Steroids and Brawls: A study in contrasts

[lazarus]

MLB is currently embroiled in a massive steroid scandal. The MVP, Barry Bonds, is most likely juiced to the gills. Many records over the past few years are soon to be permanently stained. The integrity of the game has been seriously damaged.

But the NBA is the league in trouble, because a couple of loony troublemakers went into the stands after some rowdy fans. And one person got himself arrested.

The NFL recently had two stars accused of murder. One of them is on the cover of the NFL's flagship video game.

1 in 5 NFL players has been convicted of a crime.

But the NBA is the league in trouble. People actively rooted against the Olympic team as a bunch of spoiled babies (even though these guys actually showed up to play, as opposed to the dozen or more "stars" who didn't feel like representing their country. Shaq, Garnett, etc., received no real attacks for that. Just the ones who actually went).

So why is this?

Is it race? Is it the hip-hop culture the NBA has, for some reason, decided to adopt (even though the vast majority of its fan base isn't hip-hop sorts of folk)? Is it something else altogether?