In A Haze
Tim Wilkinson, of Allentown, Pa., says, "Every year, thousands of high schools and colleges work to rid their campuses of hazing practices. Many of these acts are physically and emotionally damaging. One of favorite excuses is "pro sports teams do it." As a publication that prides itself on responsibility and ethical standards, when is SI going to stop glorifying acts of hazing?"
Tim, the answer is quite simple. There is a slight difference between making someone get dressed up in a ridiculous outfit and sodomy/sexual assault/etc., which seem to be the practice of many high school and college teams. We don't highlight those things. We do highlight the ridiculous outfits. Having said that, here is a hazing photo that makes me proud. The Yankees made their youngsters dress up as '
80s pop stars. Meanwhile, the Red Sox had rookie shortstop
Jose Iglesias dress up as
some kind of S&M hooker. The Royals had
Eric Hosmer and
Mike Moustakas play the Ace and Gary characters from
Saturday Night Live. And the Cubs, well, let's just say one member of the Cubs
had to dress up as the male organ.