The Eternally Unhappy Fan Base Against The Athlete's Growing Ego

I know my post blogs have not resulted in a lot of comments, maybe this mildly
controversial topic withh change that trend. Speak up I'm interested in what you have to
say about this topic.

 Seattle Seahawk All-Pro Cornerback Richard Sherman was
  blasted by many different sources following his behavior following the NFC
  Championship game. He was labeled a selfish thug whose actions detracted from
  the tremendous success of the team. Conversely, there is Marshawn Lynch,
  Seattle’s Pro Bowl running back, who is receiving what appears to be unwanted
  attention because of his reluctance to speak up during the Super Bowl’s media
  day. He spoke for a total of 7 minutes and 25 seconds. The NFL did not fine him
  because he fulfilled his obligations. Yes, players can be fined for remaining
  silent and hidden form the spotlight. These are classic examples of “damned if
  you do and damned if you don’t.” When offering an opinion regarding these
  vastly different personalities, it is easy to blame the athlete for not
  behaving appropriately. Many feel Sherman is a self-centered loudmouth, whereas
  Lynch is also selfish because he chose a profession in the public eye and he
  should give the public what it wants. But consider for a moment that it is not
  the players who are being self-centered, but rather the complaining fan and the
  public in general. Are we as fans selfish in thinking that these professionals
  owe it to us to behave in a way we deem acceptable? The truth is these athletes
  owe the fans one thing; to do everything in their power to be the best on the
  field, court, track… 
 
Another factor sometimes ignored by the fan is there
might be a specific method to their madness. Sherman’s trash talk definitely
plays a role in the on-field success. He is finding ways to use the opponent’s
own mind and ego to work against that opponent. He also seems to have figured
out how to harness emotions to improve his performance. The 49ers threw to a
Sherman covered receiver only two times. But with less than 2 minutes in the
game, Sherman seemed to flip the switch and make the best play of the playoffs
during a game in which he had next to no involvement. How could emotions not
play a role? Then there is Lynch. He seems to be the type of player who might
become distracted when the media spotlight corners him. If he is a shy person,
the fear of the spotlight brought on by the Super Bowl can be a paralyzing force
  that prevents him from being at his best come Sunday. I wonder if this was the
  case for many of the Denver Broncos. The point is these are two elite guys are
  the pinnacle of their professions. Therefore, it seems their contrasting
strategies are working. They have carved out amazing paths to greatness. Sure
their actions can rub us the wrong way, can be distasteful, and we can be
annoyed. But they are athletes and as fans, we cannot start believe they owe us
to behave according to our own personal standards. I shared this entry with a
  friend and former athlete who said he disagreed because the organization, team,
  and the NFL can hold these players to a higher standard. These players
ultimately represent the teams and the NFL. He also said that if his boss
required him to speak at a public event, like media day for the Super Bowl, then
had better get his ass up to the podium. I argue that whether the fans, coaches,
and owners like it or not, the players have the upper hand. Their physical
talents trump almost all poor, tasteless, thuggish, and selfish behaviors. Many
unlikeable players have had many shots at redemption because they are great at
what they do. Cases in point: Terrell Owens, Bill Romanowski, Luis Suarez, Randy
Moss, Sean Avery, Joey Barton, Jay Cutler. A-Rod, Kurt Busch, Ndamukong Suh,
Mike Vick, Eric Cantona, Ben Roethlisberger… The truth is that fans fuel huge
egos and poor behavior way more than they fuel honorable behavior like Barry
Sanders handing the ball to the referee after a touchdown. This is the same
reason why terrible talk shows like the Kardashians and the Real Housewives are
on TV. We, the public are attracted to it. If the fans really had a serious
problem with athlete behavior, they would stop buying tickets and stop tuning
in. 

And for the people who say these athletes are role models
to millions of kids, your right. But since sports became a form of
entertainment, there have always been athletes who were awful role models. Babe
Ruth was a heavy drinking, cigar smoker who cheated on his wife. Parents and
coaches who are concerned about their kids/players being negatively impacted by
the inappropriate behavior of athletes need to have open and honest dialogue
about why that behavior is wrong and why it should not be mimicked. Parents need
to be the most influential and powerful role model in their child’s life and
  coaches should be a close second.  
      
I think Sherman’s behavior was in poor taste. As a coach
and therapist I work hard to help athletes succeed with class. Unfortunately the
  attention these behaviors gain is a powerful force pushing these behaviors
  forward.