Law in sport is not new. We see it every day, especially in the age of social media. Whether it’s the participating athletes, organizations or supporters, everyone feels entitled to something. On Wednesday morning in San Francisco, a sensitive topic was broached by 95.7’s morning show The Game, asking if Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins owes fans an explanation for why he’s been out for so long.
The station’s morning show, dubbed The morning roastposted this conversation in a now deleted file Tweeter and lit social networks Ablaze. Of course, that sparked the debate that bled on the show, with fans calling in to voice their opinions. Most fans want what they want and can only see what benefits them.
We won’t generalize as some fans understand that this is probably a very serious time Wiggins is going through. But too many people worry about betting interests or how it affects the team’s championship aspirations. Take a look at the comments on the Twitter post above, and you’ll see exactly how indifferent some people can be.
Another aspect of this situation is the station, 95.7 The Game, and whether that should have even been discussed. The team talked about Wiggins and didn’t give much information regarding their teammate. Should The morning roast were even allowed to enter this subject, knowing where something like this could lead, especially via social networks?
Warriors general manager Bob Myers went that afternoon and gave his opinion on Wiggins’ absence.
“I haven’t heard anything that he’s not coming back. There’s speculation about it, but I haven’t been told, ‘hey look, I’m not coming back. Nobody told me that . ยป
“Nothing different than before. Same answer… We have to respect him, his life and his privacy.
That should be enough for anyone wondering what’s going on with Wiggins. But of course it won’t be for some. It’s not just fans but also members of the media who believe that players owe every little thing that happens in their lives an explanation. Of course, we all have a job to do, but sometimes certain things have to be left out. Not everything needs to be for public consumption. Yes, that’s what the social media climate dictates, but you don’t always have to follow that lead.
Privacy has become so sacred because we have all lost a part of ours with the emergence of so many social media platforms over the past decade. So many players in all sports, even down to the high school level, live every moment publicly. It is not always a conscious choice to do so. Return to Antonio Brown live on facebook while still a Pittsburgh Steeler. These other players did not choose to be filmed immediately after a game in the locker room, whether they agreed or not.
Not everything should be consumed by the masses. We’d all love to know what’s going on behind the scenes with Andrew Wiggins. Some people genuinely care about his well-being, but if Wiggins sees fit to keep it private, that should be respected. End of the conversation.