There is a question whether there is enough Directors and Officers Coverage and Employer's Liability Insurance for professional sports, starting with the football league. It is pretty clear from the evidence in a report which the owners themselves paid for, that they are going to face claims that they are running some of the most hostile work environments in the world. See Ben Shpigel, "'A Classic Case' of Bullying Seen in an N.F.L. Team / Miami Abuse Detailed / Report Says Crude Acts Included Racial Slurs and Homophobia," p. A1, col. 1 (New York Times Nat'l ed., Saturday, February 15, 2014).
So, what made some people think that when the kind of people who are good at nothing else in their lives but playing football get older, that for some reason they necessarily morph into good people if they aren't already a good person to be around? Or role models? Or mature adults? I guess that may be an issue for owners and the coaches they employ. It certainly seems to be an issue already for sponsors of these professional leagues. See Juliet Macur, "Sports of the Times / N.F.L. Sponsors Need to Act" p. B9, col. 3 (New York Times Nat'l ed., "SportsSaturday" Section, Saturday, February 15, 2014). Sponsors who pay money to advertise these groups of people have the pleasant option of conditioning payment on compliance with certain minimum levels of acceptable behavior.
If the sponsors do not require compliance, others may say that the sponsors are complicit, now that they have to know what they are sponsoring. Continuing to sponsor the same repulsive behavior without requiring change just may not be acceptable now, either.
© 2014 by Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved. No claim to original U.S. Government works.
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