Philadelphia--The City of Brotherly Thugs

Send us your tired, your poor...your washed-up athletes with anger management issues and broken moral compasses yearning to get big paychecks and wreak havoc on a sports team.

Oh wait.  It's New York that has a claim on that line, at least the beginning of it.  And a noble line it is, but we here in Philly have happily bastardized the second part and appear to be firmly embracing the concept.

First it was the Eagles hiring Michael Vick, the once promising NFL quarterback who served time for his participation in a deplorable dog fighting ring in Virginia.  The howls that resonated after it was learned that Vick would be getting his "second chance" at big money and big fame redemption here in Philadelphia reverberated throughout the city--and they weren't just from frightened dogs.  Fans registered disgust, but hey, Vick was a draw, so who cares that he sent innocent animals to their deaths for sport?

And now, the genius powers that be in the sports world here in Philly have done it again.

Let's have yet another round of applause for Allen Iverson, the 34-year-old spoiled brat of basketball who now, thanks to a decision that has lots of folks choking back a gag reflex, is once more a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.

According the the Philadelphia Daily New's Phil Jasner, the franchise is "desperate" for several things.  In the wake of injuries, the team needs a guard who can "control the ball, draw a double-team, get to the rim, score, draw fouls and, heaven help us, find open teammates."  If you're looking strictly at talent, I suppose Iverson is up to the challenge.

But I'm more inclined to believe that the Sixers are tossing in their lot with the little guard with a big mouth for another reason: They need the press.  The Sixers are in trouble; their games generate about as much excitement as a Canasta game at a nursing home.  So why not sign a resident bad boy to shake things up?  It'll be great for ticket sales and maybe the guy can even score some points and rescue the season from oblivion.

Why not, indeed?  I suppose that in a statement which gives away my sheer ignorance about anything and everything sports, I'd say simply because it's the wrong thing to do.

When are we going to stop rewarding bad behavior with big, fat paychecks?  From bank executives to cry baby athletes, America has become the land that welcomes not the "huddled masses yearning to be free," but the greedy, who spend their time looking for a way to wring every last penny out of the public that ultimately pays their salaries.

The economic implications are a whole other discussion, but as far as athletes go, I'm also inclined to be ridiculously old-fashioned and maintain that yes, professional men who play games for a living do have an obligation to the public as role models.  In other words, we should expect them to behave themselves, conducting their lives with some measure of decorum because, like it or not, the public, especially our kids, look up to them.  And if not acting like a jackass in public is the price they have to pay for the adulation and yes, the big bucks, well boo hoo, that's too bad.

But until we stop excusing deplorable behavior, and especially making Philadelphia a stop on the gravy train for every trouble maker who dons a sports uniform, we can expect to hold onto our city's reputation as home to loudmouths and bullies--from players to fans.

I wonder if Tiger Woods is looking for a new place to play?  We don't have a famous pro golfer who calls Philly home, but I think there's a spot open on the roster for a womanizer.  I'm sure we can fit him in.

Original post to Philly Moms Blog.  Mary Fran Bontempo also writes at www.maryfranbontempo.com and at EsspressoLatteMocha.