The treatment of athletes as compared to ordinary people in the eyes of the law has brought up controversy for years; however, being successful in sports should not give someone an advantage when it comes to following the law.
The debate over athletes’ special treatment in courtrooms has existed for years, with OJ Simpson’s case being a well-known example of the connection between celebrity status and the justice system.
Simpson was a star National Football League and University of Southern California football running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 and led the nation in rushing yards. He became the center of national attention when he was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in 1994. Although he was acquitted in the 1995 criminal trial, he was later found responsible for their deaths in a separate civil case.
“Simpson was such a famous and beloved football player,” said Greg Moretti, Biology and Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher. “That that could have influenced the jury to think, ‘well, he couldn’t have possibly done this.’”
Simpson’s infamy generated an abundance of media exposure and a deeply divided public opinion over his guilt, raising questions as to whether an athlete’s fame can lead to them being treated any differently under the law.
Professional athletes are citizens like everyone else and should follow the same laws. Being famous or talented at a sport does not give someone the right to avoid consequences for their actions.
“Athletes are [not] above the law because [they] happen to make a living off of sports,” said junior Jaiden Ou. “We all need to live under the same laws and expectations otherwise our country and government will no longer work.”
Beyond following the same laws as everyone else, athletes must consider the influence they have on younger generations. Professional athletes have millions of young fans who look up to them as role models.
“Holding professional athletes accountable teaches younger generations that everyone should take responsibility for their actions, no matter how famous or successful they are,” said sophomore Gabby Vasquez Orozco. “It shows that making mistakes has consequences, and that people should learn from them.”
Another issue is how an athlete’s status can influence public perception. Fans may defend their favorite players because they admire them or do not want to believe they did something wrong.
“If my favorite athlete committed a crime I definitely wouldn’t believe any accusations against them until concrete evidence is presented,” said freshman Kayden Santander.
While fame can influence public opinion and athletes’ responsibilities as role models, it can also give them advantages that ordinary people don’t have. These advantages can include access to expensive, top-tier lawyers and connections to powerful people who can influence their cases. Their fame can also lead the public to give them the benefit of the doubt before all the facts are known. These vital advantages make it even more important that athletes are held to the same standards as everyone else.
Professional athletes should never receive special treatment because of their fame or status, as they aren’t above the law. No matter how famous or successful an athlete is, everyone should be held accountable for their actions and treated equally under the law.
