Most Damaging Story for Pro Sports?

[Hoosier_Vol]

Let's hear your opinions.......

 

[Fine Vol]

Baseball because it affects future homerun records. The roids make it hard to know if a HR record should go down in the record books or not.

 

[GAVol]

If the NBA problem is isolated to one rogue referee, then no big deal and I'd say it's steroids in baseball. But uf they find more than one, it's the type of thing that could set the league back years.

 

[allvol123]

I would say NBA is the worst, but the NFL is a much more important league and the dog story hits home more with the average joe. So I will go with the NFL story.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I think it's the Vino doping issue at the Tour de France, which is already so low on the sporting scope that it can't afford the setback. The other sports can find a way to survive.

 

[droski]

everyone in baseball was (and probably still is) taking steriods. If we find out this guy actually rigged playoff games? what could possibly be worse for any league?

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Baseball because it affects future homerun records. The roids make it hard to know if a HR record should go down in the record books or not.

Only until A-Rod clocks another 5-7 seasons...not that long in baseball years..

 

[Lexvol]

While I think it is unfair, I agree with GA. The baseball issue will be the one we are still talking about in 5 years. The writers are going to keep this up, and the league will have to find some way to reconcile all the numbers and records put up in what will be known as the steriod era.

Basketball and football will resolve these issues rather quickly. On a side note it was very interesting to hear Stern lay his cards on the table today in regards to measures the NBA takes to avoid gambling scandals.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Given the question as asked... "most damaging in pro sports"...

It would have to go to the biggest sport's biggest problem. Mike Vick, coupled with Adam Jones and the other off field stories this NFL offseason make football's troubles with it's athletes read like an implosion of discipline in the country's now most popular sport. Steroids, though playing out in this decade through Bonds, are also not a 'right now' story. Vick et al win this one...

 

[Lexvol]

Given the question as asked... "most damaging in pro sports"...

It would have to go to the biggest sport's biggest problem. Mike Vick, coupled with Adam Jones and the other off field stories this NFL offseason make football's troubles with it's athletes read like an implosion of discipline in the country's now most popular sport. Steroids, though playing out in this decade through Bonds, are also not a 'right now' story. Vick et al win this one...

It is certainly going to set the Atlanta franchise back a bit. I wonder if the NFL is beginning to regret its new hard line stance?

 

[orange+white=heaven]

I think it's the Vino doping issue at the Tour de France, which is already so low on the sporting scope that it can't afford the setback. The other sports can find a way to survive.

On the world stage you would have to be correct.
When doping was the problem of us interloping yanks, the Euro's had an upright sense of pure possession of their beloved sport. With a trickle down effect now in play, the world's second most popular sport is in full on peril.

Stateside of course, the story has about as much impact as a steroids in hockey scandal would..

 

[Hoosier_Vol]

Here's is my two cents on it all...

The baseball thing is probably the biggest because the HR record is one of the most sacred in all o sports. Now everytime someone hits 50+ homers you wonder if he's on the juice?

The Vick story is huge because like like allvol said this is just inhuman and more people and fans are talking it personal. I think the new policy in the NL will help the sport stay strong because if you screw up your sitting out a large amount of time or could be done for good. That is the stance all major pro sports needs to take.

I aknow the NBA story is huge but I think the NBA has already lost the average sports fan way before this so it won't have as near of an effect. I think most NBA fans stoped watching after the Jordan Era.

I didn't include the Tour de France because I'd say 95% of American's could careless for it. JMO

 

[kptvol]

Vick is the least damaging. He's one man and does not represent the entire league. The other two scandals present potential league-wide corruption. Once Vick is gone, the scandal is resolved. How will MLB and NBA right their wrongs?

Additionally, the NFL is not going to lose any popularity at all as a result of the Vick scandal. I'm not so sure the other leagues can say the same.

 

[Teddyhead]

Sorry I posted this in another thread and then saw this one, so please forgive me. It goes with the Vick dog fight scandal being the most damaging, by FAR. NBA comes in close second.

Let me just say I find this whole Mike Vick/Atlanta Falcon/Poor tortured to death dog saga to be one of the most sensational ever, so forgive me if my post is long. You don’t need to read it mind you.

Dude, totally! It would be awesome to see a Pac 10 alum sweep in and surprise everyone as the comeback player of the year. I think Joey could have a big year based on his continual underachievement and desire to prove his potential, is much more than just potential. One could easily argue he would have done much better last year in Miami had he had even a shadow of an offense to support him. What a bad situation to be put in. On the flipside of this whole saga I was pleased to see the commissioners press conference today. He stepped in like the federal government would in a dispute with a politician. This was not going to be handled by the local cops (Blank) no, this was serious enough for the president (Goodell) to get involved. If Blank had suspended him the case would have gone to arbitration, and Vick would have been on the field in another week. I am however, somewhat miffed by the comments from Blank. While he was prepared to institute the maximum four game penalty, he almost seemed to somehow empathize with Vick. Wow! That was unexpected! In any event I admire Blank, and I wont hold this against the poor guy. He’s been through enough, what with the trauma of this whole thing. Nice to hear he still has that little NY twang in his voice. Classy guy, screwed by a not so classy guy.

 

[lawgator1]

Here's is my two cents on it all...

The baseball thing is probably the biggest because the HR record is one of the most sacred in all o sports. Now everytime someone hits 50+ homers you wonder if he's on the juice?

The Vick story is huge because like like allvol said this is just inhuman and more people and fans are talking it personal. I think the new policy in the NL will help the sport stay strong because if you screw up your sitting out a large amount of time or could be done for good. That is the stance all major pro sports needs to take.

I aknow the NBA story is huge but I think the NBA has already lost the average sports fan way before this so it won't have as near of an effect. I think most NBA fans stoped watching after the Jordan Era.

I didn't include the Tour de France because I'd say 95% of American's could careless for it. JMO

Exactly right. The Bary Bonds issue on the homerun record is weighing so heavily on the league, that nothing else matters. Only the diehard fans are tlaking pennant races right now. The silent majority of us, who really only watch when the playoffs arrive, have a passive eye on the Bonds situation, but its what people think of right now when they think baseball.

Will Hammring Hank relent and congratulate Barry?

Is there a racial element to this?

Is Bonds lying?

Will the ball be worth a plug nickel?

Etc., etc. And as you say, its going to keep going for a long, long time. No one will break it, so there will always be a question of who has the real record.

 

[allvol123]

Vick is the least damaging. He's one man and does not represent the entire league. The other two scandals present potential league-wide corruption. Once Vick is gone, the scandal is resolved. How will MLB and NBA right their wrongs?

Additionally, the NFL is not going to lose any popularity at all as a result of the Vick scandal. I'm not so sure the other leagues can say the same.

I would say the NFL has a larger percentage of casual fans and would have more to lose. This type of thing turns off the casual fan. The NBA is more of a hardcore fan base I would think. As long as this is limited to one ref, don't see any of them being turned away.