New England Patriots' Brandon Spikes Allegedly Exposed Himself on Chatroulette

Technology has made it possible for many different websites to exist, and there is always a chance that people will abuse the website. One of the newest websites to hit the market is called Chatroulette, and there has been controversy since day one about this site. Essentially, Chatroulette is a website where you can talk to people face-to-face using a web camera. Since this website was designed, people have used it to show their genitalia to other people. Now a celebrity is being accused of using this website inappropriately, and severe consequences could occur.

According to CBS News, New England Patriots player Brandon Spikes allegedly exposed himself and committed sex acts in two separate clips on Chatroulette. An anonymous e-mail offered the sex tape of Spikes to Deadspin as well as Gawker media's sports blog for $1,500. The alleged video of Spikes exposing his genitalia was released on the website WorlsStarHip-Hop.com. Now the National Football League is investigating because the video could violate the league's personal conduct policy. For Spikes, this could lead to severe consequences from the NFL, and he might also be banned from the website.

The Spikes incident is comparable to other sports figures who have been embroiled in sex scandals that went public. The incident with Spikes is similar to the numerous affairs of Tiger Woods, a professional golfer.

According to Pop Eater, there are at least seven women who have had an affair with Woods throughout his career. The scandal involving Woods first came to light after he had an automobile accident in November 2009. After the automobile accident, several women came out to say that they had an affair with Woods, which sparked the argument between him and his wife that night. Numerous women have since come forward to report that they were involved with Woods through various times in his professional golfing career. Woods admitted he had been unfaithful to his wife in the past and he needed help. Trying to save his marriage, Woods decided to go into sex rehabilitation and counseling with his wife. Even though Woods and his wife tried to save their marriage, in the end they ultimately got a divorce.

Based on Woods and his indiscretions, I think Spikes' reputation and career will not be as severely affected. Woods got more heat for his affairs because of the fact that it occurred more than once, which made it more difficult to move past. It is not right what Spikes allegedly did, but he is not the only one who has used Chatroulette for that reason. I do not think Spikes will be affected the way Woods was because his transgressions were not as severe. There are many people who use Chatroulette to expose their genitalia; it has been a problem since the site was created. His reputation could be affected a little because people might think he is a womanizer or a pervert. You are always going to have people abuse the system when we have the type of technology we do.

The only reason that this is getting so much attention is because Spikes is a professional athlete and people will hold him to a higher standard. Spikes will probably be teased by his teammates for his misadventure on the Internet, but I think it will end at that. The only significant consequences will come from the National Football League, because they uphold the personal conduct policy. The personal conduct policy is basically a set of principles and morals that you need to follow while in the National Football League. The only thing I look for the National Football League to do is fine him for his Internet misadventure.

Edecio Martinez, "Brandon Spikes Video? NFL Probes Explicit Online Video, Say Reports", CBS News

Pop Eater Staff, "More Women in the Tiger Woods Scandal -- Seven and Counting", Pop Eater