Tampa Bay Storm head coach Tim Marcum finds himself in sticky situation regarding emails found on his work computer.Photo/TampaBayStorm.com
According to WTSB.com in Tampa, Fla., Tampa Bay Storm head coach Tim Marcum is accused of sharing racist emails along with unusual pornography with his contacts. The content found on his company computer was enough to land him a suspension from the Arena Football League.
The emails came to light after Marcum filed a lawsuit againt the Storm's former owners.
Reports say Marcum's email list shared a "joke" calling Air Force One "Watermelon One" along with other racially motivated nicknames for President Barack Obama and his family. Another email showed Marcum sharing beastiality pornography with a friend.
Marcum told WTSB.com he felt the emails were not inappropriate due to his sharing with a friend.
This is not the first time Marcum has found himself in trouble. As recent as 2004, Marcum was ordered to pay court costs and placed on probation for insurance fraud.
In 2002, Marcum was arrested for a DUI, resulting in his license being suspended.
Wednesday afternoon, a radio personality in Tampa reported Marcum had been fired, but more recent reports say Marcum has not been fired for the offenses.
When contacted yesterday, Marcum told TBO.com he was still the head coach of the Storm as far as he knew.
With the 2011 season less than one month away, Marcum is likely to be the head coach when the season begins, but what should be done about the situation?
In order for the relaunched AFL to become a staple in the country once again, drawing the crowds of 10,000-plus, its coaches and players will need to be held to a higher standard.
Never being a fan of holding athletes to a higher standard, in this instance and for this league it will almost become necessary.
Most of the country looks at the AFL as a joke. Semi-pro football, if you will. What those people do not know is how hard these guys work to support their families as well as play a game they love to play.
The NFL has seen its share of AFL players come through camps, and yet those skeptical fans are unaware of anyone other than Kurt Warner.
Marcum is a legend in this sport, a Hall of Fame inductee in 1998, and winner of seven Arena Bowl titles. However, his actions through the last eight years say he needs a reality check. The league needs to let Marcum know he is not bigger than this game.
If Marcum wants to continue as a part of the AFL and continue leading teams to Arena Bowl games as he did last season, he will have to subdue his passions and once again take on the responsibility of being a coach for the fans.
After all, the AFL is built on a core group of fans, and those fans expect better.
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