repeat here.

Suffice to say, speaking of the Braves' closer, his outburst last year did anything but slam the door on professional athletes' public bigotry. As Cubs manager Don Baylor points out, "We still haven't learned a lot from the Rocker situation."

What we have learned, or should have long since understood, is that intolerance in pro sports is no different from many other segments of society. And, in some ways, maybe it is worse.

For professional sports, and the megabucks it stuffs in the pockets of athletes unprepared for such a forum, serves to embolden some of our least enlightened minds and crass mouths. The bright lights give the perception of importance beyond merit.

For every Bill Bradley, Arthur Ashe or Roberto Clemente with a meaningful message, there are Reggie Whites, Allen Iversons or Rockers who perpetuate ignorance and stereotypes.

We tend to forget that while some athletes can make a positive social difference and, to that end, have thoughts worth sharing, most are there just to play their sports. Or, as Charles Barkley once observed about himself, "to wreak havoc on the basketball court" and not be a role model.

The problem comes when they assume, in front of open microphones or note pads, that brilliance with a jump shot or fastball bestows credibility in other areas.

Then the arrogance and ignorance of a Tavarez, Ward or Williams takes over. That's when players overly impressed with themselves and out of touch with reality get into trouble by looking down on others.

Or, as Tavarez told a press conference, "Why should I care about the fans? They're nothing but a bunch of bleeps and bleeps here (in San Francisco). That's what they are."

What Tavarez has forgotten, or never came to understand in the first place, is who makes possible the $2.3 million he is being paid this year.