NFL player Ray Lewis believes that criminals are distracted by the NFL. During a recent interview with ESPN, Lewis said that he believes the crime rate will increase if the lockout extends into the NFL season.
“Do this research, if we don’t have a season, watch how much evil, which we call ‘crime,’ watch how much crime picks up if you take away our game,” Lewis said.
Obviously, Lewis wanted to make a strong point about the importance of the NFL because he could be playing in his final season. At 36, Lewis only has a few more big paydays left in the NFL. So, it would be criminal to him if he was to miss out on his final NFL season due to the lockout.
The NFL is the biggest sports entity in America, and thousands of jobs will be lost if the season is cancelled. However, sports will never be a major crime deterrent. The crime rate increases when schools fail to properly educate students; parents are unprepared to raise their kids; communities promote the continuing culture of violence; and when unemployment soars.
Sports can provide an outlet for idle minds in certain instances. But the root of crime and poverty extends beyond the boundaries of men who are playing nothing more than a game. –amir shaw
