The competitive nature of today's professional sports clubs requires athletes to be aggressive and energetic, both physically and mentally. This aggressive mentality persists in some athletes off the field and may explain why so many athletes commit violent crimes. The company asks athletes to deliver flawless performances in stadiums and arenas. Fans have become accustomed to high flying, displays of athleticism and finesse, and often an athlete's success earns them a high status in society with special privileges that you and I can only dream of. As their careers get bigger and bigger, they feel they should be shown some respect by fans when they are not on the field, and many athletes become angry when they feel their status is not respected, often leading to confrontation. So the question becomes whether or not the nature of sports today can explain the growing number of sports stars convicted and charged with crimes. The aggressive nature of athletes who deal with the emotions caused by competition in violent sports, such as football, boxing and rugby are part of the conditions or circumstances in which they were raised. Aggression is defined as a form of animal behavior characterized by an assault or attack by one animal against another. In humans, aggression is a learned behavior as opposed to instinctive behavior, it is learned in childhood, and as we become adults, these aggressive behaviors develop and become part of personality traits. Children learn aggressive behavior by watching others behave aggressively, and acting on or imitating observed behaviors, such as one child bullying another to get a...... middle of paper ...commits violent crimes today, ranging from drug abuse and stress to profound psychological problems, and although many sports organizations are organizing seminars and counselors to talk to athletes about problems related to drug abuse and domestic violence , the responsibility falls on the athletes themselves to make a change for the better and rid themselves of the negative perceptions associated with today's athletes. .Works Cited"Aggression". Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia.. 1998.Bender, David and Bruno Leone. Sports in America: Opposing Views. San Diego: Greenhaven press, 1994. Brubaker, Bill. Violence follows some in football off the pitch. Washington DC: The Washington Post, November 13, 1994. Khon, Alfie. “No-win situations.” Women's Fitness and Sports Magazine, July/August 1990. Leo, John. "Physical education or self-esteem?". U.S. News and World Report, May 31,1993