Evidence is a necessary key component to reach a verdict in legal cases. The two major categories of evidence include physical and testimonial evidence. Physical evidence is considered as a tangible object that is able to be associated with the victim or criminal (Mason et al., 2005). Mason et al. (2005) refers to testimonial evidence as an allegation, either written or spoken, provided by the witness or victim. Compared with testimonial evidence, Mason et al. (2005) regards physical evidence as a more reliable source of information because testimonies are subjective to the witness or victim. Testimony relies on accurate recollection of all the events that transpired (Mason et al., 2005). Subjectivity also originates from biased or imprecise perception causing the facts to become distorted. In many cases an expert witness, having vast knowledge and qualifications on the subject, will form an expert testimony without being an actual eyewitness to the crime (Fed. R. Evid. 702). Testimonial evidence in trials of major league athletes usually consists of a combination of eyewitness accounts and formed testimonies by expert witnesses. Examples can be found in major league sports trials of athletes belonging to the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL).
Tony Martin, a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins (NFL), was accused of money laundering as a front for Rickey Brownlee (Nobels, 1999). Two teammates, Dan Marino and Nat Moore, gave their testimonies before a jury. Dan Marino’s testimony was centered on displaying Martin’s good morals and values. Nat Moore’s testimony embodied Martin’s respectable qualities and characteristics, all of...
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Dexter, P. (1987, 05 11). The case against Brian Spencer. Sports Illustrated, 66(19), 68-77. http://sportsillustrated.ca/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065957/index.htm
Eder, Steve. “Rodriguez’s ‘Gummies’: Files Detail Doping, Down to Milligram.” The New York Times, January 14, 2014, Late Edition - Final edition, sec. Sports Desk; SECTA.
Manson, G., & Mauro, J. (2005). Data analyst training - types of evidence. http://www.nfstc.org/pdi/Subject01/pdi_s01_m01_01.htm
Nobels, C. (1999). Marino gives testimony in trial of a teammate. New York Times. http://search.proquest.com.mutex.gmu.edu/docview/110027051?accountid=14541
O'Driscoll, P. (2004, 05 11). Bryant accuser goes to closed court hearing. USA Today. http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.mutex.gmu.edu/ehost/detail?sid=84fccb6d-8aef-44ce-8027e4cafa6383f1@sessionmgr4004&vid=1&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl
Ethical Rules on Sport’s Justice. Dallas: East Dallas Times, page 21. 2008. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Print: Harry, Patrick Hayes.
Kassin, Saul, and Lawrence Wrightsman (Eds.). The Psychology of Evidence and Trial Procedure. Chapter 3. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications, 1985. Print.
Authors Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld founded the innocence project at a law school in New York City, which has assisted in the exoneration of an astonishing number of innocent individuals. As legal aid lawyers, they blithely engaged in conflicts that implicated
Kevin JohnsonUSA, TODAY. "Sandusky jury hears testimony." USA Today n.d.: MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
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Edwards, K. (2005, January 8). During an interview on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
Steroid is a name given to drugs that are manufactured from testosterone, a reproductive hormone found in men. Some athletes normally use anabolic steroids because these drugs improve one’s capacity to compete and train, yielding high results. Steroids work by reducing exhaustion during training, and also reduce the length of time an athlete needs to recover from exhaustion. In addition, steroids enable the growth of tissues and muscles in an athlete’s body by instructing the body to produce extra proteins. During the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, the first rumors of athletes using steroids emerged. The problem of athletes using steroids was again reported in 1954 during weight lifting championships. The Soviet athletes recorded a very impressive performance at all levels of weight lifting. Later on, the team’s physician admitted that the Soviet athletes were being injected with testosterone in order to increase their muscle mass and strength after being questioned about how they achieved their success. WHO (World Health Organization) in 1968 was the first party to complain about incidents of athletes using steroids, these sentiments were later backed by IOC (International Olympic Committee). This paper is going to give reasons why professional athletes should not be allowed to use steroids (Yesalis 25).
Walsh, James, and Dan Browning. "Presumed Guilty Until Proved Innocent." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN). 23 Jul 2000: A1+. SIRS Issues Researcher.
For example, according to a CNN article entitled,” 'Blue-eyed butcher ' sentenced to 20 years,” “A medical examiner testified he was able to count 193 wounds on the body, with the actual number of stab wounds well in excess of that” (Jakobsson, 2010, para. 6). Pictures were also presented to the jury to show the disfigured body. Another piece of evidence leading to the conviction of Susan Wright was the autopsy done that showed drugs in Wright’s system. The author of CNN stated, “They also suggested she may have drugged him with gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, known as the "date-rape drug," low levels of which were found in Jeffrey Wright 's system” (Jakobsson, 2010, paragraph 10). One last conclusive piece of visual evidence was the presence of two of Jeffrey’s ex-girlfriends. “Misty McMichael testified Wright beat her repeatedly during their two-year relationship and tried to control her every move” (Jakobsson, 2010, paragraph 13). McMichael also claimed that Wright had pushed her down the stairs 104 times and at one point even locked her in a room (Jakobsson, 2010, paragraph 14). This evidence was in favor of Susan Wright. The impact of this visual evidence was significant in many ways. Evidence is proof and proof cannot be made up, only misinterpreted. Therefore, the excessive amount of stab wounds found on Wright’s body along with the drugs found in his system was
Harris, George C. "Testimony for Sale: The Law and Ethics of Snitches and Experts." Pepperdine Law Review (2000-2001): 28. Online.
Professional athletes are modern day gods. We idolize and worship their abilities, powers and grace. However, as heartbreaking as it maybe to sports fans, the sports industry cathedral is drowning in lies and deception. The many forms of dishonesty to be found there are legion. Whether super-athletes, coaches or even referees, the lies and deception that are consuming the sports industry can be attributed to three simple causes: self- justification, self-deception and performance pressure.
My issue over the concern of athletes have been struggling with the usage of steroids has widely spread among athletes and others; not only do steroids give an athlete a hard times but it’s also an unfair advantage to the other athletes and what they’ve accomplish. “Besides making muscles bigger, anabolic steroids may help athletes recover from a hard workout more quickly by reducing the amount of muscle damage during the session” (“Steroids in Sports”,2005). Now a days steroids are everywhere as an athlete. Many males and female young athletes preferably take it because they want to look and feel good when it comes to impressing someone and trying to become someone they look forward too. Young teens and adults try to cheat themselves in the career of their dreams. When it comes to a sport, teen athletes are not aware of what type of consequences may happen to them at the time. It may come to the time where it’s too late to take care of. In other cases, some athletes may like feeling the aggressive they get when they take drugs such as steroids. Athletes shouldn’t take steroids as the harmful health effects of the anabolic steroid in population wise. Many people have had their lives ruined by the use of illegal steroids and yet the desired effects are overwhelming that people tend to forget about the results and consequences that may effect. Athletes on steroids believe taking steroids will enhance their performance, strength, and size without having to put necessary work. These benefits, however, are associated with much short-term and long term risk.
When this question comes to mind, after a very short time pondering the statement I for one can answer yes. During the Detroit Tigers 2013 season, I acquired my first MLB favorite. Jhonny Peralta was a shortstop, just like me. I looked up to Peralta, mainly because of his skills in the field, rather than in the batter's box. During the season, Peralta also realized his lack of power hitting was an issue. Seeking help, he turned to steroids or “PED” which stands for performance enhancing drugs. My once favorite player was caught, and suspended for 50 games. My 12 year old self was absolutely destroyed. I couldn’t believe my favorite player had cheated, and that angered me. I lost love for the player, along with my passion for the Tigers.
“History of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports.”Procon.org, Procon.org, 8 Oct. 2013, sportsanddrugs.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000017. Accessed 28 Mar.
Doping is a practice that has been going on since the time of "ancient Greek athletes, who supposedly ate herbs, sesame seeds, dried figs, and mushrooms for this purpose" (Hoberman, 1992, 104). Likewise, athletes have readily consumed such drugs as caffeine and alcohol to improve performa...