Sunday, January 19, 2014
WEEK THREE BLOG ENTRY
This is unrelated to our current theme--savory and sweet deliciousness--but we will see what happens. This week, I want you to talk about the importance of sports in the U.S. Are they simply mindless masses of muscle, these athletes? Do they represent a new gladiator society? Are sports the essence of American culture, the only real locus of culture in a country that has lost its public space? What is the role of sports? Be specific and as personal as you wish. Maybe you were/are a football player, cheerleader, bowler, cymbal player (is cymbalist a word?) in the band, viewer or fan. Or perhaps you sat on the sidelines and scoffed at the whole endeavor. Maybe you awake to watch English soccer at 4am, drive to L.A. to enjoy the Dodgers, or pay exorbitant sums to watch every NBA game of the season. Regardless of who you are, what do all of these games mean? Do a little critical and creative thinking on the cultural meaning of sports.
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Sports in the U.S. This tends to be a tricky subject for many of my cohorts, because a large amount of the population believes that sports can make or break anything from as a simple as a first date to as difficult and compelling as a 40 year marriage. The country has a large focus on sports and although there are many benefits there are also many negatives. Positively, sports can create camaraderie and a sense of belonging for those who may not have an outlet to belong. This can be a double edged sword. Why? Just as quick as those potential friends have been made can you lose that sense of friendliness when your favorite sports team plays a rival or does something unethical on the field. That is when arguments begin, fights break lose and you've officially been banned from buffalo wild wings. Culturally, this is the norm. Competitiveness thrives off of the average American sitting in front of his television screaming obscenities and stuffing his face with waffle flavored Pringles. Perhaps this has become modern day America. However, if we take a look back and recognize the change in the sports industry, we may see that there has been a large change: Pay. Athletes are getting paid exuberant amounts of money now to play with that favorite team. Americans feed into the system because we must, and I do say we must, have that 1st string quarterback because so help me god if we do not. An article produced by the Wall Street Journal detailed some of these financial discrepancies. A baseball player, take Mickey Mantle for example, had a season he was paid roughly $80,000 dollars. Not bad for a small chunk of change, however lets equate that to todays current market value; $526,000. Currently, the average baseball player makes roughly 3.6 million dollars for a season. After the Wall Street Journal calculated these numbers, they were looking at around a 227% increase. Now, I used baseball as an example because that is known as the "all-American sport." Baseball, like most other sports, is one of the many that we Americans enjoy. However, the concern to me is that our societal norm consists of paying someone 3.6 million dollars for one season of work. Perhaps 3.6 million is not so bad, but wait. Let us look at the highest paid baseball player. That would be sir Alex Rodriguez who brings in around 28 million dollars. My concern for sports is that we have a large desire for the subject and we as Americans love the games, but do we not see a problem with paying someone roughly 28 million dollars for one season of work? That is my concern. The people are somewhat to blame. We feed the monster and unfortunately, the bigger picture is that we do not realize that with any sporting event: it is just a game. There are the diehards and the big dreamers who cannot live without sports, but can we please stop and realize that the pay scale is skewed, the system is leeching money from peoples pockets and we are to blame. There are many of issues that are related to sports and although all sports have some form of cultural significance we should take a step back and look at the monster that we have all fed into.
ReplyDeleteI 110% agree with you!!!!!
DeleteIm glad that someone finally does! Most people look at me as if I just killed their mother.
DeleteI agree that players are being paid a great deal of money just to play a game. The Alex Rodriguez situation is especially galling because he is clearly a cheater. These men, however, are not simply collecting a check for playing Monopoly. Did any of you see the NFC Championship game on Sunday night between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks? Near the end of the game, while attempting to recover a fumbled ball, Navarro Bowman got his leg caught underneath another player and essentially bent his leg 90 degrees to the side, obliterating his ACL and MCL. Despite the obvious pain he was in, he did his job and held on to the football. There are many other examples, in many different sports, of players being severely hurt. I believe it is because of the great likelihood of serious injury that helps somewhat justify the skewed pay scale of professional athletes. I would rather see a warrior like Navarro Bowman, who puts his mind, heart, and body on the line every time he takes the field, make millions of dollars instead of, for example, a pop star of dubious morality, such as Miley Cyrus, or an anti-semitic actor like Mel Gibson. My point is that, if it is simply the skewed pay scale of athletes that bothers you, don't stop there, because there are all of the over paid actors, musicians, and media personalities that are even more undeserving of the salaries they fetch, and we, the consumers, are no less responsible for any of it.
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DeleteJoey- I started off reading your blog with an "I could care less about sports right now" attitude. But then you really captured my attention when you started to talk about the pay of athletes. I didn't know they were paid that much! That's crazy! I almost agreed with what Nile said about how the "great likelihood of serious injury helps justify the skewed pay scale of professional athletes," but then I started toI wonder if people who risk their lives on a daily basis, and all year around (police officers, fire fighters, military men and women, etc.) are paid more than athletes or at least about the same. After I thought about it and asked a friend a few questions, I came to understand that they are not paid nearly as much as athletes. So risk of injury must not be the reason! Joey you are so totally right, It must be because a lot of people give way too much of their time and attention to sports. If people weren't so hyped about watching people play sports all the time, the pay of those professional athletes may decrease. But will that happen? I highly doubt it. I think that the sports industry (if that's what it's called) pays the athletes so much because they are simply able to afford it.
Delete@nile mckenna, I agree, Miley Cyrus is gross.
Delete@joey garcia, your level of writing is so consistent. How long does is take you to write on average?
Joey, I agree with you. Professional Sport Athletes are very overpaid. I believe sports are great for this country because it gives people something to be excited about and something to look forward to. But at the same time some fans fist-fight at games which is extremely unnecessary. I do enjoy going to watch some games, but football is very expensive to attend to. Which goes hand in hand what you are talking about. Fans pay expensive prices to help pay for the stadium, players salary, etc.
DeleteNile, to concur with what you said I would like to point out that there has been an increase from 1950 towards sports players and their wages by about 227%. Let me take into consideration a few singers and artists, who undoubtedly make a large sum of money as well. Elvis Presley at the height of his career would make an estimated $450,000 for one appearance. This was back in 1960. Now let us compare to a singer/rapper like Pitbull. Needless to say, his music is not ground breaking work, however he manages to pull an upwards of $100,000 dollars for his appearance. Compare that to Elvis back in the 1960's and we have some clarification. The numbers do not add up. Now entertainment has inflated over the years, but regardless, there is a lack of apples to oranges.
DeleteSarah I appreciate the commentary on my writing. To be completely honest, I write things within 15 minutes. English was my intended major, however I cannot take the upper division classes necessary to obtain my bachelors. This class is genuinely fun for me.
Cheyenne there is a sense of entertainment with anything; sports, music, art... etc. However, what alarms me is that we allow these industries to get bigger and bigger. The numbers related to salaries are becoming ridiculous it is becoming more of a contest between owners then an actual legitimate number.
Joey, write a book! I will be sure to read every page, as well as making sure to get it autographed.
DeleteJoey, I agree, Pitbull is simply the worst!
DeleteI agree with your analogy of a "double edged sword" being used in this context. As a professional is it expected to be paid yet, the astronomical amount of monies being paid to people that are intellectually stunted, over glorified and generally larger than life personalities. While this is not ALWAYS the case, it is unfortunately the type of person found throughout most media outlets for all to see and/or judge.
DeleteHow interesting. It takes me at least 45+ mins to write. And no problem, you write really well, kind of like a blogger. You should consider minoring in English for a backup plan for your major.
DeleteJoey, I sense that maybe you have thought about this before, right? You bring up many great issues!
ReplyDeleteThank you Dr. Schmoll. I have recognized these concerns before and I often write passionately when given the canvas to do so.
DeleteI agree with your thoughts on excessive pay. I, along with what seems to be the general public, always have compared salaries between certified professors, doctors, etc., and athletes, singers, and all other celebrities. I never will be able to understand why some celebrities will get paid more than other occupations that seem more helpful. I tried looking at a different view point and thought about lack of privacy and the dangers being a possible factor? I'm not trying to say that the amount of money paid to people like athletes is appropriate, but I try and look at the possible answers.
DeleteI am one of the few people on this planet that can care less about sports. I played softball and basketball in school, and it was fun, but that’s it. It wasn’t my life and I haven’t really thought about it since. I get together with friends from time to time to “watch” a game at a local pub, but the majority of the time is spent socializing. I do cheer when the team I choose to cheer for that day scores… but I couldn’t tell you what position who plays, or even what positions there are in that particular sport (though I do know baseball positions and most basketball positions). It completely baffles me how someone can be so enthralled in a sport/team. How can something like that, that that person is not physically a part of, rule their emotions/character/life? My brother is an example. Though he was calmed down significantly, in the past he would turned into a completely hateful @$$hole (excuse my language, but anything less would not do his manner justice) if his team lost. Even if they won but played bad he would be someone to steer clear of. This makes absolutely no since to me. Why men (and yes, sometimes women) start fights because of rival teams. IT’S NOT PERSONAL!! THEY ARENT TALKING BOUT YOUR MAMMA! Sheesh!
ReplyDeleteI personally don’t see that importance of sports in America because I am saddened by how much it has been put on a pedestal. There are so many more important things people could and should be doing with themselves than infesting their time and energy (and sometimes soul) into these teams/games. It was meant for fun, for something to take our minds off of the harsh times of war and depression. But now it is an obsession and because of that obsession these players are making an OBSCENE amount of money… to play! How much does an Oncologist make? Someone who lives their lives to save yours or your family member from a deadly disease? Compare that to how much the average football player makes! How on earth does that make sense? In my opinion, the way sports are idolized in this country is just one of the signs that we are in deep trouble (or at least our kids/grandkids are).
I think is harsh to say sports are not important. I do think sports are not necessary for our daily life, but they can bring many benefits. For example, I don’t believe the physical education that children receive at school is enough for them to have a good overall health. If they don’t receive a good physical education at school and if we don’t encourage them to go outside to play, then we are going to continue seeing even more cases of obesity or other health problems than the ones we have now.
DeleteI do agree with you that is not fair how athletes gat paid more than other people that save lives, but is something we can’t control. We shouldn’t blame the whole for something that teams and business do, because that is their job, to make money.
LOL don't you hate when sport fan's deem a person who's not interested in sports "introvert." Sports aren't my central interest either. I would love to find out why in the world men grow so emotional when their team is insulted.
DeleteAnd I agree, there should be a hunger games for those team players who struggle in the medical field. A hunger games in reverse though, showing how brutal of a "game" practitioners have it on a daily basis and make nowhere near as much as Peyton Manning.
Rodrigo, I never said sports wasnt important. I believe they are 100% important in school and while at play at home. I have a son that the first thing he wants to do when hes out of school is get on the wii or ipad or watch netflix. Drives me nuts and I constantly encourage sports and outside play with him. I was simply talking about professional sports and how ridiculous it is how much the players get paid and how important some people make it in their lives. To some, it can ruin their life via gambling or alienating friends and family because they have opposing thoughts/teams.
DeleteSarah.... lol Id watch that!
Mishabc I agree with this comment. I hate that kids want to come home and play video games!! I always think to myself "go play outside!" I also always encourage outside play such as sports. Professional sports are something of enjoyment, but can get crazy and the players are usually paid way too much. But at home and school I believe sports are a great way for kids to interact with others.
DeleteHey Mishabc,
DeleteI agree that it is unnecessary when some people get really angry when their team loses a match. I love playing sports and watching a few. You brought up a good point about athletes being paid a lot compare to people in the medical field. I believe that athletes should not be getting paid as much as they do, but then again I think they do so because people age. Soon, they will be old, retired, and replaced because there will always be young athletes being recruited. Furthermore, I don't agree with the amount of income they make per season but it is something that I have pondered about.
Mishabc I enjoyed reading your post. I definitely agree with some of your comments. Sports are so important because the American public has made them important. I love the excitement of sports but when people become too crazy and lose their control it is over the top. It is okay if people are entertained by sports but it should never lead to fights, arguments or such levels. People need to not take their teams' victories so personal. There are some people that I have come across and it appears as if their sports team is more important than friends and family. I absolutely love watching baseball, but I enjoy games when I am able to socialize with friends.
DeleteI agree that sports are being put on a pedestal. It's ridiculous how much we spend on tickets, or how much money goes into games, and it even costs companies millions of dollar just to run a commercial during the Super Bowl. Millions of dollars for a 1-2 minute commercial! It's insane. I am a fan of football and hockey but not obsessively die-hard like some people are. I have friends who are fans of the 49ers and they go through an almost "ritual" type act in order to gain more luck. It's ridiculous. I do however like to do archery as a way to escape the world and release stress.I believe there is more to sports than the career style we see on TV. I also enjoy things like hiking and fishing, so I use sports as a way to enjoy life and relax, compared to those who make it their life.
DeleteI also agree with you. I'm not a very big sports fan either and I believe at least professional sports are put on a pedestal. I like your example of an oncologist. Its crazy to think about sports and finances. The money they make is ridiculous, although it would be nice. I also think that too much problems go along with sports when peoples team win or lose.
DeleteI, myself am not a "sporting event enthusiast!" I also only went to a couple games in my high school years to socialize but I never really did pay attention to the games. I also would not know positions or calls given! I wouldn't say that they are unnecessary or unimportant though. There are some benefits to sports, health wise and all, but I'm a bit irked at salaries given to professional athletes!
DeleteI do believe sports are somehow important in the U.S because even if you are not interested in them, they might still bring you some benefit. You can benefit a lot from sports like by having more interaction with people, finding new forms of entertainment or even helping you overcome difficult times in your life, like if you have an addiction. Sports help as a form of rehabilitation. Another form in which sports are important is in the medical field. Even if you do not like sports, there are lots of opportunities to work in physical therapy, as trainers, or treating athletes’ injuries which are very well paid jobs. I think what is most important about sports is that they bring happiness to those that form part of them. I believe is important to do what you enjoy and I think that everyone that practices a sport, even the professional athletes, they do it because they enjoy something about sports.
ReplyDeleteI also believe there are some bad aspects about sports. I do not like the conflicts created by “true fans” and how they disrespect other sports. People become so obsessed by sports that they forget how to enjoy them. Something else that I dislike about sports lately is how some sports, teams and players are overrated. Besides creating conflicts, this also creates a demand for players and it all becomes just absurd. I understand some people are more talented than others and they deserve something more if they use their talent, but lately it is just awful. Baseball player Alex Rodriguez is a clear example of a player that is being paid too much and that according to some people and evidence, he owns most of his fame to steroids. Gareth Bale is a soccer player that after a good season, he was bought for more than 120 million Euros even though there were several players that had better statistics than him.
Finally, I will discuss something that will anger many people, and that is the reality of American football. It just pains my heart to see how hypnotized people are about this sport. I do not hate this sport. I repeat, I do NOT hate this sport. I think sports are meant to show your ability, effort and qualities, but lately American football has become a sport that focuses on muscles only. This is why we don’t hear about new talents because most players are focusing on getting big and strong, instead of focusing on improving their abilities. What I hate is the amount of time they lose during a game. The replays, the switching of teams, from defense to offense and to special teams is just awful. This kills the emotion of the game.
I completely agree with you. Your writing really helped me think of my understanding of sports. There are good and bad points to sports in the U.S.
DeleteIt was interesting to read your input on how sports can be used to create jobs and as a healing mechanism. I can't say that I have every thought of it like this. I know there are sports analysts and therapists out there, but I just thought of that as another job; I never thought of them as being there because sports existed. I guess I figured they would have found someone to treat or something to analyze and report on. Good post!
DeleteThank you for giving credit to the strengths of sports in the scope of socialization and its effects on society in general! It is completely refreshing to see someone that acknowledges a deeper level of understanding of how communication and the simple act of joining a team can effect mental as well as physical health. Kudos!
DeleteI absolutely love how you brought up sports as a "recreational" aspect! Especially using the example of an alternative to addictions because I have mentioned that to people trying to quit smoking and drinking! Sports, in general, aren't a bad thing at all. It's a shame that the good in sports is being overshadowed by the "bad."
DeleteIn the U.S. today society has made sports significantly important in the American culture. There are big sports fan who watch or attend every game of their favorite team. Then there are people that have no interest in sports what so ever. I'm in between both; I like baseball but I do not keep with it like most sport fans would. I watch for fun, but would prefer to play any sport rather than watch it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with my classmates when they talk about athletes being overpaid. I mean I understand that they put their neck on the line every time they play the game, but they do it because they like the sport or they are getting paid well. No one forces someone to play in any major league and they get compensated well enough to the point where if they get hurt they will recover financially.
What I find most disappointing about sports in the American culture is that schools put more emphasis and money into sports than anything else. In high school and in college money tends to go towards the better and more popular sports. Schools will spend money on new equipment and uniforms rather than use the money for educational purposes. Schools will even let student athletes slide in their education if they going to bring the school glory or receive some kind of scholarship. Our society puts to much power and value on sports; which we only have there to entertain us.
I agree with you.When I was in high school they would do the same thing. They do tend to put more emphasis into sports. They used to buy more things for the most popular sports even though they never won anything. Now that I think about it would have been good if they have put money into other things for the school. I would have liked more classes and more materials for some classes, but all they did was to get a new gym and stadium.
DeleteYou are absolutely right. Most schools focus more on sport than education. My high school was surely one of them. Students who played sport could get away with almost anything. As a requirement of the school, students were not longer "allowed" to play any sports with a failing grade, but the coaches always found ways around that. To the coaches, education was for those who were not good at sport. It was unbelievable.
DeleteAbigail,
DeleteI rather be playing sports over watching them too. I agree that the American Culture is putting more emphasis on sports rather than education. Sometimes i feel as if athletes do get away with things in school because of their status. Some athletes are great at the sport they play and having a school get recognition for that has become something colleges really pay attention to and focus on.
Rodrigo, Geraldine and Diana,
DeleteI did not want to believe that in schools, sports were more important than education. I actually had a nurse, who use to be a teacher, tell me her reason for quitting and it had to do with a student athlete. She said that she had this football athlete in her class and he would never show up to class. He was a senior, big shot football athlete, and he got offered a scholarship from a University. The only thing the student athlete had to do was to pass his classes and he was going to get the scholarship. Well the end of the year came and his teacher(who is now a nurse) was not going to pass him. She was not going to give him a grade that he did not deserve. Of course the student was not to happy to hear that his athletic career was going to be stopped by this one teacher, so he threatened her. He told her that he would report her to the news that they were having relationships with each other. She went to the principal of the school with this matter and the principal told her to pass him. She could not do it, therefore she quit right on the spot. She could not believe that she was asked to such a thing. She told me that she would not have been able to live with herself if she had passed that student. To this day she does not know what happened to the student.
When I heard this story, I still couldn't believe that something like this could happen. Schools need to draw the line at some point when it comes to sports and their athletes.
Abigal that is such a sickening story. Schools keep cutting things that improve education yet keep or increase sport funds. I very much agree that they do need to be part of school (I played a few sports myself which helped keep me out of trouble), but to put it ahead of intelligence is terrible and makes me wonder just where this country is going to be in the next hundred years.
DeleteI can appreciate your sentiments regarding the misguided use of school funds for athletics in place of or instead of something essential such as art or music or books for that matter. My daughter attends a private high school (not hard to guess which one since there is only two in Bakersfield) that is constantly under scrutiny for recruiting and I find myself questioning the amount of monies I put out for the same education. While I wouldn't change sending her to this school I am aware of its downfalls.
DeleteSports are incorporated and have been encompassed into every culture alive. The Spaniards have bull fighting. Switzerland’s art is fencing. America includes football. The American life of sporting has had solely a positive influence on the masses. Similar to sports in a high school, it keeps adolescents occupied and out of trouble. In a sense, adults are kept busy as well. Not that adults need constant distraction in order to make the right choices, but sporting events maintains the grown person. A healthy state of mind, a sense of involvement and participation is achieved by the average American sport buff. These fans have a hobby and are united to celebrate a common interest in a fun environment. However, sports in America is a conflicted subject. The money, the power, the attention sports in America get is morally questionable.
ReplyDeleteThose who don’t take interest in the sporting phenomena are unaffected by the entertainment of sports. Non-sport-enthusiasts might have a different leisure. And that’s the beauty of it. Non-sport-enthusiasts remain unaffected while sport-fanatics revolve around the sport’s Sunday schedule. Both parties can coexist. But do both groups contain the same quality of life? Should a person opt to be involve in a sport of choice or neglect all sports for a lifetime?
The only downfall among sport supporters is that there is a point where sporting should not breach. Sports should not be a gang-affiliated. Fans should maintain a two to four drink ratio, sex-dependent. Respect levels should be at its highest because these devotees will sometimes lose sight of that when adrenaline and competitiveness overrides personal morals. Aside from that, the sporting amusement has given America spirit and cheer.
I completely agree with you. Sport should not be gang affiliated. Sport should been the thing that brings all people together. And it should not be place for people to get drunk. I agree.
DeleteSarah, you shine a light upon a topic that most people do not realize. Gang affiliation within sports fans is extremely common place. I once went to a football game in Oakland where I was spit on because I was not wearing a team jersey. What was the description of the assaulter? Short bald head, tattoos on his face, gang affiliated and of course was cursing. It is ridiculous that people can quickly change the excitement of the events and turn it into something negative.
DeleteJoey, oh my goodness, he spit on you? That is so demeaning, probably one of the most disgusting things a person can do to another. How did you respond to that?
DeleteGeraldine, yes! The drinking should be controlled. Fans should be screened for DUI's
DeleteI grew up in a developing country where sports are still tertiary needs. The focus in life is in formal education, how to get the highest grade in math and science. If you are good in math and science, you can go to the best college in the country or can get scholarship to go to one of colleges in Europe, Australia, or United States (for developing countries like my country, there are many scholarships funded by other foreign governments and several international organizations), and at last, after you graduate, you can get a good job and get a better life. You won’t earn enough money if you choose sport as your main career. You can do sports as hobbies when you already get a good job and of course, have spare time. Doing sport when you are still at school is almost impossible, your time will be occupied for studying. Students are loaded by so many subjects at school: 11 subjects in elementary school, 12 subjects in middle school, and 15 subjects in high school. Sports? Are you kidding me? I don’t have time.
ReplyDeleteMy son was five years old when we moved to United States 8 years ago. His teacher suggested us to sign him up to Bakersfield Southwest baseball league so that he could get a lot of new friends and could speed up his English learning process. Since then, my son has been in so many sports leagues (basketball, baseball, football, and golf), he can’t live without sports… and he is still doing really well at school too. Every time I take my son to the practices or watch his games, I can’t stop thinking.. this is what I missed when I was young… and what most kids in Indonesia are missing now too… to get opportunities to experience winning and losing from a young age, to practice empathy….to practice to become a humble winner and gracious loser. My country is experiencing the lack of mature leaders right now. The leaders are smart, but they are not mature. Corruption is everywhere in the country. The winning political party can’t get along with the losing parties. Even the president is taking care of his party more than taking care of his country. They get stuck in one game for years, they are not moving on.
So, What is the role of sports? I can’t give any comment regarding the athletes or sports businesses in the US, because I know nothing about it. I have been asking my son many times, which one the football team is.. 49ers or Giants… and I don’t know why I keep forgetting it. However, I can say something from my experience raising my son in this country. Sport is a great foundation to build a strong country. As a foreigner in the US, I can say that US has been building its strong people through sports. Strong – the people have been experiencing winning and losing from a young age. Sports are the training grounds to build strong generations. I can see how sports have been shaping my son into a better and stronger kid. In one of his basketball games last week, he helped the other team player to get up and he said “are you ok?” And I’ve been seeing this scene many times and were done by many kids. That’s not an easy thing to do, helping your ‘enemy’ and saying ‘sorry’ to them. I don’t know whether my son would have been able to learn that empathy to his "enemy" if he lived in our country since the environment and the system didn't give him opportunity to practice them.
This culture relates to sport, is what Americans should be proud of. This is what shapes stronger generations and makes your country a great country. I hope my country will come to that stage one day - when the people can get training grounds to experience more winning and more losing.
Arina..... thank you so much for this post and your insight. I loved reading it and I plan on reading it to my husband later. You took this topic to another level that I greatly appreciate. Bravo!
DeleteArina, I really enjoyed reading your post. You mention many values and valid points to why sports help make this country. I agree with many of what you say. I'm very glad your son is learning to help his opponent even though it is not what we always want to do. I know you feel you missed out on sports already, but it is never to late to start one or just try it out. Ask your son to teach you! :) I think it would be a great bonding experience for you both. If he plays baseball I recommend taking him to one of the batting cages in town and get in and hit some balls with him.
DeleteThanks! Last year, I started volunteering my son's football team as photographer, so I had to understand the games. And from behind my lens, I could understand my son better now. I learn a lot from my son. Especially in handling a situation after losing a game.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn the United State, sport plays a major role in our lives and society. What binds the more than 300 million Americans together is a shared identity (sport). Throughout history, sports have played a crucial role in helping to establish this identity. Take for example, baseball, which has been one of United state long lasting sport. During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers played baseball during lulls in the fighting. Sport is not just only sport in United State, it is the core of this country; a fuel that keeps running. If i remember correctly, baseball was at the forefront of the modern Civil Rights movement. Jackie Robinson entered the league with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Robinson’s addition to the Dodger lineup was met with resistance by some of his teammates. Brooklyn manager Leo Durocher told the Dodger players that "I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a f****** zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded.” To put Robinson’s achievement into perspective, Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier seven years before the Supreme Court ruled “separate but equal” unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education. Robinson was playing first base for the Dodgers a full 16 years before Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963(thanks history class). Sport not only unites us as a country, it knows no boundary of race. One for all and all for one.
ReplyDeleteGreat inclusion of Robinson here! We HOPE it knows no boundaries, right? There's a great story of Bill Russell when he was coaching and playing for the Celtics. His father came and watched a game and after the game sort of timidly said to Bill Russell, "are you sure it's okay to order around those white people?"
DeleteI think you are right, it is a great opportunity for folks to come together!
Great point, sports had a lot to do with civil rights and the desegregation of our country. Kudos for focusing on the good things about sports, rather than focusing on the negative like most of the bloggers have.
DeleteI've always knew my fair share of sports in which it has taught me, such as pride, respect and integrity, but learning about the history of sports just fascinates me! Thank you! I must say, the movie 42 was very good as well!
DeleteI am not a sports fanatic person. I play to the best of my ablility and it is a great way to interact with people and form friendships over a sport everyone enjoys, but to take it to to a whole different level where sports should not even be considered is beyond me. I respect that everyone needs to make a living in a decent way, but to make millions of dollars in a sport that the athelte is extremely good at is just crazy. I know that when I finish college and find a good job, I know that I will never make at least one percent of what these atheltes are making in a year or season. I do believe sports have a cultural aspects to the American culture, because lets just imagine a scenario of two people who do not like each other and finally realize that they both are fans of the same team, they might start talking about the sport and maybe form a friendship; just because of their common interest of the sport. Another aspect is how people of rivals teams can become nasty human beings, like I seen on the news how the losing team started burning cars and starting picking fights with the winning team. Like why can't the fan just realize that not always is his team going to win. His life lesson should be that he should acknowledge when his team loses.
ReplyDeleteAdriana, great thinking. I appreciate the idea of two strangers bonding over sports. It happens every weekend in bars around the country, I imagine!
DeleteAdriana,
DeleteYou make some good points about sports in our culture forming bonds and also rivals. I've heard too many stories about people fighting over their favorite teams. Some of these fights have even led to death because people get so crazy. There is more to life than sports and people need to learn not to take it so seriously.
Personally I feel that there is an amusing side to the rivalries. There is no greater feeling then playing your rival team and winning.
DeleteI believe the role in sports wears many hats for many different people. For some it serves as an outlet to release emotions that could potentially be harmful to ones well-being. For some it is a way to keep them occupied and out of the streets. It also serves as a building block for essential tools like teamwork, camaraderie, and building social skills. What it does in American society is provide entertainment that people are generally willing to pay for. This form of revenue generates billions of dollars a year and therefore enables them to receive large contracts. In high school I was on the cheerleading and wrestling team and they both were like MY LIFE! That's pretty much where all my time went besides classes and that's basically all I talked about. I only did wrestling for one year but it was still everything to me at that time. I think I gave so much time to those sports back then because it was my way of releasing built up, negative emotions. Now, I can honestly care less about sports. I haven't played any sports since my senior year of high school, which was about four years ago. I don't really know what made me have a different outlook on sports though.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about it being the place to release emotions, and a way to keep people occupied and out of the streets. I believe for children that sports are a good thing. As adults, its an enjoyment, not the be overreacted. And by playing sports myself too (soccer for 12 years) I feel how you felt about sports being your life. If you love sports that much though, it is your life and some of those people play in college and make it to higher leagues. I feel that sports are good and bad and also only for some people.
DeleteSports do have a different meaning to everyone. But overall this country is crazy about sports. It is interesting to know that you were once very into sports and now it is the complete opposite. Most of my friends who started to play sports in middle or high school fall in love with sports more and more each year. Do you think your change of mind could have been because of school? or time? You seem to have been very pationate about cheer leading and wrestling; have you ever thought about doing either or again?
DeleteI can relate to this. Sports do serve as an outlet for me. Watching a good game gives me a couple hours to just get away from all the work, problems, school, and issues in everyday life.
DeleteGabriela- I think that my change of heart came after I went to college. My first here I didn't care for our cheerleading team so I never tried out. Eventually I became occupied with other things such as work, school, and church activities so I guess that led me to not focus on sports so much. Yes, I've thought about doing both again but I worry that I am no good anymore.
DeleteMiranda- Do you play soccer at our school?
DeleteI do believe that sports have an important aspect in the U.S because even if you are not a sports crazy fan, sports can bring you some kind of benefit. I played sports my entire life. I was a competitive soccer player for 12 years and I still enjoy watching sports. I believe that you benefit from sports by interacting with others, using it as a form or entertainment, and many other things. But I do not think it’s all about the big checks that out athletes receive. Even though, they are getting pain WAY too much, I believe that sports biggest benefit to the U.S. is the other jobs it brings. The sports industry brings thousands of jobs like trainers, physical therapy, treating injuries as a doctor, and many others. Most jobs dealing with sports pay fairly well. Without sports, there would be no jobs like this.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that the people that participate in sports and have jobs dealing with sports enjoy it. First, sports are important because fans enjoy them and the individual playing the sport enjoys it. These men and women playing football, soccer, baseball, volleyball, and other sports, play them because they LOVE the sport. They live and breathe it. It is everything to them. It makes me wonder, where would that person be without sports? Second, those people who work as physical therapists or trainers also love their job. They love helping people who are injured and unable to do the ting they love until they are healed. And third, sports are something to just simply enjoy even if you do not enjoy them. Sports are not for everyone, but they are for some people and it is a way of happiness to them. They look forward to watching the game and cheering on their team. I believe that it is important to do what you enjoy and what makes you happy. The line between enjoying and overdoing it with being a sports fan is very thin.
I enjoy sports. I like to watch, and I sometimes have a team I go for. But, there are people who take it too far. You know those people, the ones that scream the entire game and try to ruin it for everyone else. People become so obsessed with the sport that they don’t know how to relax and enjoy the game anymore. They are so worried about their team winning that they don’t enjoy. Along with fans overreacting there is always the athletes that act the same way. If anyone saw the football game on Sunday you know what I mean. One of the football players freaked out in an interview after the game. He won the game, why is he so pissed off? Calm down and ENJOY your win! The only situation that I understand when an athlete is upset is when they loose. There is no need to yell, but having a bad day is understandable. It is so hard to love a sport so much and work so hard and then loose. I understand this from my years of soccer. I also truly believe that the amount of money that athletes are pain is insane. My dad is a Battalion chief for the Bakersfield fire department. He has saved many lives and doesn’t get paid anything like what a baseball played makes to hit or catch a ball. Along with pay, I do not think it is fair that different sports athletes get paid more then other sports athletes. I only know soccer to be honest, and some football. But at a professional level, athletes all work hard for what they do and should get paid similar amounts, no matter what sport and gender.
Overall, I believe there is down falls to sports in the U.S., but on the other hand, sports are fun to enjoy if you are into them. I don’t blame people for hating those people who are over obsessed with sports, I don’t like them and I love sports. People need to learn how to slow down and enjoy sports, don’t over react people, its just a game and there is always next year.
Funny stuff: "One of the football players freaked out in an interview after the game. He won the game, why is he so pissed off? Calm down and ENJOY your win! "
DeleteThis reminds me of when the Lakers won and the fans rioted outside of Staples Center in Los Angeles. Our team won. Let's celebrate by burning some cars!
^^^ I was thinking the same thing as I read this post.
DeleteThe importance of sports in the U.S. has become an American Culture. Kids grow up playing sports at a very young age in the U.S. and I believe this is partly due to the way society is. Some countries focus solely on education, while here in the U.S we start putting children into sport clubs where they begin at a young age. We build a prodigy on the individual, perfect their craft and this is how many children grow up getting scholarships, which then get them into college. I believe sports are not mindless masses of muscle. I say that because as I was growing up I began to play sports. Playing sports was actually a motivation for me to keep my grades up and do well. If grades were not good enough then one was not able to play on the school team. Sports made me a better person. I began to be more social with students. I learned the importance of leadership, teamwork, and communication as well. Sports are definitely the essence of American culture compare to other countries. Other countries don’t have sports and if they do they tend to have one dominant sport. Here in the U.S, every sport that is performed must do well to succeed. In a way it’s kind of survival of the fittest, it’s so competitive and the U.S wants to be the best in all sports. The truth is America revolves around sports. Not only are academics important in the U.S but sports have also become valuable. I believe the role of sports helps teach individuals, important traits that will help that individual later on in life to succeed in whatever they are trying to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! For me growing up in sport, it was motivation at its finest. I knew that I had to get home do my homework and then go to practice. If I ever let my grades slip past what my parents wanted me to have I started to loose my sports privileges. Not to mention all the hard work and hours I put into it that helped me to learn skills that I still use to this day.
DeleteI completely agree with you! Sports teach you discipline, hard work and team work. They are a great way for children to learn how to work with others but also how to manage their time.
DeleteIt seems like this questions is generating long responses. I wonder why.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that sports in the United States are just about the muscles and fame. However, I will not totally write all of those stereotypes off. I think that we hold athletes to standards that are higher in some areas and lower in others. For most Pro athletes we forgive them for many things that we do not think twice about. I know that many athletes have cheated on their spouse and in every day ordinary people that is terrible. To athletes it really doesn’t seem to bother them, they have someone new before the first scandal was out of the tabloids. In other areas, we hold them to such high standards and don’t think we realize it. For a player to have not enough points in a game, or get a slow time on the track field we ridicule them. The mess up in their sport a tiny bit and it is all over. People begin to speculate what is going on in their lives that are making them do poorly. When the reality is that everyone has bad days for no reason, sometimes you just don’t perform well. I know that when I swam, I could have a tough day or even struggle through practice and get pulled aside to talk about it. I know that at the end of the day I was just a girl who needed motivations to accomplish goals. All athletes are just people that have dedicated a lot of time into one trade. This trade does happen to be entertaining to the public and that is most of the reason as to why there are so many public problems with sport. I do think that the American public has turned them into huge deals. At the same time I think that it helps kids to get excited about a future in sports and keeps them active learning lifelong lessons. Hopefully, children can learn to be more involved in sport and outdoor activities for over all better health in the future. This outlet can hopefully be the good that comes from such involvement in sport.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you! I think that the standards that we hold athletes to are not appropriate or correct in any way. It also bothers me the way that some athletes are treated when they don't live up to the "standards". Everyone is going to have a bad day or miss a shot, but that doesn't mean they should then immediately be ridiculed and set aside. I fear that this type of treatment might backfire and show younger athletes that they should not try as hard because if they do something remotely wrong, they will be set aside or benched. This can cause them to stop trying or quite the sport all together. Michael Jordan said this "I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed".
DeleteSports have become a very important in American I think for many reasons than one. Many enjoy watching it for entertainment, some play it for enjoyment or exercise. Sports can give people excitement. It makes them have something enjoyable to look forward to. For children, it can be for fun, entertainment, but also can teach them sportsman-ship, to abide by rules, and to work with others. I believe for some, sports may be just for muscles and fame but I don't believe they are for the majority of America. Students who play sports must maintain a good grade point average while being involved in their sports. For some people, sports is an outlet for them to release some steam or just have a good time away from daily life. For some, it is their life. Those people are professional athletes.
ReplyDeleteSports can be a positive influence in some people's lives. I know it was for mine when I played softball in high school. It motivated me to keep good grades so that I was able play. It taught me to work well with others, even if you don't want to work with someone it helps teach you to find ways to cooperate with them. I enjoy watching certain sports. I enjoy watching football sometimes, UFC fights, rugby, sometimes the Olympics, and baseball. I really enjoy going to watch the Dodgers during their season. Watching baseball on TV can be boring, but watching baseball live is much more fun. The crowd is all excited and everyone cheering makes the experience great, plus who doesn't like a Dodger Dog. I'm sure that is the reason why many people are willing to spend money to watch professional teams play or just sign their kids up for sports and enjoy watching them.
I think sports provide great stability for this country. It is not only just entertainment, its not just to exercise, its not just to teach out kids a lesson and develop them, its American's culture that has reason of those and probably many more.
Hi Cheyenne. I agree with what you said about sports being a positive influence on people. I guess, at the end it just depends on if you are going either make sports a good or a bad influence in your life.
DeleteThis was an interesting topic to think about this week. For me, I personally don't believe that sports are a huge deal here in America as compared to other nations and locations around the world. There are certain sports here in America and certain parts of the country that are more well known and super charged. However, I don't believe it can compare to other places that are so passionate about sports that they end up rioting or having major brawls in the streets. While I know these types of things have occurred in the US, they certainly haven't occurred on the same scale or frequency as other places.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do see the importance that sports hold here in the states. It gives us a common rally point and something to bond over. Personally, I enjoy playing sports because it was something new and exciting. I joined the wrestling team in high school to prove to my self that I could do what I set mind mind to. That then transformed into a passion and almost into a lifestyle. The thrill of learning new moves and techniques, studying your next opponent, winning and losing and being part of a team with one goal in mind, winning. Now that I am no longer part of a team, I fill that void by being a fan of other teams. This provides me more chances to hang out with friends and family while watching the game and bonding.
All together, sports serve a couple of different purposes on both a individual and community level. At the individual level, sports may serve as a method of gaining self-esteem, health and life skills. While at the community level, they provide rally points, clubs, entertainment and revenue opportunities. Sports have been used as a way to come together during hard times, break racial barriers and bring the world together to satisfy mankind's innate need compete and prove themselves.
When it comes to sports I can honestly say that I am torn. Being a sister of a high school football player I can attest to the fact that the sport has kept him out of trouble and has taught him what team work is. Each game that we have attended in the last four years has always been a social event that my family and I look forward to. The games are always filled with fans and families of other players of the team. Our differences; race, size, language preference, social standings do not matter, what matters at the end of the night is that our team wins. Sports has this unique way of bringing people together. Another example of this would be attending a sports bar on Sunday night when your team is going to play. It is a truly incredible experience, your surrounded by fellow fans screaming and cheering and you get this feeling that you are part of something much bigger. Every gain of yards, penalty, and touchdown get your heart pumping. The game over all elicits feelings of anger, frustration, happiness, even joy. Due to these experiences I have had I truly think that sports have an ability to bring people together. I however, do not agree with this foolish idea that we should pay athletes millions of dollars to run or kick a ball. Nor do I believe that we should idolize these athletes because in doing so we are telling our children that as long as they can kick a ball they are set for life. I feel that at the end of the day sports have a lot of positives but also have just as many negatives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely! Was football the only sports your brother played in high school? My younger brother played many sports all throughout high school and it was a family event every friday to see him play.
DeleteNo he also played baseball and wrestled for a year. Sports always kept him busy which my parents loved! I personally loved having something to do on Friday nights that did not involve partying.
DeleteWhen it comes to sports and entertainment I am one in many who watch, admire and support the athletes and entertainers from the bleachers. The only sport I am a fan of is baseball and I enjoy going to the games. Last year, for the first time, I experienced opening game day at Dodger stadium. It was full of all the fans and the atmosphere of the place was full of enthusiasm, passion and hope. Athletes are paid a ridiculous amount of money; however it is as a result of the importance that we put on sports. If the public was not so crazy about sports, maybe things would be different. However, because the public gives so much attention and emphasis to sports both professionally and as extracurricular activities they have become a huge part of American Culture. Aside from the fact that sports are entertaining, they bring friends and family together during games and practices. Some cultures are defined by rituals, religious beliefs, and food. Our culture, the American culture, would not be what it is without sports.
ReplyDeleteGrabiela, I agree with you! Sports bring friends and family together.. Even though I am not a big fan of sports, but watching games with my family and friends, that's what I really enjoy ... and that moments that I really treasure!
DeleteI went to a Dodger game for the first time last year also. Your right the atmosphere was great! The Dodger dogs were amazing, YUM! Despite the obnoxious drunk guys spilling beer on everyone, the trip was great. I believe their should be a limit to the amount of drinks one is allowed. I think it would prevent a lot of fights.
DeleteYou have a great point about sports bringing people together. It is great that you had such a great experience visiting a stadium for the first time. I would like to feel that kind of atmosphere. I have never been in a stadium to support a team. If I get the chance to travel to Spain with the Spanish department, the first thing I would do is to visit a stadium to support one of my favorite soccer teams.
DeleteI am a Dodger fan and I enjoy going to the games as well. I mainly go for the great food and cotton candy but I enjoy baseball and spending time making memories with friends and family as well. It is ridiculous on how much athletes make but if I had to constantly train and be away from my family for long periods of time , plus constant traveling, I would want a nice big check too! I live near an MLB player and he is hardly ever home except for the off-seasons. His kids are always so heartbroken that he cant be home all of the time but they are so proud of their dad. Luckily, they are able to fly out and see him sometimes.
DeleteI am the only person in my huge family that isn’t a sports fanatic. I could honestly care less about sports. I played soccer, volleyball, and softball all throughout my childhood. However, since high school I haven’t played or paid it much thought. Because my family and friends are really into sports we often have barbeques to watch a certain game (usually football). I rarely “watch” the game. My time is spent socializing and getting the men of my family mad. You see, they are die-hard raider fans (even though they lose almost every game) and I cheer for the opposing team, just for kicks. I don’t understand how people can get so upset when “their” team loses. They act as though they played in the game and lost. What completely shocks me is the fact that people become violent and start fights with fans of rival teams. It reminds me of fights that gang members have with one another over different colors. It’s ridiculous and unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteI personally don’t see the huge importance the American society places on sports. I believe we should idolize education, which is clearly more important. I understand that for some, sport scholarships have paid their way through college, which is great! Yet, children aspire to become great athletes in hopes that their efforts will eventually pay off and they will be drafted into a pro league. Where they will be paid major bucks. Not knowing that they have a better chance of getting hit by lighting then ever getting into the pros. It is outrageous how much money these athletes are making in one season. Yes, they have a high-risk job. However, so do soldiers whom risk their lives for our country. They aren’t getting paid a fraction of a pro athlete’s salary. For the most part I believe sports should be fun and a positive extracurricular activity for children and not put on a pedestal.
See, someone gets it! You nailed that topic right on the head in my books. "We are going to beat those dirty [insert team name here]!"
DeleteWho is this "we" you speak of, random sports fan?
I am an avid sports fan, a former athlete, coach, referee/umpire and a mom of two daughters involved in sports. It is not uncommon for my house to host sporting events such as football Sundays or fight nights for large groups of people. To my neighbors we are known to be loud and boisterous before, during and after games. My family is proud to sport our team’s colors, logos and jerseys all year round depending on what sport we are currently involved in or current season. Regardless of which manner of participation/involvement I find myself in, I am first and foremost a parent. Whether or not you love/hate participating in sporting events the concepts of teamwork is vital in nearly every aspect of our social lives. For the most part I can feel confident in how I provide my children with a positive model for how to behave, act and react in situations dealing specifically with athletics. This is not to say that I am always the greatest of examples for my children but I do make a concerted effort to provide a solid foundation for my girls. Given my background as a player, coach and ref/ump I find it quite difficult to maintain complete objectivity and composure as a spectator. I can argue the strengths of my team, the faults of the officiating or vice versa with anyone willing to venture down that path yet, I do no openly seek out to fight with random strangers. While I won’t divulge which teams I follow, as I feel that it is irrelevant, I find my home revolves around sports seasons that keep my family actively involved with each other in a way that works for us.
ReplyDeleteYou're so impressive, Moria! I hope, through all the sports activities that my son has right now, he will become a strong and confident person like you.
DeleteThank you Arina! I don't always feel confident as a parent but I do try to project that image to my girls. Having a positive image is extremely important to children these days and I would rather they look closer to home than the social media outlets gone rampant with ridiculousness.
DeleteIt makes me glad to see that even though the sports fan stereotype is somewhat true most of the time, there are still those like you who shut it down and remain...good, I guess?
DeleteI believe sports in general has become a significant factor in many of American lives. Many of our Americans center their lives on sports, this I believe is when sports began to have a negative impact on life. For example, the die hard fans who let an outcome of a game dictate how their emotions for that week will turn out. The importance of Sports is a very debatable one, their are families who live and die for sports, than their are the ones who view sports as useless as a dirty napkin. My perspective on sports is that sports should be viewed for entertainment purposes only. Once Sports start to take toll on how you view other fans, and how you treat friends and family its time to wake up and lose interest from these mindless athletics. Overall, these sports and athletes are all funded from people like us, if we were to pay no attention to these games players such as Lebron James would not be generating over 10 million a year. As well as tickets for a sporting event would not cost as much. Though, their are some positive things that do come from these sports such as life lessons, bringing different people from different back grounds together, and just as 3li_Rod explained, Sports will keep an individual busy, and out of trouble. As for a life learning lessons, I can say that sports have taught me a thing or two. The most important lesson would have to be never give up, no matter the situation, right when your about to get pinned if you keep fighting, you will always have a chance to get the reversal for the victory.
ReplyDeleteI remember, as a child, when Magic Johnson drove across the lane and threw up the “baby hook shot” as it would come to be called en route to the Los Angeles Lakers finally defeating their rivals, the Boston Celtics for the NBA championship. I remember when Kirk Gibson, after injuring his leg, hobbling around the bases after hitting a grand slam to win the World Series. These are the images that come into my mind when we talk about sports, these moments when men pushed themselves to the limits and became great. Sports are more than just some antiquated, barbaric games played by huge freaks of nature. Sports is a part of our culture, we support and cheer for our local or favorite teams, (although there are a lot of “band-wagon” fans that just root for teams when they are playing well, like most of the Seattle Seahawk fans right now), and we pull for our national teams during the Olympics. It helps unite people and give a sense of belonging, even to those who belong to nothing. Sports help teach children teamwork, communication, discipline, and the importance of hard work. Of course, sports are not perfect. Professional athletes are paid vast sums of money just to play a game, but this is not the fault of sports itself. It is more of a function of supply and demand; as long as people are willing to pay a great deal of money to see these athletes play and to buy their merchandise, these athletes will continue to command exorbitant salaries. This should not, however, take away from the good things that sports contribute to our culture.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason when I tried to publish my first response I was signed out and my response didn't post :/ So round 2. Sports has always been a part of our history. I believe we can compare some of our sports to the gladiator era. We love watching competitive and sometimes violent sports. I admit that my favorite sports are football and hockey, which are full of violent actions. I would not stereotype athletes as mindless muscle. They are usually very skilled and disciplined people. I have been part of sport teams throughout my years in school. I was involved in Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball, but I never went beyond a year or two because it wasn't something I wanted to pursue. I am more of a laid back sportsman now. I enjoy things like fishing and hiking but I do occasionally like a little bit more competition so I joined a Dodge-ball team. Sports is more than a way to express your skills and brawn, you can also find great peace in it. I am somewhat skilled in archery and whenever I am stressed or just need to escape from the world, I like to release it all through my bow. I would eventually like to take up hunting with my brother-in-law because I am pretty skilled with a rifle as well, but for now I am sticking to my target shooting. Sports are more than just a competitive form of entertainment. It takes great skill, training, endurance, patience, discipline, and dedication. For those who don't want to pursue a sport as a career or hobby, I would at least encourage you to do one as an outlet for stress or use as an escape. Sports can be very rewarding by giving you confidence, strength, teamwork skills, and is overall healthy for the body.
ReplyDeleteHi Brittney! I read that you like the hockey because of the violence that may arose between the teams. I also like hockey because of that, it was asmusing at first but then I got worry because it got pretty serious. Have you been to any hockey games lately?
DeleteI believe the importance of sports in the United States today is very controversial. Some people are diehard fans while some just simply enjoy watching games. Controversial issues that go along with sports are finances, health and drug abuse (steroids also). I personally do not like sports that much. I was on the cheer and swim team growing up, but it was really just for fun. We did get disappointed win losing but it wasn’t a fight between rivals. When I think of professional football, I also think about the stadium fights and stabbings that seem to happen when one team loses. Their fans go crazy and do horrible things because of hatred for rival fans. Luckily my fiancé isn’t a huge sports fanatic. Don’t get me wrong, he has his favorite teams and we occasionally watch games. But he doesn’t make sure to record everything or pitch a fit when his favorite team loses. My brothers play football and my sisters are involved in karate, volleyball, and basketball. I’m always cheering on the sidelines at games. These are the type of sports I enjoy. So, I guess you could say I like school sports but not really professional ones. I mean I think its awesome professional athletes follow their dreams and I know it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Any sport requires hard work, dedication and skills not just in the actual sport, but also school and family life. So no, I don’t think athletes are just mindless masses of muscle. I do however believe that they make an absurd amount of money. Especially with all the advertisements, merchandise, and sponsors they have.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you mentioned Jordan. It's true how you mentioned that playing sports requires a great deal of determination and physical health, but at the same time that doesn't mean that sport players should get paid so high. Sports are fun, but when fights and jealousy breaks out, then sports aren't sports any more.
DeleteSports have to be my least interest, unless they include socializing, pizza, and beer. I admit that I used to "bond" with my father when I was younger by watching a couple rounds of boxing, and lately, I have been watching UFC fights. Although that may be the case, I still would rather watch old repeats of Spongebob Squarepants...if they included pizza and beer. I' may be exaggerating on that last part. The point that I'm attempting to get at is that sports don't fall into my own personal interest and could be considered "unimportant" to me. I am just one person with different interests and perspectives so I accept the fact that sports may be important to other individuals. When discussing the importance of sports within the Unites States of "'Murica," America is stereotypically thought of paying a handsome amount of importance to it.There should be a lot more thought from those in favor of how American society "treats" sports and from those who oppose it. First, the situation needs to be broken down. Stereotypically, it is known that America seems to idolize sports and athletes but we must ask, "Why?" and "How did it get to this point? I like to believe that sporting events were brought forth and "liked" because it could show authoritativeness, dominance, power, and strength. How well one did in sports seemed to symbolize those qualities. Take the Olympics as an example. The Olympics are a competition against countries and seeing who endures more and wins above all. You can easily catch a sense of pride and admiration from fans and supporters of certain athletes in events like this, but then again, the Olympics are a global thing. Now let's take a look at sports in America only. The first thing to come into mind is football and the Super Bowl. Then the next thing I think about are the impact certain scoring outcomes cause. It is known that some results may result in casualties and threats. It seems that some "true fans" feel the need to bust a few jaws of opponent fans in order to "save face." Logic and reason seem to be forever lost. The amount of pay also may add to the "ridiculousness" of sports in the U.S. It is well known that athletes may receive thousands or millions of dollars for seasons, appearances, merchandise, etc. When compared to the importance or their "work" to that of a doctor is overwhelming. The third thing I think about is the attention fed to sports and athletes...beginning at a young age. Personally, my own mother told me years ago that she would have liked for me to be in the Olympics in the future. I didn't ever pay much thought about it until now, she told me that because that would have made her proud, proud to know that her daughter is "one of the best in the world...when it comes to sports". Competition and winning, even just the idea and thought of it, can be a type of addiction. Usually this type of addiction has a generally positive connotation as compared to other things like drugs, alcohol, sex. Like all others things though, it can have bad things. Sports aren't unimportant, but they aren't important. It is a shame that most likely other countries may think that us Americans are jockstrapped baboons that love to indulge at McDonald's. It's more of a shame to see reasons why they may think that. In reality though, that isn't the case. Although to me sports are pretty insignificant, to others they could be pretty important, take into mind athletes that go into college though an athletic scholarship! It's all a matter of personal opinion!
ReplyDeleteHI Monica! Yeah I understand the feeling of not being able to watch a full game on t.v. I tried to finish a game but I just couldn't. I got bored real quick, I rather play them than watch a game.
DeleteIn the heat of all the controversies with sports in America, I must say it is a personal preference. Arguments can go on and on about craze fanatics, leading to brawls and fights in the parking lot, enormous endorsements for athletes, priority privileges for athletes and substance abuse. But that goes on to say that that is entertainment. Not only are athletes making ridiculous amounts of money from sports, but, so are celebrities, such as, movie stars, singers and comedians. Hollywood. Although, I don't say most celebrities are mindless meatheads, or crack addicts or immature teenagers getting arrested while being under the influence. There are a fair share of celebrities and athletes who do good in humanity, like, donation, building schools, helping the homeless people and children and many more. Yes, there might be some downside to sports but I believe that there can be a lesson taught in any aspect of life whether it's from playing sports or becoming a movie star. Growing up, my father put me through golf ever since elementary school. Made me compete in a lot of tournaments, hoping I would get something out of it. I would practice every day at the golf range, hitting bucket after bucket of golf balls, perfecting my swing. Being the immature child I was, I lost interest in golf quickly and wasted thousands of dollars invested in me. Fast forward now to the present and here I am, wanting to play golf again, although, not competitively. Looking back now I realize what I had been missing from golf. Every time I swung a hook or slice, I would get upset and slam my clubs on the ground. In life, nothing goes according to plan and not everyone is perfect. Going through high school, I joined the football team and learned my fair share of teamwork, sportsmanship and respect. Yes, it felt good to win games and celebrate, but what was important was keeping a positive attitude and respecting the other teammates. Losing a game was hard too, but we learn from losing, from failure we succeed. This was what I've learned from sports. And the only way of succeeding was patience and time. Those virtues I will carry for the rest of my life with pride. I live by those words whenever I want to increase my physical capabilities or intelligence. Going through the nursing program, the medical field is all based on EBP, evidence based practice. Similar concept of training for a game, if you ask me. We do things with certain goals in mind, like, keeping the patient safe, comfortable, less painful, and etc. All through what we try and study to believe is best for the patient. We work around those guidelines to "win" us the prize of patient satisfactory. And through failure, we learn to adapt new ways or invent things that could help save a life.
ReplyDeleteAs far as importance to the States is concerned, I suppose that sports play a role in the whole cultural aspect. Regardless of my views on said activities, I do know that they, at the very least, bring in money for someone or someplace. Tricky thing American culture; it doesn’t have a single amalgamation of beliefs and values to be considered the American culture. Sports may be important in one part of the nation and as a just a hobby in another part. I don’t believe sports to be the essence of America; I think that should lie with either patriotism/military or (I can’t believe I’m saying this) entertainment. Granted sports might fall into entertainment, but just as a sub-group and not one of its own. Enough sports related fights have been seen by my eyes to know that, even though they are fun to watch, the competitiveness drives others to cause riots, cause panic and chaos, or even at its worse, kill. That’s the kind of thing that leaves me flabbergasted. If money were the key to solving what America values more, then sports athletes must be loved way more if they make more than soldiers do. Show me one time, just one, when an athlete turns down the money and just plays the game for the game’s own sake. Maybe then, will I overstep my own closely held beliefs and opinions of why sports athletes are just mindless drones following the queen’s plan in almost every single American sport.
ReplyDeleteIn American society today sports are very much raved upon. I personally am not much of a die hard sports person. I like to play some sports such as tennis and basketball, but only because they help me to become physically active. I don’t have any favorite sports teams nor sports players, whom I idolize. Sports play as a role of entertainment in my opinion. I agree on the issue of sports players getting paid unreasonable high salaries. I believe that individuals who sacrifice their time and energy in making a nation a better place should be the ones who should get the high salaries. I am not saying sports should be unrecognized, but they shouldn’t be overly recognized either.
ReplyDeleteThere are many schools in America today that can use the extra funds in helping students excel in areas of studies. Nowadays, elementary students know more about what team won what game (I know this from experience) as opposed to knowing the daily subject concepts they learn in school. Many people (which mainly includes fans aged from children all the way to elderly) idolize sport teams or sport players, where in reality they should appreciate members of the army, police, firemen, doctors, teachers, etc…
Again, I truly believe that sports is just another form of entertainment and should not be considered as a serious matter. What should be considered serious is how our nation can afford to pay the average working class of people on time, not lay off employees, and not cutting funds to schools, colleges, and universities.