Racism happens everyday and everywhere. It is a complex issue which occurs at many different levels. In sports racism is happening more often and becoming a bigger issue . Leagues such as the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball Association believe that they are implementing rules which will diminish the occurrences of racism within the league. Players feel as though the leagues and associations are only aggravating the problem when trying to deal with it. But when we look at the whole picture we see how the leagues feel as though they have to do something since it is definitely not the image that they want to convey to a youthful society as role models.

A big controversy that is still dragging on, is one that involves relief pitcher John Rocker of the Atlanta Braves baseball club. Earlier this year, Rocker made some derogatory, sexist, and racist remarks about the city of New York and the people who lived there, to Sports Illustrated magazine. Since this did not take place during a game and on his own terms the league was stuck in a dilemma. Should they take action against what he did or not do anything since it was something that did not take place within the league. Bu

t since no one else would do anything , the league felt obligated to do something, seeing that Rocker was looked at as an employee of the league. The 22 game suspension the league handed down to Rocker sparked controversy, and only made him look and feel like a cruel person. If the league had decided not too do anything who knows maybe this issue may have slowly dissipated as time went on. If this would have been the case perhaps people could forgive and forget. But Rocker was now faced with a new challenge. Since he did make remarks toward the city of New York including his racist remarks, Rocker did not think about how he would have to face his teammates who are black and perhaps offended by his comments. By

A few months after this has dragged on matter seem to have settled down. Afterwards, Rocker had conferences one on one with each of his teammates and addressed the public as well. At the moment things seem to be going smoothly. But there is still alot of speculation about aftershock of the situation. Seeing that Rocker is yet to make his baseball return to New York. Where there is no love lost between Rocker and the Mets Fans. As well as just facing other teams who may have been offended by what he has done. This is something that Rocker will have to deal with the rest of his life, and he should be thankful that the league punished him of what he did to make him realize how much of an effect he had on people for what he said.

Aside from racial slurs during sporting events there are other concerns. Professional organization were attempting to find the root of the problem. They found that under the 1974 Civil Rights Act, Pub

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Approximate Word count = 1110
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)