Sportsfluenza: The Result of Not Holding Athletes Accountable for Bad Behavior
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SPORTSFLUENZA: THE RESULT OF NOT HOLDING
ATHLETES ACCOUNTABLE FOR BAD BEHAVIOR
STEPHANIE S.E. SMITH
INTRODUCTION
I apologize for letting down my family, teammates, this
organization and the fans. ... However, words aren't
enough. This is something that can only be addressed by
how I handle myselffrom this point on. ... While I won't be
there at the start of the regular season, I will do whatever I
can to support my teammates until I'm able to return to the
field.
Only twelve days after issuing the above public apology for violat-
ing the National Football League's (NFL) substance abuse policy, Sheldon
Richardson was arrested in Missouri for drag-racing in his 2014 Bentley.2
Police clocked Richardson at speeds as high as 143 miles per hour, and re-
ported that he ran a red light and lost control of the vehicle in an attempt to
evade arrest.3 When Richardson finally pulled over and stepped out of the
car, the car and its passengers allegedly smelled ... of burned marijuana.A
The events of that night demonstrated Richardson's nonchalance and com-
plete disregard for the law, reducing his former apology to a mere formality
lacking any true conviction.
The public is constantly exposed to news stories about talented ath-
letes, like Richardson, who are involved in similar incidences of criminal
J.D. Candidate, University of Alabama School of Law, 2016; Political Science, B.S.,
Middle Tennessee State University, 2013. This note is dedicated to my parents, Stuart and
Susan Smith, for their constant encouragement and endless support. I would also like to
thank Bryan Fair, Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law, University of Alabama School of
Law, for the term sportsfluenza.
I Paul Schwartz, Jets' Sheldon Richardson Banned 4 Games for Marifuana, NEW
YORK POST (Jul. 2, 2015), http://nypost.com/2015/07/02/jets-sheldon-richardson-banned-4-
games-for-drugs/ (Sheldon Richardson's public apology made to the press on July 2, 2015
after the National Football League released that Richardson would be suspended for four
games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.).
2 Rich Cimini, Jets' Sheldon Richardson Charged With Resisting Arrest 12 Days After
Ban, ESPN (Jul. 31, 2015), http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/13349610/sheldon-
richardson-newyork-jets-charged-resisting-arrest; PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT, O'FALLON
MISSOURI STATE DEPARTMENT, Jul. 18, 2015, available at
http://www.stltoday.com/online/probable-cause-statement-for-richardson-
incident/pdfd6b87d5b-8802-518d-9c26-3affel 6697f7.html [hereinafter POST].
POST, supra note 2.
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Sportsfluenza: The Result of Not Holding Athletes Accountable for Bad Behavior
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