Could there still be sports organizations with principles and family values?

I’ve got an interesting story to tell. As many of you know I’m from Kansas City originally and I follow the Kansas City Chiefs quite a bit. At the end of last week a story broke and made it all the way to ESPN about a rap song supposedly sung by Larry Johnson, pro-bowl running back for the Chiefs. This song featured talk of guns and violence and tons of racial slurs and the f-word. It also references and insults the Chiefs General Manager and running back Priest Holmes. I was unhappy as a fan, and disappointed as a social commentator. Here we have another celebrity acting poorly and setting the worst kind of example to millions of kids who look up to him.

Well since that incident, there has been no conclusive evidence linking the song to Larry Johnson and he has denied it was him. The Chiefs organization has dropped the matter at that. I understand there’s really not much else that can be done at this point. During the midst of the discussion and while it was looking very much like there was evidence linking it to Johnson, I decided to make a phone call to the Chiefs. My family has been season ticket holders since the early 90’s and so I left a voice mail expressing how disappointed I was with the actions by the player. I never expected to hear anything back, and I would not be writing this article now if I hadn’t.

This morning I received a phone call from the head of the Kansas City Chiefs Public Relations, Bob Moore. He apologized and told me that the organization and the Hunt family doesn’t stand for that kind of music or the message it portrays. He explained to me that the Hunts are strong Christians and go out of their way to keep things family friendly at Arrowhead Stadium and specifically ban that type of music from being played. Needless to say, I’m impressed. I thought it worth sharing that in the world of professional sports, celebrities, big corporate money, and so on that there are still those who are dictated by principles. So I want to say a thank you the Hunt family and to Bob Moore and I hope that they’ll do everything in their power to keep the Chiefs as family friendly as possible in the future.