Written by Steelers’ quarterback Dwayne Haskins was recently involved in a tragic fatal accident on April 9, 2022. As his family, fans, and the sport mourned his loss, sportswriter and analyst Adam Schefter came out with an inappropriate and unprofessional message on Twitter.
Schefter wrote, “Dwayne Haskins, a standout at Ohio State before struggling to catch on with Washington and Pittsburgh in the NFL, died this morning when he got hit by a car in South Florida, per his agent Cedric Saunders. Haskins would have turned 25 years old on May 3.” Schefter later apologized and deleted his tweet after he was slammed by athletes, writers, and fans.
Bringing Haskins’ career into his eulogy was improper, unscrupulous, and represented the respect and civility that is sometimes neglected in the sports world.
Schefter recognized he made a mistake and made a large effort to correct himself. Yes, at the end of the day athletes’ performance and ability plays a major role in their career; but writers, critics, fans, staff, and coaches occasionally forget that negative criticism is not healthy and high-performance athletes are humans too. Sports have evolved past just competition. It has created communities, friendships, and respect for others. It is ignorant to base an athlete’s impact on the sports world solely on their physical performance. Being part of a team or organization has so many other factors of success. We as a community should not be so quick to put down athletes or organizations for their shortcomings when we do not recognize their achievements.
Adverse comments and unsung efforts from Coaches, enthusiasts, and critics have been a huge problem in the culture of sports. It can create toxic relationships and environments for everyone involved in the organization. Coaches occasionally fail to communicate that they are there to guide and support athletes. It can lead to conflicts, destructive mental health, and a renounced love for the sport. Culture in sports is so important because it can bring together anyone from different occupations together and should never be a negative domain.