The Psychology of Sports
By Dr. Richard Lustberg and Charles Deitch

 On The Couch: An Analysis of Current Topics and Issues in Sport
January 12, 2005

The Roulette Wheel of Justice In Sport

In light of the alleged crimes and actions committed by such sports figures as Jermaine O’Neil, Ron Artest, Todd Bertuzzi, Jayson Williams, Kobe Bryant, O.J Simpson, and a plethora of other athletes with charges ranging from DUI to rape – and the outcome of the cases -- it has led many to ask questions about the fairness of the law in this country.

It has also created a good degree of psychological consternation as well. Here’s why.

It seems that every time a star athlete commits a crime, we spin the roulette wheel of justice. Regardless of the crime and allegations, it seems like athletes have just as much chance of being set free as being convicted.

• David Stern found this out most recently when the courts overruled his suspension of Jermaine O’Neil after a brawl with fans. Steve Moore who is unable to play hockey after he took a vicious beating from Todd Bertuzzi, also found it out when his attacker reached a plea bargain that won’t even leave him with a criminal record.

• The final punishment is still in doubt for Jayson Williams, but it appears he is not going too far away either for the shooting death of a limo driver, while a family mourns the loss of a loved one.

• And let’s not forget about Denise Brown, and the Goldman family, as they still deal with the alleged actions of O.J Simpson after almost a decade.

Preferential treatment, arbitrary application of the law, and unfairness are psychologically difficult to deal with for many. You can see it in the way we obsessively talk about it at dinner tables, water-coolers and in psychologists’ offices across this country. However it is not too difficult to explain when put into the context of both historical and current events.

Despite the fact that our founding fathers professed that all men were created equal, overwhelming historical evidence shows they really didn’t really mean it. It is a fact that this country was founded largely by a rich aristocracy whose fortunes, status and livelihoods were being jeopardized and stifled by the “true” aristocracy back in England . They have remained largely in control with few exceptions for well over 200 years with no end in sight.  Athletes have become part of this aristocracy.

The concepts of equity, fairness and justice are just that – concepts. In reality these ideals are randomly, and at times, whimsically applied. There is not one set of laws in this land, but a mosaic of millions of laws that are randomly and arbitrarily applied. 

It has been my experience as a psychologist that people have great difficulty dealing with what they feel are arbitrary and whimsical actions as well as the ingrained inequities that exist in our society.

They are angered by unfair work practices, a lack of reciprocity in the breakups of their relationships, and simple social slights such as not having a greeting of hello returned. This leads to emotional discomfort, instability and often reactive behaviors. 

Patients constantly profess that others “should have acted in a certain way” or that “they could see how another individual would act, as they would have felt the same way had it happened with to them.” The trouble is that there are no “shoulds” or “constants” for us to stabilize ourselves with, so we create our own.

All are attempts to deal with the ever unpredictable and unexplainable place in which we live-which of course includes the world of sports. 

We then emotionally argue amongst ourselves, as witnessed by the intense reactions people have when the aforementioned athletes act the way they do. Respect for other people’s opinions albeit emotionally based, becomes almost non-existent. 

The crimes, punishments and consequences that athletes like Bryant, Bertuzzi and Simpson et al, have been, or not been, given are direct reflections of both their status, and the long-standing, inherently-built inequities in our system.  History is replete with stories of unequal justice for minorities, politicians, athletes, as well as the rest of us.

You don’t necessarily have to commit a major crime to experience inequality. The different amounts each of us pay for parking, speeding and jaywalking tickets as well as who is chosen to get them are perfect examples.

The alleged crimes and actions of certain athletes bring out these same intense emotions in us. It seems that many of these allegations have transcended the world of the average sports fans.

Many are shaking their heads in disbelief of the outcomes because their moral values have been violated, and their psyches rocked.

But the disbelief of the fans come more from their emotional makeup than fact and historical data. If they’re not used to the rich and famous getting preferential treatment by now, chances are they never will.