Prior to taking this course, I had always looked at sport in terms of the actual game rather than examining what really goes on "behind the scenes." From my own personal experience, sport was an outlet. It gave me confidence and taught me a lot about what I am capable of doing. But after taking the course, it has really opened my eyes to the "dark side" of sports and the issues that arise from participating in it, whether it be as a spectator or an athlete.
I would not say that the course has changed my views of sport, but I now have more knowledge about sports. What I found really helpful was that this course took a major issue involved with sport and argued both sides, which helped uncover everything that was good or bad with that specific issue. For example, during our discussion on Steroid use in sports, the class was told to pick whether or not they believed that PEDs or steroids should be used. Prior to taking this class, I had a pretty strong stance against steroid use because I always believed it gave that athlete an advantage over those who weren't taking them. But after examining the arguments from both sides and realizing that PED usage is a much broader topic than I had thought, I would now say that under a controlled atmosphere, PED usage should be accepted amongst sports.
In terms of my writing and critical thinking skills, this class really forced me to think outside of the box and examine the topics from an unbiased standpoint. Since this class discusses in great detail the dark side of sports, there are times when the dark side can go against what your viewpoint is on certain topics and can be hard to comprehend. So trying to understand both sides of the argument is something that I have learned is extremely important in order to effectively convince your audience.
Overall I really enjoyed the course. Though it was pretty time-consuming at times, in terms of the amount of work, I thoroughly enjoyed the topics and discussions amongst my classmates. Since sport has always been such a big part of my life, it was exciting to share the things that I have experienced through sport and how my experience compared with others. I would definitely recommend this class to another student.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Sporting Criminal Bodies
When it comes to big-time athletes, a lot of crimes they are associated with tend to be ones of destruction and personal harm, whether it be drunk driving, domestic violence, murder, robbery, or doping. This disturbing trend amongst athletes has shone a negative light on the sport and the clubs they play for, which raises the question: why do athletes feel that they need to do such acts? Most of them making hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars every year, yet they still feel the need to live a lifestyle that leads them nowhere except in a prison cell or a cemetery.
I believe a lot of this has to do with the fact that most athletes feel invincible. Here in the U.S., at least, we, the spectators, tend to put athletes on a higher rank in society, and I think that tends to go to the athletes' heads a little too far. Also, because many of the criminal-minded athletes grew up in an area that supports this type of behavior, many of them aren't taught that this type of behavior is unacceptable, and many of them aren't conditioned to live in a civil society. While this isn't the case for all athletes, I believe you could make a valid argument that to a certain extent, this is very true. Take OJ Simpson, for example. One of the best college running backs to have ever played football, couldn't seem to stay out of trouble. After being accused, and acquitted of murder, I honestly believe that he thought he could get away with anything, which lead him to continue down the path of crime. Today, he now sits in a jail cell, probably for the rest of his life because of his continued misbehavior.
The social problems presented in the evaluation of a sport-crime nexus are that many of these athletes aren't taught at the appropriate age that these actions will lead them nowhere fast. Many of these athletes don't care to learn these lessons at their respective institutions because they seem to be so focused on their sport and making it on the pro stage. Athletes seem to be given a free pass on their way to the professional stage, and aren't properly guided to be able to set themselves up after they retire, which is why we here of many athletes going bankrupt, because they weren't taught the tools necessary to sustain the lifestyle they were living while they were playing.
References
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100942614
http://jss.sagepub.com/content/30/2/180.abstract
I believe a lot of this has to do with the fact that most athletes feel invincible. Here in the U.S., at least, we, the spectators, tend to put athletes on a higher rank in society, and I think that tends to go to the athletes' heads a little too far. Also, because many of the criminal-minded athletes grew up in an area that supports this type of behavior, many of them aren't taught that this type of behavior is unacceptable, and many of them aren't conditioned to live in a civil society. While this isn't the case for all athletes, I believe you could make a valid argument that to a certain extent, this is very true. Take OJ Simpson, for example. One of the best college running backs to have ever played football, couldn't seem to stay out of trouble. After being accused, and acquitted of murder, I honestly believe that he thought he could get away with anything, which lead him to continue down the path of crime. Today, he now sits in a jail cell, probably for the rest of his life because of his continued misbehavior.
The social problems presented in the evaluation of a sport-crime nexus are that many of these athletes aren't taught at the appropriate age that these actions will lead them nowhere fast. Many of these athletes don't care to learn these lessons at their respective institutions because they seem to be so focused on their sport and making it on the pro stage. Athletes seem to be given a free pass on their way to the professional stage, and aren't properly guided to be able to set themselves up after they retire, which is why we here of many athletes going bankrupt, because they weren't taught the tools necessary to sustain the lifestyle they were living while they were playing.
References
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100942614
http://jss.sagepub.com/content/30/2/180.abstract
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Is Sport a Safe Place for LGBT Athletes?
Off the top of my head, I can name a few out athletes: Robbie Rogers, Jason Collins, Michael Sam, Megan Rapine, Abby Wambach, Martina Navritalova, Johnny Weir, Billie Jean King, Greg Louganis, and Amelie Mauresmo. There are definitely more athletes who have yet to come out, and I think the reason this is is because of the fear of non-acceptance. We live in a society today where we put certain characteristics with certain sports. For example, with football, the athletes are typically big, strong, and fast, and I think that an athlete coming out as gay in football would go against what the audience views as a football player, thinking that they might be soft and can't keep up with the "straight" football player.
We experience homophobia all over the sporting world, whether it's in the locker rooms, on the playing field, or even in the audience as we watch. Although I do believe that steps are being made to fix this problem, there are those whose view points of the topic are set, and therefore, are harder to convince. It manifests in the form of slurs and berating those athletes. There are straight athletes who make it known through the media and other means that they are not comfortable with playing with a gay athlete, which is also another reason as to why so many players stay "in the closet" for so long, or never come out at all.
I think that in sports, such as ice skating or tennis, LGBT athletes are much safer than in sports such as football or basketball because of the fact that it is an individual sport where they do not have to deal with teammates, and because of the fact that those sports are seen as "less intense." I feel it might be easier to come out when you are not playing with other teammates because it's the acceptance from the other athletes is why i believe it's so hard for some of them to come out.
In order to change the way we perceive LGBT athletes, more education on the topic needs to be spread not only to the athletes playing with them, but also to the audience watching them. Because LGBT athletes coming out does not happen as often as it should, it's harder for the coaches, athletes, the organizations which they play for, and the audience to understand what the LGBT athletes might be going through and what we can do to support them. If we have a better understanding of the topic, I think it would be much easier for those athletes who are having difficulty with it themselves.
References
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/mar/29/robbie-rogers-coming-out-gay
http://www.si.com/more-sports/2013/04/29/jason-collins-gay-nba-player
http://www.edgeofsports.com/2015-03-31-1016/index.html
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Interrogating inequalities in Sports Media: Examining gender/race representation in ESPN
I watch ESPN every single day. SportsCenter, which is an hour-long segment on ESPN that showcases the main sporting highlights of that day, is one of the more popular segments on their program. The majority of that hour is spent covering male athletes and male sports, while coverage of female athletes seem to be minuscule. Though ESPN has made steps towards attracting the female sports fans, such as with the introduction of ESPNW, gender inequality still thrives within sports media.
In the past year alone, ESPN Magazine featured only four women on the front covers of their magazines. Out of the four women, two of them were not athletes, and the two athletes who were featured posed in the nude for ESPN's "Body Issue." Many of the covers showcase the male athletes posing in their uniforms or in an action shot, while many of the female athletes seem to just be posing and showcasing their figure rather than their athletic abilities. Within the pages of the magazine, it's much of the same; plenty of pictures of male athletes showing off their athletic talents, while pages dedicated to female athletes focus more on their physique, with the occasional action shot of a female athlete. When visiting ESPN's website, it is much of the same. Their top tabs to click on do not feature one female sport. You have to go into the "More Sports" Section if you wanted to find anything that had to do with female sports. Most of their top stories feature male athletes.
While I feel gender inequality in sports media is an issue, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that their is not a large amount of women sports fans who care to watch ESPN anyway. I feel that if there was a greater female audience that regularly viewed ESPN and its contents, the issue would be much easier to solve. But because ESPN is so dominant amongst the male population, many male viewers don't really care for updates on female sports, therefore, ESPN does not show it. As stated earlier, ESPN has taken steps towards reaching the female audience by creating ESPNW, which is specifically dedicated to female sports and athletes, and hiring more female sportscasters for their SportsCenter segments. While these may be good attempts at attracting more female sports fans, a better attempt needs to be made at showcasing the athletes abilities and their performance rather than on their physique.
References
"ESPN: The Worldwide Leader in Sports." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
"ESPN Cover Store." ESPN Cover Store. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2015
In the past year alone, ESPN Magazine featured only four women on the front covers of their magazines. Out of the four women, two of them were not athletes, and the two athletes who were featured posed in the nude for ESPN's "Body Issue." Many of the covers showcase the male athletes posing in their uniforms or in an action shot, while many of the female athletes seem to just be posing and showcasing their figure rather than their athletic abilities. Within the pages of the magazine, it's much of the same; plenty of pictures of male athletes showing off their athletic talents, while pages dedicated to female athletes focus more on their physique, with the occasional action shot of a female athlete. When visiting ESPN's website, it is much of the same. Their top tabs to click on do not feature one female sport. You have to go into the "More Sports" Section if you wanted to find anything that had to do with female sports. Most of their top stories feature male athletes.
While I feel gender inequality in sports media is an issue, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that their is not a large amount of women sports fans who care to watch ESPN anyway. I feel that if there was a greater female audience that regularly viewed ESPN and its contents, the issue would be much easier to solve. But because ESPN is so dominant amongst the male population, many male viewers don't really care for updates on female sports, therefore, ESPN does not show it. As stated earlier, ESPN has taken steps towards reaching the female audience by creating ESPNW, which is specifically dedicated to female sports and athletes, and hiring more female sportscasters for their SportsCenter segments. While these may be good attempts at attracting more female sports fans, a better attempt needs to be made at showcasing the athletes abilities and their performance rather than on their physique.
References
"ESPN: The Worldwide Leader in Sports." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
"ESPN Cover Store." ESPN Cover Store. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Reflecting on the Shame of College Sports
The NCAA, through its member institutions, conferences, and national office staff share a belief in and commitment to the collegiate model of athletics in which students participate as an avocation, balancing their academic, social, and athletic experiences; the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship; the pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics; the supporting role that intercollegiate athletics play in the higher education mission and in enhancing the sense of community and strengthening the identity of member institutions; an inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from different backgrounds; respect for institutional autonomy and philosophical differences; presidential leadership of intercollegiate athletics at the campus, conference, and national levels.
For the most part, the NCAA does an exceptional job of controlling the system. New rules and regulations are constantly implemented that keeps the student-athletes from being compensated for the time put in and gives those in charge more power. These institutions are profiting off of the athletes by putting the athletes on display to boost the school's image. The athletes are compensated through scholarships, but even then, the scholarships do not cover everyday expenses, only tuition, education, and housing, and also, not every athlete receives a scholarship. Playing a college sport is a full-time job; I would assume that it would be extremely difficult for a student-athlete to find a job in the offseason, due to the fact that playing a college sport is a year-round commitment.
Because of this, I believe that the NCAA needs to find a way to support their players financially since these players have committed full-time to improving the image of their respective institutions. There are ways to where the institutions can still make a profit AND pay their players, whether it be through individual sponsorships, or a cut of the money through TV contracts.
References:
"NCAA Core Values." NCAA Home Page. N.p., 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
Schooled: The Price of College Sports. Dir. Trevor Martin and Ross Finkel. Perf. Taylor Branch and Jay Bilas and Kevin Anderson. 2013.
For the most part, the NCAA does an exceptional job of controlling the system. New rules and regulations are constantly implemented that keeps the student-athletes from being compensated for the time put in and gives those in charge more power. These institutions are profiting off of the athletes by putting the athletes on display to boost the school's image. The athletes are compensated through scholarships, but even then, the scholarships do not cover everyday expenses, only tuition, education, and housing, and also, not every athlete receives a scholarship. Playing a college sport is a full-time job; I would assume that it would be extremely difficult for a student-athlete to find a job in the offseason, due to the fact that playing a college sport is a year-round commitment.
Because of this, I believe that the NCAA needs to find a way to support their players financially since these players have committed full-time to improving the image of their respective institutions. There are ways to where the institutions can still make a profit AND pay their players, whether it be through individual sponsorships, or a cut of the money through TV contracts.
References:
"NCAA Core Values." NCAA Home Page. N.p., 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
Schooled: The Price of College Sports. Dir. Trevor Martin and Ross Finkel. Perf. Taylor Branch and Jay Bilas and Kevin Anderson. 2013.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Tending the Growth of Achievement Sport: High School Sport & Me
From a very young age, the bar was set very high for Demetrius Walker. He had much to live up to, being compared to big time NBA names such as Tyson Chandler, at such a young age. Because of this, if Demetrius didn't meet the expectations, he would be deemed a failure. That would be a lot for any 12 year-old to handle. At 12 years old, I was also playing on a traveling basketball team, but it never got to the point where we were being followed or watched by analysts. It was just a bunch of kids playing basketball. But for Demetrius Walker, it was much more than just a game. Because basketball was such a big part of his life, he had to prove himself worthy.
In high school, it was much of the same, but unlike he was as an eighth grader, he became less dominant. While he was in eighth grade, he was able to get the ball over everyone because he was so much taller than the other kids. He would play down in the post and look to work the block. But when he reached high school, he wasn't as tall as the other players, so instead of playing in the post, which is what he was most comfortable with, he was forced to play the wing, completely changing the way he was used to playing.
From elementary school through high school, Demetrius Walker seemed to live his younger life constantly trying to prove himself; proving that he was ranked the best player in the country for a reason. His sport was put before anything else because he always had people talking about him and how he played his sport. Other people made basketball a priority for him. This model of sport can be very harmful to the typical high school athlete. I don't think that many high school athletes would be able to deal with the pressure that Demetrius has had to endure throughout his youth, and by putting basketball as a top priority before anything else, it doesn't help set him up for his future after basketball. In my high school years, basketball was always a second priority behind school. Basketball didn't mean anything unless I was doing well in school, and I think the focus should be more on helping these athletes set themselves up for their futures rather than having them try to live up to a certain expectation.
Probably the greatest consequence that can come from prioritizing basketball over academics would be not setting yourself properly for your next step in life. Let's just say that Demetrius Walker ended up making it to the NBA, chances are he would only be able to play into his mid-late 30's, he would still have another 50-60+ years to try and do something else. So the strategy for high school athletes shouldn't be focused on trying to get these athletes to the next big stage in basketball, but more on setting them up for life after basketball.
References
Dohrmann, G. (2010). The Education of Demetrius Walker. Sports Illustrated. pp. 62-74.
In high school, it was much of the same, but unlike he was as an eighth grader, he became less dominant. While he was in eighth grade, he was able to get the ball over everyone because he was so much taller than the other kids. He would play down in the post and look to work the block. But when he reached high school, he wasn't as tall as the other players, so instead of playing in the post, which is what he was most comfortable with, he was forced to play the wing, completely changing the way he was used to playing.
From elementary school through high school, Demetrius Walker seemed to live his younger life constantly trying to prove himself; proving that he was ranked the best player in the country for a reason. His sport was put before anything else because he always had people talking about him and how he played his sport. Other people made basketball a priority for him. This model of sport can be very harmful to the typical high school athlete. I don't think that many high school athletes would be able to deal with the pressure that Demetrius has had to endure throughout his youth, and by putting basketball as a top priority before anything else, it doesn't help set him up for his future after basketball. In my high school years, basketball was always a second priority behind school. Basketball didn't mean anything unless I was doing well in school, and I think the focus should be more on helping these athletes set themselves up for their futures rather than having them try to live up to a certain expectation.
Probably the greatest consequence that can come from prioritizing basketball over academics would be not setting yourself properly for your next step in life. Let's just say that Demetrius Walker ended up making it to the NBA, chances are he would only be able to play into his mid-late 30's, he would still have another 50-60+ years to try and do something else. So the strategy for high school athletes shouldn't be focused on trying to get these athletes to the next big stage in basketball, but more on setting them up for life after basketball.
References
Dohrmann, G. (2010). The Education of Demetrius Walker. Sports Illustrated. pp. 62-74.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Cherrr-Ching: Super Bowl XLIX Financial Report
The amount of money that goes into the Super Bowl is staggering. With well over 100+ million viewers watching the amount of money generated during the game is mind-boggling. To give somewhat of a picture as to what I mean, there are more people who watch the super bowl in the US than those who voted for their president. With the following figures, we will be able to see where the money is generated from and what the money is used for.
- $600,000,000 - the estimated financial impact on the host city's local economy
- $4,500,000 - the amount necessary for a 30 second commercial spot during Super bowl airing
- $8,000,000,000 - the amount of money LEGALLY wagered during the Super Bowl (that's not even counting the illegal gambling)
- $3,950 - the average amount it would cost for one super bowl ticket (some tickets cost as much as $25,000
- $165,000 - the amount paid to each player on the winning team. This amount does not include incentives the players may have in their contracts.
For the host city, it would seem that the amount necessary for one game would put many cities into a financial bind. It almost reminds me of how the World Cup is set up: once the host city is chosen, it is up to the city/country in which the city is located to come up with the money necessary to build venues for the players and the fans. In Brazil during the last World Cup, there was much controversy over the amount of money being used to build these huge stadiums that were only going to be used once. The people living in the areas where the stadiums were being built felt short changed, leading to danger and violence. Granted, the super bowl is much different in the fact that the stadiums are already built and are used on a daily basis, but similar in the amount of money necessary to provide such a big sporting event.
References
Erb, Kelly P. "Salaries, Ads & Security: What's The Real Cost Of Super Bowl XLIX?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Sports, Politics, and the Olympics
The XX Olympic Games were held in Munich, Germany in 1972. Many were grew concerned at these games, because they were the first games held in Germany since the Nazis hosted them in 1936. Israeli athletes and trainers were especially nervous, since most of them had family members and friends who were killed during the Holocaust. On the evening of September 4th, the Israeli team went out to see a play and, after, went back to the Olympic Village to sleep. As the athletes slept, eight members of the Palestinian terrorist organization, Black September, jumped over the fence that surrounded the village, took the Israeli athletes hostage, and in the end, killed 11 of the athletes.
According to Eitzen and Sages 5 political uses of sports, I believe the 1972 Olympics is directly correlated with the use of sport as a vehicle of change in society. Initially, the Palestinians seemed to relish the attention. They felt the world had ignored them for decades. The assault and the nature of the Israeli response, thrust the Israeli-Palestinian crisis into the world spotlight, and set the tone for decades of conflict in the middle east, and launched a new era of international terrorism.
Based on my research I would have to say that I do not fully agree with the statement, "Sport is pure and devoid of political interference." Though I don't believe this is the case when it comes to domestic sports, I think that when sports are brought to an international stage, such as the Olympics, or the World Cup, it gives political or terrorist figures the opportunity to spread their agenda and to let people know of their strength. Since these events are watched by many throughout the world, it gives those who look to make change to society the perfect opportunity to do so.
References
Eitzen, D.S & Sage, G.H. (2009). Sociology of North American Sport.
"Olympics Massacre - Munich: The Real Story." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.
According to Eitzen and Sages 5 political uses of sports, I believe the 1972 Olympics is directly correlated with the use of sport as a vehicle of change in society. Initially, the Palestinians seemed to relish the attention. They felt the world had ignored them for decades. The assault and the nature of the Israeli response, thrust the Israeli-Palestinian crisis into the world spotlight, and set the tone for decades of conflict in the middle east, and launched a new era of international terrorism.
Based on my research I would have to say that I do not fully agree with the statement, "Sport is pure and devoid of political interference." Though I don't believe this is the case when it comes to domestic sports, I think that when sports are brought to an international stage, such as the Olympics, or the World Cup, it gives political or terrorist figures the opportunity to spread their agenda and to let people know of their strength. Since these events are watched by many throughout the world, it gives those who look to make change to society the perfect opportunity to do so.
References
Eitzen, D.S & Sage, G.H. (2009). Sociology of North American Sport.
"Olympics Massacre - Munich: The Real Story." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
The Globalization of the NBA
The NBA'S plan to expand has been a long time coming. With pro football looking to possibly place a team(s) in London, and the NCAA making moves towards China, it was only a matter of time before the NBA looked to expand its brand. Though this would seem logical due to the competition for TV time and competing with other global sports brands, many seem skeptical of an NBA presence in Europe. The opportunities that can come with expanding your brand are vast, but expanding too fast without properly analyzing the market could be catastrophic.
The NBA is without a doubt the most elite basketball league in the world. Every four years, at the summer olympics, the United States men's basketball team seems to dominate the competition (with exception to 2004 when they placed third) with many of those players coming from the NBA. So much so, its as if other teams enter the tournament to compete for second place. We are starting to see more and more European players enter into the NBA every year, coming from European universities or European basketball leagues. There is obviously a great amount of basketball talent coming from Europe, and with the NBA having a presence in select European countries, it would give these players a better opportunity to be noticed and compete in the most elite basketball league in the world.
I believe the main reason as to why the NBA is looking to expand is because they want to keep up with the current trend going on in American sports. For the past 6 years, the NFL has been playing pre-season and regular season games in London, in hopes that it can create some sort of European fan base and gain some support for their move. By the NFL playing a few games overseas, it also allows them to analyze the size of the market and calculate the potential for growth. In order for the NBA to be successful in their expansion efforts they must follow in the footsteps of the NFL, because I can guarantee that neither the NFL nor the NBA will dominate the European sports market like soccer does, so rushing into Europe could be very costly.
Probably the biggest consequence that can come from an unsuccessful expansion overseas is all four European NBA teams fail to attract the audience necessary to keep supporting these teams, leading to not being able to afford good players, coaching staff, and trainers, and ultimately shutting down the European NBA system. If the NBA does not do a proper analysis of the market and place four teams in locations where basketball is not hugely popular, it can be very difficult for them to gain the support to expand. As I had previously stated, the NBA should look to the NFL when it comes to expanding to a foreign market. Slowly exposing the NBA to Europeans will spark the interest of European sports fans.
References
The NBA is without a doubt the most elite basketball league in the world. Every four years, at the summer olympics, the United States men's basketball team seems to dominate the competition (with exception to 2004 when they placed third) with many of those players coming from the NBA. So much so, its as if other teams enter the tournament to compete for second place. We are starting to see more and more European players enter into the NBA every year, coming from European universities or European basketball leagues. There is obviously a great amount of basketball talent coming from Europe, and with the NBA having a presence in select European countries, it would give these players a better opportunity to be noticed and compete in the most elite basketball league in the world.
I believe the main reason as to why the NBA is looking to expand is because they want to keep up with the current trend going on in American sports. For the past 6 years, the NFL has been playing pre-season and regular season games in London, in hopes that it can create some sort of European fan base and gain some support for their move. By the NFL playing a few games overseas, it also allows them to analyze the size of the market and calculate the potential for growth. In order for the NBA to be successful in their expansion efforts they must follow in the footsteps of the NFL, because I can guarantee that neither the NFL nor the NBA will dominate the European sports market like soccer does, so rushing into Europe could be very costly.
Probably the biggest consequence that can come from an unsuccessful expansion overseas is all four European NBA teams fail to attract the audience necessary to keep supporting these teams, leading to not being able to afford good players, coaching staff, and trainers, and ultimately shutting down the European NBA system. If the NBA does not do a proper analysis of the market and place four teams in locations where basketball is not hugely popular, it can be very difficult for them to gain the support to expand. As I had previously stated, the NBA should look to the NFL when it comes to expanding to a foreign market. Slowly exposing the NBA to Europeans will spark the interest of European sports fans.
References
Gibson, O. (2015, January 15). NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants to launch four European franchises. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/15/nba-commissioner-adam-silver-european-franchises
Barnwell, Bill. "London Calling." Grantland. N.p., 30 Aug. 2013. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Sport in the Ancient World
Sports in Ancient Greece celebrated the beauty of the human form and the perfection of the athlete. Every four years, without a break for nearly twelve centuries, a sporting event in Olympia was held where athletes were able to display their abilities and their physique. The winners of these games were seen as individuals favored by the gods and used as objects of desire. At the time these games were first created, the only sport was sprinting. The atmosphere of the sprinting race was that of religious tension; those who won were seen as favored by the gods. Because form and physique played such big roles in Greek sports, it was important that that was put on display throughout the events, so all athletes performed naked. Before the event, each athlete was washed, doused in oil, and scented; Body odor was seen as a sign of divinity. After, the body was then sprinkled with dust, preferably yellow, because it added glisten to the athlete's body. After the competition, the body was then scraped of the oil and dirt, which was said to have a sort of healing power to heal wounds and inflammation. Even at that time, athletics was a serious, lucrative business. Starting in the 6th Century BC, detailed dietary and workout plans were given to athletes by trainers. As for the athlete themselves, those who could participate were free-born Greek men, with Zeus' daughter being the only woman who could attend the event.
As for the Ancient Romans, sport was based on brutality, death, and violence. The "athletes," or Gladiators, were either slaves, criminals, or POWs fighting to the death in order to gain their freedom. The training regimen for the gladiators was just as rigorous and intense as training for the Roman soldiers-all athletes must know how to use a sword, so all athletes trained with a Gladius, which is a standard, two-edged sword. When it came to costumes, a Gladiator's armor was his costume. Each Gladiator had their own special design on their armor to separate themselves from the others. No gladiator was ever fully protected because it was thought that everyone needed to have a weakness that their counterpart was able to identify. As previously stated, the actual event itself consisted of a fight to the death, with the winner eventually gaining his freedom.
When comparing sports today with sports of the ancient worlds, we can see that their are obvious similarities and differences. Athletes today are put in a very similar spotlight to the athletes of ancient Greece. Just as they did then, many athletes nowadays follow a specific workout and dietary plan for their respective sport so they can be in the best shape possible to compete. The fans today tend to put the athletes on a pedastal above most individuals because of their physical abilities. As for the game itself, Greek style of sport was more similar to sport today than Ancient Roman sport because Roman sport focused more on violence and the brutality. Roman sport was more about brute force than having athletic ability, which may be handy for some sports today, such as boxing, MMA, and other fighting sports, but not for most sports.
Reference
"Ancient Olympia Part 1." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.
"Ancient Olympia Part 2." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.
"Gladiator Training." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Sport, Society & Me
A) The author identifies four paradoxes, the first being that sport is a fantasy, a diversion from the realities of work, relationships, and survival. Sport elaborates in its rituals what it means to be human: the risks, the trials, the collective impulse of the game, and...the certainty that nothing is certain and things can change and be changed. The second is that sports shares with larger societies the basic elements and expressions of bureaucratization, commercialization, racism, sexism, etc. American sport mirrors american values. Third, sport is compelling because it combines spectacle with drama, excellence and clarity. Lastly, there is a human desire to identify with something greater than oneself. For athletes, it's a part of being a team, making sacrifices and working together to reach a common goal, and for the fans, it's about identifying with a team or sports hero bonds them with others who share their allegiance. In terms of comparing and contrasting my definition of sport with Eitzen's paradoxes of sport, our view point as to what sport offers is very similar, but I believe his first and fourth paradoxes to be perfect depictions of what sport is. Sport provides outlets for those who need to get away from the stresses of life, and helps fill voids in the lives of those who have no one to look up to.
B) I've never really realized, until writing this, at how much sport has become such a major part of my life. As ridiculous as it may sound, sport could be one of the best things that I have ever known. Not because it's fun to watch or it's fun to play, but because it offers so much more than just scoring goals or hitting home runs. Sport can pull the best and worst out of people, and for those who play sports, it can push them to physical, mental, and emotional limits you didn't think could be reached. I feel that I developed a connection for sport at a young age. Growing up, I played baseball and basketball, and was constantly surrounded by everything sports. Sport was always easily accessible for me because everyone in my family played sports; even my stepdad coaches high school basketball. But I didn't really start to appreciate sport for what it was until I was about 20 years old when my sister Jocelyn, who played basketball for the University of Nevada Reno, passed away from a brain tumor. She literally played until she couldn't anymore, and during that time while she was still playing and watching her go through what she was going through, I realized that basketball had provided her with an outlet she could turn to when things were going bad and she just didn't want to talk about her illness anymore. It was as if she used basketball as therapy to ease the pain she was feeling. It's because of her that I have such a great appreciation for sport, because it provided her with the comfort that no one or nothing else could provide.
References
Eitzen, D.S (2006). Fair and Foul: Beyond the Myths and Paradoxes of Sport (2nd Ed.). Oxford, Rowman & Littlefield: Chapter 1
B) I've never really realized, until writing this, at how much sport has become such a major part of my life. As ridiculous as it may sound, sport could be one of the best things that I have ever known. Not because it's fun to watch or it's fun to play, but because it offers so much more than just scoring goals or hitting home runs. Sport can pull the best and worst out of people, and for those who play sports, it can push them to physical, mental, and emotional limits you didn't think could be reached. I feel that I developed a connection for sport at a young age. Growing up, I played baseball and basketball, and was constantly surrounded by everything sports. Sport was always easily accessible for me because everyone in my family played sports; even my stepdad coaches high school basketball. But I didn't really start to appreciate sport for what it was until I was about 20 years old when my sister Jocelyn, who played basketball for the University of Nevada Reno, passed away from a brain tumor. She literally played until she couldn't anymore, and during that time while she was still playing and watching her go through what she was going through, I realized that basketball had provided her with an outlet she could turn to when things were going bad and she just didn't want to talk about her illness anymore. It was as if she used basketball as therapy to ease the pain she was feeling. It's because of her that I have such a great appreciation for sport, because it provided her with the comfort that no one or nothing else could provide.
References
Eitzen, D.S (2006). Fair and Foul: Beyond the Myths and Paradoxes of Sport (2nd Ed.). Oxford, Rowman & Littlefield: Chapter 1
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Sports in the US
A) Sport in the United States is much more than just scoring the most points and winning the match or game. For some people, sport helps fill voids in their lives; sport gives people something to cheer for and athletes and teams to look up to. You follow a sports team throughout an entire season hoping that they will be the last team standing when it's all said and done, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way, and it can be gut-wrenching. Baseball, for example, is one of the most popular sports in America. The players play 162 games a year, and that's not even counting playoff games. Now, imagine following a team for all 162 games and they don't even make it to the playoffs. For some, they let it go and look towards next season, but for others, it's a struggle to get past the fact that their team wasn't the best. It can be exhausting for players and fans alike. Sports in America is unlike sports anywhere else. We tend to put athletes and the sport itself on a pedestal; they become heroes to fans across America.
The three most popular sports in the United States, in my opinion, are baseball, basketball, and football. The common goal of each of these three games is to have the most points by the end of the game or match. Each team for each sport has a set of players, a set of coaches, and offensive and defensive sets that help them maneuver around their opponents, and create opportunities for them to score. Typically, the team will assign a "team captain" who displays the best leadership qualities and skills to make sure that everyone is on the same page while they are on the court or field. For baseball, it could be anyone that is team captain. But for football, it's typically the quarterback, and for basketball, it's typically the point guard, because they are the ones who call out and run the plays.
Success in these sports are measured by a number of different factors. Typically, for a single season, the ultimate goal is to score the most points by the end of the game, have the most wins by the end of the season, and win the championship. Success can also be measured by looking at the team's history; How many championships have that team already one? Who were some big time players back when that team was really good? Personally, I measure success by how the players play together and bond as a team. Baseball, basketball, and football are TEAM sports, not individual sports, and sometimes players lose sight of the fact that you can't win unless all players are on the same page. For example, the BEST team I have ever seen in sports was the 2002 Sacramento Kings. Though they didn't win a championship, you knew that when Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, and Doug Christie stepped onto the floor, you were in for a great show. The togetherness they played with, understanding for each others game and tendencies, and the amount of respect they had for one another was displayed in almost every game they played with each other.
B) Sports ethic "...emphasizes sacrifice for the game, seeking distinction, taking risks, and challenging limits," (Hughes, Coakley). The four dimensions of this concept include:
1) Being an athlete involves making sacrifices for the game
2) Being an athlete involves striving for distinction
3) Being an athlete involves accepting risks and playing through pain
4) Being an athlete involves refusing to accept limits in the pursuit of possibilities
Athletes tend to conform to these set of beliefs because it is what they need to do in order to become the best athlete that they can be. Making sacrifices means that maybe you won't be able to go to that party on a Saturday night because you need to work on your game, or you choose not to pursue something because your sport is more important. Accepting risks and playing through pain means you realize there is a possibility that you can get hurt while playing, and if that time comes when you do get injured, you work through the pain to get back to 100%.
Personally, growing up playing basketball, I have experienced all four of these dimensions. For example, there cam e a point in my life when baseball and basketball were competing for my time, and I had to make the ultimate decision on which sport I wanted to pursue. Knowing that I was better at basketball than baseball, but still loved playing baseball, I decided to drop baseball and continue with basketball. Though it was a tough decision, it was just one of the sacrifices I had to make in order to pursue what I believed I had a better chance at succeeding.
1. Hughes, Robert, and Jay Coakley. (1991). Positive Deviance Among Athletes: The Implications of Overconformity to the Sport Ethic. Sociology of Sport Journal, 8, 307-12.
The three most popular sports in the United States, in my opinion, are baseball, basketball, and football. The common goal of each of these three games is to have the most points by the end of the game or match. Each team for each sport has a set of players, a set of coaches, and offensive and defensive sets that help them maneuver around their opponents, and create opportunities for them to score. Typically, the team will assign a "team captain" who displays the best leadership qualities and skills to make sure that everyone is on the same page while they are on the court or field. For baseball, it could be anyone that is team captain. But for football, it's typically the quarterback, and for basketball, it's typically the point guard, because they are the ones who call out and run the plays.
Success in these sports are measured by a number of different factors. Typically, for a single season, the ultimate goal is to score the most points by the end of the game, have the most wins by the end of the season, and win the championship. Success can also be measured by looking at the team's history; How many championships have that team already one? Who were some big time players back when that team was really good? Personally, I measure success by how the players play together and bond as a team. Baseball, basketball, and football are TEAM sports, not individual sports, and sometimes players lose sight of the fact that you can't win unless all players are on the same page. For example, the BEST team I have ever seen in sports was the 2002 Sacramento Kings. Though they didn't win a championship, you knew that when Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, and Doug Christie stepped onto the floor, you were in for a great show. The togetherness they played with, understanding for each others game and tendencies, and the amount of respect they had for one another was displayed in almost every game they played with each other.
B) Sports ethic "...emphasizes sacrifice for the game, seeking distinction, taking risks, and challenging limits," (Hughes, Coakley). The four dimensions of this concept include:
1) Being an athlete involves making sacrifices for the game
2) Being an athlete involves striving for distinction
3) Being an athlete involves accepting risks and playing through pain
4) Being an athlete involves refusing to accept limits in the pursuit of possibilities
Athletes tend to conform to these set of beliefs because it is what they need to do in order to become the best athlete that they can be. Making sacrifices means that maybe you won't be able to go to that party on a Saturday night because you need to work on your game, or you choose not to pursue something because your sport is more important. Accepting risks and playing through pain means you realize there is a possibility that you can get hurt while playing, and if that time comes when you do get injured, you work through the pain to get back to 100%.
Personally, growing up playing basketball, I have experienced all four of these dimensions. For example, there cam e a point in my life when baseball and basketball were competing for my time, and I had to make the ultimate decision on which sport I wanted to pursue. Knowing that I was better at basketball than baseball, but still loved playing baseball, I decided to drop baseball and continue with basketball. Though it was a tough decision, it was just one of the sacrifices I had to make in order to pursue what I believed I had a better chance at succeeding.
Works Cited
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