Like It Is

Seminoles QB owes women a better apology

It isn't an epidemic, but there is a disturbing trend of athletes who seem to have little regard for women.

For every guy who thinks it's OK to punch his wife or girlfriend, there are dozens more who don't, but it seems with each passing day there is another NFL player who has no respect for women.

Obviously, this is a national issue and isn't restricted to professional athletes. It is a crime that is not bound by race, creed, color or economics. And it is my understanding that the police and sheriff departments, at least locally, are still quick to respond to calls regarding domestic violence and are sympathetic and helpful.

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston is just the latest to act like a narcissistic, ignorant idiot.

The quarterback for Florida State, the defending national champion ranked No. 1 in the nation, climbed up on a table Tuesday in the student union -- a public place on the FSU campus -- so everyone could hear him shout an obscene and disgusting phrase.

Apparently dozens of people heard Winston's lewd comment, including women. Maybe the phrase is being heard somewhat frequently because of a meme making its way around the Internet, but it isn't funny to decent people. It is more than inappropriate. It wasn't amusing. It was sickening and offensive.

After acting as if the lights are on but no one is at home, Winston has apologized to the university, his coaches and his teammates. He also promised to work harder on the football field to bring greater glory to FSU.

Not once did he apologize to the women who heard his outrageous comment.

FSU has benched him for the first half of Saturday's game against Clemson. He also will undergo internal discipline.

This is the same guy who has been in trouble for carrying a pellet gun near campus, stealing crab legs from a supermarket and, most concerning, accused of sexually assaulting another student. Prosecutors declined to file charges in that case.

The fact that the news release announcing his suspension came from FSU's interim president Garnett Stokes and Athletic Director Stan Wilcox leaves some doubt whether Coach Jimbo Fisher would have done anything.

Like it or not, Winston has become the face of Seminoles football.

On his way to winning the Heisman Trophy last season, the native of Bessemer, Ala., led FSU to an undefeated season and racked up enough trophies -- including The Associated Press Player of the Year -- to add a wing to the Seminoles' trophy room.

Oh, and he plays on the baseball team.

With fame and glory comes responsibility, something Winston seems unable to recognize.

No doubt he'll declare for the NFL after this season because this is his second season to play after a redshirt year. One can only wonder whether this recent incident will be a red flag for NFL teams, considering the amount of scrutiny the NFL has come under because of recent scandals involving domestic violence.

It is becoming clearer every day that winning at any cost really isn't acceptable anymore among the masses.

Something else to watch will be how much Heisman Trophy attention the 20-year-old quarterback gets this year. There is a morals clause that all voters are made aware of.

Maybe he doesn't care. Maybe one is enough for him.

Maybe a half-game suspension is time enough for the crime. At least FSU officials took some action.

Maybe in a few weeks this will all be forgotten. Or maybe Winston thinks he can do and say whatever he wants when he wants.

One thing that is certain is that he didn't apologize to those who were subjected to his potty-mouth, especially the women for whom he seems to have little regard or respect.

Sports on 09/18/2014

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