Modern American society unjustly glorifies professional athletes. Athletes are adored by everyone, from young children to retirement home patients.

Being a pro athlete is the dream of many people, and rightly so, as they make millions of dollars playing a game that they love. However, due to society viewing them with such high regard, athletes have begun to think that they are above the law. Athletes believe that the public will ignore any negative actions that they commit, and that they can do anything they want to.

Kobe Bryant, a guard for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, is the league’s leading scorer this season.

On January 22, he scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors, the second highest total in NBA history. Media outlets shower him with praise, and nobody seems to even remember the recent circumstances surrounding him.

In June 2003, Bryant was charged with rape stemming from events at a hotel in Vail, Colorado.

Although the charges were eventually dropped, he did admit to adultery. He later caused his entire team to be dismantled, which many attribute to his large ego and selfishness. Bryant believed that he was more important than his team, leading to the dismissal of his coach, Phil Jackson, and the trade of teammate and fellow superstar Shaquille O’Neal, with whom Bryant later had a long, highly publicized feud.

Bryant was the public enemy for a time, being ridiculed through outlets as diverse as Jay Leno jokes and television talk shows. Two and a half years later, Bryant is making basketball history, and nobody is talking about the admitted adultery.

Dany Heatley is having one of the best seasons in the NHL this season. His Ottawa Senators are one of the best teams in the league, and he is one of the league’s best, youngest wingers.

Three years ago, he was driving his car 90 mph in a 40 mph zone. In addition to driving while under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving, which are both serious crimes, Heatley’s actions stands out from other crimes committed by athletes because it resulted in the death of teammate Dan Snyder, who was riding in the car’s passenger seat. But, he’s having a good season, so let’s forget about what he did.