There is nothing like a good old-fashioned political scandal to obfuscate the truth. In this case, the truth is that Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo is facing tough competition in her re-election campaign. Fortunately for her, fellow mayoral candidate Leonard Padilla glommed on to old accusations of sexual impropriety with a minor by well-known candidate Kevin Johnson in order to bewilder and confuse the good, caring voter. The truth is that Mayor Fargo cannot run on her merit, so a scandal might be her best bet.
But what Fargo did not count on is that many voters feel that she’s dishing out the justice. Together with the Sacramento Bee editors, established political kingmakers made sure that Johnson has been tried, convicted and sentenced in the court of public opinion.
Remember when Arnold Schwarzeneg-ger was accused of being a “groper?” Oh, how the media relished that issue, playing the accusations repeatedly, all while assisting his challenger in the inevitable take down. But the manipulators forget that voters actually do have the ability to reason and the olfactory senses that are so necessary for smelling a rat. Witness the election of Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2003 and not that of “Governor” Cruz Bustamante.
Professional athletes have certainly had their issues surrounding sex and violence. However, what few people are willing to talk about is the professional athlete as a victim—not of crimes affecting his person, but of attacks to his public persona. Kevin Johnson, a former NBA All-Star, is a man with a target on his back, someone to steal from, frame or otherwise swindle.
Today’s professional athlete cannot walk to his hotel room without women lurking about, waiting for opportunity. Golfers on the PGA tour report flocks of groupie women throwing their proverbial panties at them, attempting pickups and hook-ups at every restaurant and bar on the tour, just for a piece of the famous (and rich) guy.
We have no idea what famous professional athletes go through. Some guys love the attention the way Wilt Chamberlain and Magic Johnson did. And yes, even as protected as they are by the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and the PGA, they are vulnerable. Female predators are just as dangerous as their male counterparts, and usually more emotionally unstable and economically demanding.
Pro athletes are more aggressive, more confident and bigger risk takers than the average man or woman. And some are just jerks, just like the average guy or gal. Most athletes just wanted to play basketball, baseball, football or golf. The fame was a ticket out, as well as a side effect. But did any of these talented men ask for throngs of women to hunt them down at every turn? Did they want to be marked as easy prey for predatory women?
“Their (players’) prominence means they will take much more heat from the media and the public for similar situations that befall other people with normal lives,” said Tom “Satch” Sanders, Vice President of Player Programs for the NBA, to the Sports Business Journal.
“Everyone feels that athletes have to take the good with the bad, the glory with the negative publicity. However, no one appreciates the broad-brush application that is applied in so many instances,” he added. “Of the few thousand that play sport on the highest level, if four or five individuals in each sport – particularly if they are black – have problems with the law, people won’t have long to wait before some media people are talking about all those athletes.”
Does this demand a blind eye be turned when allegations and accusations are hurled at pro-athletes or the famous? No, anything but—claims found legitimate by law enforcement officials should be investigated and examined, especially in instances like Johnson’s which involve minors. If those accusations prove to be worth merit, then the criminal justice system of this country will take charge. But one must remember the protections of the accused and the great law this land holds true for all citizens: that we are all innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson has been tried and convicted in the media on what has unfortunately become customary; the forced public frisk of professional athletes by newspapers and media agents aided by mysterious women and hidden accusers. And because he is a famous, professional NBA star, it’s a media shakedown.
God help anyone who wants to run for political office; you either have to be willing to live with the horrifying, negative media, or be as dull as Mayor Fargo.