THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS

If sport reflects real life, then I don't like the current reflection in the mirror. There have been two events recently that crystallized for me what that reflection reveals about our culture. The first incident occurred on Wednesday, September 15 in a baseball game between the Yankees and the Blue Jays. In the 7th inning, the Yankee captain and pillar of the sports community, Derek Jeter appears to be hit on the hand by a pitch. He proceeds to jump around like he is severely hurt, and calls for the trainer to come exam his hand. The umpire awards him first base. The only problem is that video replays show clearly that the ball did not hit him and hit the bat handle, a fact that Jeter himself would have clearly known from the absence of any pain. Jeter apparently felt that the end justified the means, and getting on base was worth misrepresenting yourself to fans and teammates alike.
I believe that his actions are influenced by the kind of year that he is having. 2010 is turning out to be a highly disappointing year for him, and can be seen as the desperate act of a desperate man. He is batting only .262 with 61 RBI, well off his usual average of .300 or better. In fact, this is the first year since 2004 that his average has fallen below .300. I guess that justifies cheating.
In a second incident only several days later in football, on Sunday, September 19, Shaun Smith, a defensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs, does the unthinkable in male sports. According to his opponent on the line, Center Alex Mack of the Cleveland Browns, Smith grabbed him in his "private parts" during a play in the second quarter of the game. The referees didn't notice the foul, causing Mack to become outraged at the referees for allowing that type of play. You certainly can get an advantage by playing like that, but you cross an unspoken line between men. I can only believe that Smith, who did not make the team last year, felt that he needed to do what he needed to do. For him, the end justified the means.
I heard a similar statement from Bernie Madoff in justifying his Ponzi scheme. Weapons of mass destruction seemed like a similar exaggeration to get backing for a war. Politicians tell different groups of constituents what they want to hear to get elected. Businessmen and women hide money to avoid paying taxes.
I don't believe that the end ever justifies the means, no matter what the cause or explanation. I can only hope that honesty returns to our culture and that sports in the future will reflect that trend.