The two recent deaths in the National Football League this past week have provoked the media to analyze why sports and violence seem to go hand-in-hand. Kansas City Chiefs's linebacker, Jovan Belcher, shocked the league when he killed his girlfriend. Shortly after, he went on to kill himself in front of the Chiefs's staff. A week later, the already delicate balance of the NFL was threatened by Jerry Brown's death due to the drunk driving of one of his teammates.While the blame could fall on many different sources, it seems like the NFL is a fan favorite.
Realistically, incidents like this happen all the time; however, because both victims are high-profile in society, the severity of the deaths are magnified. People don't just see these athletes as everyday people. They are professionals. They are role models. But most importantly, just like everyone else they are loved. When people seek to criticize, they only see what is most obvious. It is easy to accuse the NFL and sports for deviant behavior off the field; but, it is not the NFL that makes people, it is athletes that make the NFL. These athletes were engaging in dangerous behavior that is not unfamiliar to society. Unfortunately, the love-hate relationship of the NFL and America makes the NFL an easy target. Newscasts and talk shows were quick to imply that sports and violence were no coincident pattern. Sadly, it seems as though society is more concerned about sports and punishment than the victims and members surrounding the victims who are struggling.
-Rachel M
KIN 332I- 06 T/Th 2-315 pm
2 comments:
It is good thing to see strong become the new sexy, I grew up a female athlete, and it seems so hard to fit into the girly world. The girly girls didn’t seem to understand me or those who play spots and play rough. The girly girls would pick on me or just tease me and call me boy, when I wasn’t I just enjoyed to play sports and physical activity vs. playing with dolls or into boys, or doing hair. I glad to see this new coming social change so that women can now be accepted as normal and not abnormal and not lady like. Men are praised when they play sports women should have the same praise and seniority. Hopefully this will continue to get better and title nine really cause an even bigger and more positive change than it has already have. Jasmine Jones Kin 332i Section 06 11144.
It is not easy for athletes to follow and keep up with the norms within today's society because the consequences are fatal. These players that conducted deviance within sports get treated far worse than your average criminal on the streets because of the high expectations the sports fans look forward to. Fans often see athletes as role models and professionals, and it would be very heartbroken for these fans to see the people they look up to change or become something they do not wish to see. It's true that athletes are human beings like us, making plausable or everyday mistakes. On the other hand, athletes are treated as "special" human beings.
- Anthony Hoang
KIN 332I - T/Th 9:30-10:55AM
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