EDITORIAL
Violence in sports must be halted now

Escalating violence surrounding sporting events is an appalling sign of the times. The Aloha State, sadly, is no longer immune. And it's time for parents of athletes and those in charge of Island teams and leagues to pull their heads out of the sand.

You know the situation is getting out of hand here when the Hawai'i Legislature seriously considers a bill to criminalize attacks on referees and umpires.

Of course, it's already against the law to attack anyone — whether or not they're wearing zebra stripes. But what's proposed would make it a more serious offense to attack those officiating at games.

Creating a special class of citizens whose protection is somehow more important than the protection of the rest of us simply isn't the way to go.

We realize there are exceptions such as protections for police officers and prison guards; this is not in that category.

But the underlying problem must be taken seriously and effectively addressed.

It's not just because athletic events will suffer when referees and umpires start refusing to volunteer to undergo abuse. It's much more.

We're seeing a breakdown in civility and sportsmanship in athletics that is a painful reflection on our community. What message does taking down a referee send to our younger athletes? The same goes for attacks on and by players, fans and even parents.

It's a shameful pattern that unfortunately is showing up at the high school and youth league levels, as it trickles down from the win-at-any-cost culture that has developed around college and professional sports. And it's a sorry state of affairs when professional athletes — role models for our kids — are taking steroids, talking trash or getting hauled into court for their off-the-court behavior.

Sports lovers in the Islands must intercede, providing decent and caring mentoring for our aspiring young athletes. They must be set on a path of sportsmanship and solid citizenship.

And many of our best athletes do just that, contributing their time and talents to help others who share their love for sports.

As for misbehavior at athletic events, the leagues working with parents and coaches need tougher penalties for athletes, coaches and even parents who step out of line. And we'd suggest not only suspending the individual involved, but also a team sanction.

Perhaps peer pressure will make athletes and others think twice before letting off steam.

That would help us get back to the basic premise of good sportsmanship: It's not who wins or loses — but how you play the game.