Exposure

Sports stars are celebrities. Constant exposure in and out of their sport through mediums like ESPN, FOX Sports, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet makes every move these athletes make are analyzed. This can lead to over exposure and why athletes, when accused of crimes, can work either for or against them.

Athletes who in the media are portrayed as nice or a 'good guy' may be treated differently than an athlete portrayed as a 'trouble maker'. For example, when Adam 'Pacman' Jones was in legal trouble, the media showed video of Adam being booked into jail or other unfavorable footage that painted him in a negative light.



A popular athlete like Ben Rothlisberger was accused of rape earlier this year. Reports on ESPN put Rothlisberger in a good light, letting him be interviewed to declare his innocence. Reporters even attack the accuser right from the start whether they know all the facts or not.


Media outlets can change public opinion and either save or destroy a player's career, but this doesn't seem fair. News outlets like this should be unbiased when dealing with stories that may sway public opinion about legal troubles of athletes. But with stardom in sports comes the celebrity which means more attention, and more problems.