Sports Pages #15-Final Reflections

I've always been a big fan of sports, but I never really considered the broader societal and social impacts that they have. In this class, I learned how to analyze the sporting culture in provocative ways, and I now have a better understanding of what sports truly represent in our society. I now realize that factors such as gender, race, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status have a huge impact on sports, and that as much as we like to believe that sport represents equality, the truth is that we have a long way to go to get there. I think that this is the biggest fact that I will take away from this class, in that sports truly are a microcosm of society in many ways, and many of the same issues that plague our society off of the field/court unfortunately affect athletes as well. Issues in society such as the masculine glorification of violence affect the landscape of contact sports, but at the same time, more positive values such as courage, teamwork, and perseverance also apply within sport as well. Overall, this class was definitely my favorite one of the semester, and I definitely will apply the things I learned when I watch sports in the future, and also will have a more educated perspective on how sports and society intersect.

Sports Pages #14

I believe that sport is becoming increasingly tolerant of LGBT attitudes, however, at the same time, it still has a long way to go. The film "Training Rules" suggests that homophobic attitudes are still a significant issue at the collegiate level, as former Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland openly expressed her distaste for lesbians. The troubling issue brought up in the film was that Portland was not disciplined for her comments, when she likely would have been had she discriminated against blacks, asians, or other racial/ethnic/religious groups. This suggests that there are still boundaries to overcome regarding homosexual acceptance in sport, and that some individuals are not shy about openly discriminating against homosexuals.

In recent times, there have been several athletes who have revealed themselves to be gay, such as NFL draft prospect Michael Sam, and NBA player Jason Collins. Their homosexuality has been a subject of constant debate regarding how it fits into the heteronormative culture of sport. Soccer player Robbie Roberts explained how the masculine culture surrounding sports makes it difficult for gay athletes to come out, as they face stigmatization and harassment by peers and fans. Similarly, the article regarding a current gay NFL player who is afraid to come out due to his fear of homophobic fans further emphasizes the issue of gay acceptance in our culture.

Ultimately, I think that in time, society will become almost completely tolerant of gay players in sport. There was once a time when black players were stigmatized, and over time, our culture becomes more progressive and accepting. I don't see why the same wouldn't happen with homosexual players, however, as the articles and the film show, we still have a long way to go to get to that point. Having open discussions about the issue is sure to help people understand the subject matter at hand, and in time, hopefully the vast majority of fans and athletes will be accepting of homosexuality in sport.

References: Training Rules movie and the articles provided

Sports pages #13

Hoop Dreams showed the unfortunate reality of racial inequality in America, as it portrayed two African American boys who endured many struggles as they attempted to realize their athletic potential and escape their poverty-stricken lives. This is hardly the first film or television show to suggest the hardships that African-American youth face, and it goes without saying that much progress can be made with regards to the opportunities that are afforded to those of minority races and ethnicities. Additionally, the story of the two boys in the film is likely far more common than anyone would like to admit, and shows how much of a stabilizing factor athletics can be in the lives of black youth.

The show Friday Night Lights depicted a fictional town in Texas called Dillon, where high school football was an integral part of the local culture. In the show, the head coach of the Dillon High team eventually moves to East Dillon high, which is a more run-down area that has a higher black population. Coaching the kids on the team proves to be a struggle because they have many financial problems, and are desperate to play football in hopes of attaining an athletic scholarship. Like Hoop Dreams, the show portrays an unsettling reality for African American youth, and shows that Hollywood and television show producers are presenting racial issues through media sources in higher quantities than in previous generations.

I don't believe that sports damage the image of the Black American, because it gives them an outlet to excel and make a name for themselves. However, we tend to glorify athletes based off of their athletic accomplishments, and perhaps should be more sensitive and aware of their life circumstances. I think we need to strive for equality of opportunity for people of all races and genders, and until this happens, the issue will remain both in reality, and in Hollywood portrayals. Sports are ultimately a microcosm of society in many ways, and while America has come a long way in terms of racial equality, it is clear that we still have a long way to go.

Sports Pages #12

For my advertisement, I chose a fairly recent commercial involving LeBron James. James is commonly referenced as one of the most physically talented individuals in the whole of sport (not just his sport of basketball), and the commercial shows him playing for the Cleveland Browns football team. While this scenario is entirely hypothetical, the ad shows him displaying his athletic prowess on the field, with almost superhuman levels of agility and strength. With regards to gender, this commercial portrays a famous male athlete as incredibly strong and athletic, as the clip shows how his physical capabilities would help him excel on a football field. This is largely representative of how male athletes are marketed, as superhuman physical specimens who dominate their competition. It is extremely unlikely that a female athlete would ever be portrayed in this manner, as they are considered athletically inferior to men in almost all sports media coverage. Even famous female athletes would likely not feature in a commercial showcasing their athletic ability in a different sport, as this ad does for LeBron. Because of this, the public often has a skewed perspective of athletes based on the gender differences through their portrayal in advertising and the sports media. Male athletes such as LeBron are displayed as almost godlike in their athletic ability, whereas female athletes are portrayed more passively and are more sexualized. Overall, if sport is to achieve a state of gender equality, the way that male and female athletes are portrayed needs to be more homogenized than it is currently.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NZASF_ADKU

Interrogating inequalities in Sports Media: Examining gender representation in ESPN.com

Over the course of a week, I monitored the cover stories on ESPN's website. The coverage was heavily tilted towards men's basketball (both college and pro), and the Olympics as well, which was represented by both men and women (mostly men). In viewing these photos, it became apparent that the majority of the men were represented in "action" shots, which showed them displaying their athletic prowess. In contrast, the women were almost always posing in some form. In this way, males were typically represented as assertive through their athletic actions, and women were portrayed as more passive. The gender stereotypes that pervade our society are fully applicable within the world of sports, and it is fairly obvious that this creates idealistic images of males and females. Additionally, the amount of coverage of male-dominated sports is vastly disproportional to female sports. As I mentioned previously, I only noticed a couple female images on ESPN compared to hundreds of male images throughout the week. While sports have come a long way by allowing women opportunities to participate in them, it remains to be seen if we will ever see true equality with regards to the media coverage between male and female athletes. Additionally, there are still several barriers to cross with regards to what sports females are permitted to participate in. There have been a few stories of females on high school football teams, but they are usually at positions like the punter or field goal kicker as opposed to more athletic positions like receiver or runner. It will be interesting to see if the sports media will continue to portray women as passive and athletically inferior to men, because this has a vast influence on public perception on what athletes are capable of.

References: Espn.com

Reflecting on the Shame of College Sports: Should NCAA Div 1 Basketball and Football players get paid?

The issue of whether college athletes should get paid is a complex one, and has been increasingly debated in recent times. There are several compelling arguments for both sides that I will outline below.

In favor of paying college athletes, one could say that they are being exploited by the universities, who profit off of their name through merchandise and ticket sales. The absurdly large profits that the universities make through college football and basketball games each season is worthy of contempt when considering that the people they are making off of are not being fully compensated. While they are granted scholarships that pay their tuition, this is still a fraction of the amount that the athletic department makes.

In opposition to paying college athletes, one could say that they have traditionally not been paid, and that it would be in our best interest to keep it this way. This helps sustain the pride of college sport, and by not being paid like the pros, we can guarantee that they are playing the game because they truly love it, rather than for a paycheck. Additionally, they are compensated by getting a free education, and should not take this unique opportunity for granted.

Overall, there are intriguing arguments for both sides. Personally, I lean more towards not paying athletes for several reasons. Firstly, while football and basketball are the most popular college sports, they are not the only sports, and deciding whether to pay athletes who only play the popular sports or having to pay every college athlete would get tricky. Additionally, the universities have every right to maximize the profits from the games, because this can also help boost the community and local economy, as well as possibly persuade out of state kids to visit the college if they have an interest in watching a particularly successful football or basketball team. While I recognize that there are some quality arguments for paying the athletes, I ultimately think that there are too many logistics involved and that they should not be paid.

References: Branch, Taylor. The Shame of College Sports. Hartnett, Tyson. Why College Athletes Should Be Paid. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tyson-hartnett/college-athletes-should-be-paid_b_4133847.html. NYT Sport Economy.

High School Sport

Sport in high school has grown rapidly over the years, and is now a fundamental aspect of the high school experience for many students. It began in the early 1900s, but has progressed to become a fundamental part of local culture. On the surface level its purpose seems simple enough: to allow kids the opportunity to play competitive sports as a balance to the normal lifestyle of a high school student. The physical nature of sports leads to a healthy sense of well being and the opportunity to learn fundamental values such as teamwork and sacrifice while playing among and against fellow students. Additionally, events such as high school football and basketball games are social events that even non-athletes can have fun at as they cheer on their team. Despite these positives however, there is reason to believe that high school sport is beginning to be taken too seriously. As seen in the article, some athletes are targeted at an early age as "phenoms", and have an extraordinary amount of pressure put on them at a young age. Additionally, by placing such a serious emphasis on athletics in schools, there is a possibility that some student-athletes will disregard their academics, which is obviously the main reason they are in school. Because of this, I think it is up to the coaches to teach the players how to balance their lives with school and sports, and learn to be successful both on and off the field/court.

Once the cheering stops: The life of a retired pro-athlete

The life of a retired athlete is not an easy experience, despite having lived a life of luxury and prestige during their playing days. Many athletes end up bored or depressed after they retire, largely due to the change in routine. When playing, they were accustomed to a strict daily schedule that gave them a sense of purpose and organized their life so they felt productive. However, when they are done playing, they often do not know what to do, and this jarring reality has led to many unhappy retirees. Additionally, many former players make poor financial decisions, and end up blowing much of their lucrative salary on extravagant items or misguided investments. Their families rely on them for financial support, and they often feel obligated to support their friends and loved ones, which can also lead to irresponsible spending.

Personally, I think that the NFL and other professional sports leagues could make a better effort to help players transition to retirement. While living the glamorous life of a professional athlete, the ex-players have little "real world" experience, and the issues that result are troubling. I think if the athletes could be educated with possible options after their playing days, there would be less irresponsible spending and the players would be much happier in the long run. It's interesting to consider the downfall of a pro athlete: an individual who had it all, and then ended up with nothing. The reality is that good financial habits are indispensable no matter how rich you are, and I think it's imperative that athletes realize this, and that steps are taken so that they don't face the issues that so many former athletes have had to deal with.


References: 30 for 30 documentary, and the articles provided

Sport, Politics, and the Olympics

The 1972 Munich Olympic games were memorable due to a tragedy involving the murder of eleven Israeli olympians by eight Palestinian terrorists. The event was highly political in nature, because the terrorists wanted the 234 Palestinians held in Israel to be released, which was their motivation for the attack. While five of the terrorists were killed, the damage had already been done, and left a significant impact. However, the IOC made the controversial decision to let the games go on, and only postponed the Olympics for one day. There was a memorial service and the Olympic flags were lowered to half mast in recognition of the terrible event, but the impact of the tragedy was difficult to overcome as the games progressed.

Regarding the reading, I think that this event is most applicable to the use of the Olympics as a site for political demonstrations and violence by political dissidents in the host country. The Palestinian terrorists chose to commit their act in the location of the Olympics, so that they could make a powerful statement to other nations about their capabilities. Since the Olympics is a worldwide event, every nation became aware of the nature behind the attack, and could frame it in a political manner.

While I would prefer that sport be free of political interference, I don't believe that this is the case. The military flyovers and honoring of veterans, as well as the performing of the national anthem are all clear political connections that occur at almost every sporting event. I think it is clear that patriotism is directly correlated with sports, and that sports and politics will always be intertwined for as long as these displays occur.

References:

Rosenberg, Jennifer. http://history1900s.about.com/od/fadsfashion/a/olympics1972.htm

London Calling: The Globalization of the NFL

As with any business, the NFL's goal is to make as much money as possible. It has already proven to be the most popular sport in America, and massive quantities of revenue are drawn from each of the games. However, while the NFL has maintained America's interest for many decades, it has yet to make a notable impact overseas. In order to expose the sport to an international audience, there have been several games played in Wembley Stadium in London, despite having no current team there. However, in order to expand their brand to a global audience, there has been strong indications that the NFL wants a full-time team based in London. While this seems like a good business idea, there are several flaws that make the idea better on paper than in practice. There has been little indication that British citizens would welcome an NFL team openly, as American football is simply not ingrained into the culture there like soccer or rugby is. Also, the logistical issues of having to plan long flights to and from the UK could be a potential nightmare, and attracting players to the team could prove difficult due to the lack of an established fan base and travel issues. Ultimately, I would not be surprised to see the NFL put a team in London eventually, because of the nature of capitalism. Money always talks loudly, and while it would be difficult to solve the issues of having an international team, if there is any chance of gaining more money, the NFL would gladly jump at the opportunity.

Sociogenesis of Baseball

Baseball is America's national pastime, and has been a popular sport in this country for more than a century. In 1845, Alexander Cartwright designed the modern baseball field, and also devised the basic rules of the game, and formed the New York Knickerbockers baseball club, which was a precursor to modern baseball teams that would follow in the decades ahead. Interestingly, the game of baseball was based off the British game called "Rounders", which became popular in the United States during the early 19th century. In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings were formed, which was considered the first professional baseball team, and the first professional baseball league (the National Association of Professional Baseball Players) was formed two years later. In 1878, a patent for a baseball catcher's mask was formed, thereby setting the standard for baseball equipment. As the pictures indicate, the design of the catcher's mask has changed over time, from when it was first invented to the modern day.

In 1901, the American League was formed, which solidified the modern version of Major League Baseball. At the end of the season, the team with the best record in the National League has traditionally faced the American League champion in the World Series. The game became significantly more popular in the 1920s, and this is known as the "live ball" era, where players like Babe Ruth began to hit home runs; a rare event in the previous decades (the "dead ball" era). The game continued to increase in popularity throughout the years, and the color barrier was broken in the 1940s by Jackie Robinson, who was the first black athlete to play in the major leagues. Today, baseball continues to be a popular sport, although the use of performance enhancing drugs has been a controversial subject that continues to provoke intense debate.

References: http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/Baseball.htm

Sport in the Ancient World

In ancient Greece, sport was a significant part of the culture. Events such as discus throwing, wrestling, and sprinting were all primary events, and put the participants' physical and athletic ability to the test for spectators to witness. In contrast, the sport of choice in ancient Rome was Gladiator battles, which were extremely brutal to witness and a true battle of survival. Interestingly, the Greeks allowed people of any background to participate in their Olympics, and in this way, it was a very even playing field, and a true meritocracy. The Greeks placed an emphasis on the human body, and the nude participants were treated as Gods due to their impressive physical stature. However, the Roman Gladiators were typically slaves and considered savages, and were forced to fight each other for the entertainment of the upper elites and the crowd. Another point of interest was the fact that males dominated athletic competition, and women were typically not present, suggesting the perception of gender differences that still persists to this day. Despite the differences between sports and methods, both the Greeks and the Romans placed an emphasis on winning, and the glorification of the winners as well as the stigmatization of the losers is an aspect of sport that is still present in the modern day.

References: Youtube videos provided of Ancient Rome and Greek sports

Sport, Society, and Me

To me, sports represent more than just entertainment. I believe that they embody characteristics that I can apply to my own life: courage, sacrifice, teamwork, commitment, and perseverance. Growing up, I played basketball, and through experience, I learned how to apply the lessons that it taught me off the court to become a more well-rounded individual. I also watched a lot of sports (mainly football, but also basketball and baseball), and as a fan of specific teams, I felt part of a broader community of sports fanatics. This gave me a sense of camaraderie with other individuals who liked watching sports, and I could develop a connection with people based on this common interest. Overall, sports have had a strong impact on my life, and by both playing and watching them I have definitely changed and grown as an individual.

In society, I think that sport has a primarily positive influence, but there also negative aspects of it. As Stanley Eitzen states in "Fair and Foul": "Sport shares with the larger society the basic elements and expressions of bureaucratization, commercialization, racism, sexism, homophobia, greed, exploitation of the powerless by the powerful, alienation, and ethnocentrism". While I generally think that sport embodies more positive values such as teamwork and perseverance, at the professional level there is no denying the corporate influence that threatens to overshadow the game. I think that due to the popularity of sports in American culture, most people tend to appreciate the positive aspects of it, and attempt to ignore the uglier behind-the-scenes aspects of it. Overall, I think that it is obvious how pervasive sports are in American society, and I think that this is largely due to marketing. Even people who do not follow sports closely know the names of certain athletes and teams, and I believe that this is partially due to the commercialization of sports as a brand, which gets the attention of the general public. It is interesting to note how athletes are perceived by the general public, as some are held in high regard for their accomplishments and persona, while others are harshly criticized for being liars, cheaters, or just plain arrogant. While I think that the perception of most famous athletes is positive due to their athletic accomplishments taking precedence over their personal lives, it is undeniable that an athlete's reputation can increase or decrease drastically in a short amount of time.

References: Eitzen, Stanley. Fair and Foul. Chapter 1.

The Sport Ethic

The sport ethic is "the criteria for defining what it means to be a real athlete" (Hughes and Coakley 1991). The ethic encompasses four primary points, the first of which is "making sacrifices for the game". This essentially means that part of an athlete's moral code when participating in a sport is to understand that making decisions for the greater good is necessary to be successful. Values such as as teamwork and selflessness are of particular importance, for example. The second point is that athletes must strive for distinction, meaning that they must attempt to separate themselves from other athletes through superior performance. The third point also relates to the moral code of an athlete, and involves the perception that athletes should play through pain and accept risks. This suggests that toughness is admired by the public, and can boost an athlete's reputation amongst his peers and viewers. The final point is that athletes should "refuse to accept limits in the pursuit of possibilities". This further suggests the "never give up" mantra that athletes are expected to abide by, and their perseverance through the hardship is noticed and respected by others.

I believe that athletes conform to these points of the "sport ethic" because of moral obligation as instilled by their peers and the general public. By failing to understand or incorporate this code into their sport participation, they are risking being criticized and made fun of for being lazy or incompetent. Personally, I have experienced the sport ethic when I participated in YMCA basketball growing up. On the team, I was expected to be a good teammate by passing the ball and setting up scoring opportunities for my teammates, and cheering them on. At the same time, I also wanted to perform well individually so I could separate myself from the other players, and I always wanted to play regardless of if I was feeling tired or hurt. I also wanted to win every game during our league season, and tried hard in practice and the games so I could help my team in pursuit of this goal.

References: Hughes and Coakley (1991)

Sports in the USA

In the United States, sport is a significant part of the American culture. Some of the most popular sports here are football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. While each of these games is different and has a unique set of rules and characteristics, there are several elements that are similar. As with any game, the objective is to win by scoring more points than the opposing team, and competition is encouraged. This makes sports a microcosm of American society as a whole, where the capitalistic system upon which the nation was built encourages competition through businesses creating and selling products to consumers.

In each of the aforementioned sports, a typical game day involves fans coming together to cheer for their team, or simply to watch the game as entertainment. This makes attending or viewing a sporting event a social act in nature, and the fans respond to the events in the game by cheering or booing when certain things occur in the game. Viewers want the game to be played fairly and with class, so abiding by the rules of the sport and showing good sportsmanship is always appreciated.

Success in sports is defined by winning, and the ultimate goal of each sport is to win the championship at the end of the season, thereby signaling a certain team as the best in the league for the season. Because of this, all sports encourage competition, and the aforementioned connection to capitalism holds true in any level of professional sport. The most popular individual athletes are widely recognized for being winners, and elevating their team to a higher level through their athletic ability and perseverance.