Some of the biggest sports headlines of the last ten years haven't concerned events taking place on the pitch, as the private and public indiscretions and embarrassments of famous sporting figures have brought shame to their teams, their families, their sporting leagues and sometimes their countries.
Even sporting heroes are only human, something that fans are being increasingly reminded of as more luminaries fall from grace due to bad decisions or irresponsible behaviour. While some will alienate their fans permanently through their actions, other fans are more willing to give their heroes a second chance - though this isn't always a possibility.
It could be argued that the private life of golfer Tiger Woods is nobody's concern but his own, but there's no doubting that the convoluted story of his infidelity received widespread attention in 2009. What began as a story about a single incident soon exploded into a web of transgressions, which saw Woods effectively live in the shadows for a while until it was time to head to the open again in summer 2010 - where many reporters were understandably more eager to ask about the affairs than the state of his game.
It's not just golfers who fall victim to temptation though, but some offences are more serious than others. One of the most notable of the decade was the conviction of American NFL quarterback Michael Vick, after he was discovered to be staging illegal dog fights. An 18-month prison sentence followed, as well as numerous public appearances in which Vick seemed to display genuine remorse for his actions. Despite being dropped by the Atlanta Falcons when convicted, Vick was subsequently picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he still plays today.
Some scandals go beyond solitary players and can damage the reputation of an entire sport, as was the case when the true extent of steroid abuse in Major League Baseball came to light. A burgeoning issue in the 1990s, it wasn't until the last decade that investigations into use of the performance-enhancing drugs really came into the spotlight, and many major players were named and shamed accordingly. Some broadcasters are understandably worried that viewing figures on TV sports packages may drop, if pending charges for key players like Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemons are proven, as this could see them removed from the game and damage public confidence in the once-proud sporting league.
Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
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