The Sport Ethic
The Sport Ethic
Hughes and Coakley do an extremely good job at outlining factors which may cause our professional athletes to experience social deviance. But, it could be argued that it is not just athletes that experience this "sport ethic" phenomena. I would say that any person that feels dedicated to a goal that is willing to sacrifice his or her self in order to obtain those goals would experience almost exactly the same thing.
Students pursuing post graduate studies may use performance enhancing drugs in order to stay in the game while they are trying to cram for tests. They may forget about personal morals and partake in questionable activities all for the sake getting noticed by post graduate program.
It would seem that the only difference between athletes and anyone else pursuing a goal is the idolization of the public. In the eyes of the public, athletes are our gladiators. We expect to be able to turn on the television and find a game that will keep us thoroughly entertained for the next couple of hours while we choose to sit there and do nothing. It is their job to keep us entertained. And if we are not entertained, we are not happy. And if the public isn't happy and ratings start to go down, someone is getting fired.
It's interesting that you bring up the idea that any one person with a set of goals can be caught up in the sport ethic. It all comes down to the definition of sport. In my opinion, you could argue practically anything as sport. However, like you said, the professional athletes on TV are held to a standard, and when the standard is not kept, no matter the reason, somehow they are not as much of an athlete.
ReplyDeleteChristie Herwig
I like how you related the idea of athletes doing anything to their bodies to achieve success to students who also take performance enhancing drugs (Adderall). It seems that we are all driven by the desire for first place or what have you, and that athletes take the most heat for it due to their idolization. I think that is why the are so persuaded to cheat or become "deviant", in order to supply us with entertainment like you said.
ReplyDeleteAustin Cannell
Thank you for bringing up the fact that these 4 dimensions of sport ethic can be applied to other individuals than just athletes. Although I am guilty of contributing to the sports industry and I love everything about it-- I do think it's important to bring up that other people hold these same values not just athletes.
ReplyDeleteKarli Salas