NBA fines

Professional sport leagues have a fine line between being a game and being a business.  Recently an issue that arose in the NBA that brought such both aspects to the forefront.  On Thursday November 29th the Miami Heat were scheduled to play the San Antonio Spurs.  This was a huge game even being called a glimpse into the NBA finals.  The Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decided to send four of his best players home before the game even started.  He did this in order to rest his aging team.  This strategy has been used before by many coaches but Gregg Popovich has sat his stars many times.  His methods have already been proven time and time again and have never been called into question in such a public manner.

David Stern makes a compelling argument when looked at through his views.  He is the commissionaire of the NBA and to make sure that his project is of the highest possible quality and that his fans are happy.  He was very displeased that the biggest game of the night and maybe even the month was lacking stars.

The outcome was a hefty fine of 250k.  Both sides make valid points and have presented their cases.  David Stern also made clear that the NBA is a business and even with a punishing schedule is used to make money.   Gregg Popovich shows that players are human beings that can be hurt and aren't just a commodity to be used.  I have read through many arugments for both sides and happen to believe resting a player should be left up to the coaches decision especially with a coach who has more than proven he knows what hes doing.  Which side do you stand on?  Having the NBA be a franchise to make money or protect its players more?

Tillman Hubbard

KIN 332I-05

The Media and Sports

Axel D. Kin332I

It is amazing to see how powerful the media is and how such power serves the interests of privileged groups who ignore the main purpose of sports in society in order to satisfy their ambition. Enveloped in the ideology of individualism, success, opportunism and competition, reinforced at every moment in sports, these groups create an ideal world in which anybody can achieve their goals if he or she puts enough effort, discipline and determination. Reality differs from the ideal world when equal opportunities don’t exist, when resources are directed to certain sectors of the population and the cases of success from minority groups are scarce in proportion to the number of participants who dream in a successful career in sports. Worst of all, members of minority groups are used to create a circus in which two parties are necessary to promote a competitive event with mega revenues. In the film “Not Just a Game”, Mohamed Ali is portrayed as an activist demanding equal rights for the less privileged people. His activism and attitude was utilized by the media to make money. In the documentary “One Nation Divisible” Mohamed Ali promoted the fight of the century. Scheduled for March 8 1971, Ali promoted this fight to the top creating a division among the population. Ali accused Joe Frazier of being a white man’s puppet, and without any regards, he initiated a series of verbal attacks toward Frazier such as “ass kissing nigger, too ugly and too dumb to be a champion, flat nose gorilla and more.”  Sadly, the nation was divided and competition was created. The fight was televised to more than 300 million people all over the world creating good revenue. Each contender was paid 2.5 million dollars.  In the ring side during the presentation prior to the fight, Ali told Frazier, “2.5 million dollar baby, can you believe that?” At the end, the control and manipulation of reality lies in the hands of those in power who got the imagination and knowledge to persuade and preserve an ideology in which is difficult to determine who the real puppet is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should Co-ed be competition be allowed at all levels

Over this past semester, we have learned a variety of topics regarding different subjects regarding and relating to sports. A topic that I would like to ask is should females and males play against each other regardless of what age and competition level they are at? Of course the general answer for this from majority of people would be "no" but I really think it can be possible if people didn't always underestimate us females! If anyone is competitive and has the drive and dedication in (wanting to) win then they should be allowed to play regardless of what the gender is. Sports have always been played out as a "mans" sport and has always had the tradition that it will be in a bigger spotlight and more popularized when males are playing. However to make it fair, since we usually see females never being in the media for their accomplishments as much as males, why not make co-ed teams happen, so then an equal amount of "fame" will be on both genders. Since many would argue, females will get hurt when they are playing against males, it should be the females decision into wanting to take the risk for their own body. Promoting for both genders to work and play together, shows good mounts of communication from each other.

Now for most sports, there can be technical difficulties regarding strength and clearly will show that males will be better, but it doesn't mean females shouldn't have a shot. If its sports like golf, swimming.. the non contact sports, and a female is the best out of all her female friends than she should without a doubt have the right to play against other players that are males. The fact of just trying and being eligible too is what really matters. The recent documentary that we had watch, "Not Just a Game" David Zirin, pointed out the fact that in the sport magazines, the percentage of females being on the cover was rare, but we just never really notice these things because its so natural for males to always have the spotlight. To all the males, how would you feel if you were a athlete that has clearly worked hard for never getting any appreciation for it. If the female is capable of making a difference to the team, let her compete and let her show you her skills!

Judy Kwan
Tues/Thurs 9:30-10:45

Playing Sports and Politics

The separation between sports and politics are becoming so closely related that the distinguishing line is becoming fine. Parker states, “In 1996 President Clinton signed the Professional Boxing Safety Act, increasing regulation and federal oversight of the sport.” History shows proof that politics are intertwined in sports and are influencing the sport. Not just in boxing have politics been displayed. The Government has also stepped in and set regulations in concern of brain damage caused in football accidents. Congressional hearings in 2009, was when the NFL became compared to the tobacco industries, this led to more stringent NFL rules regarding how players are treated after showing concussion symptoms. Parker states that Rep. Bill Pascrell and Sen. Robert Menendez who were not Still not okay with the NFL injury accidents to players, these two New Jersey Democrats, sponsored a bill that would put in federal safety guidelines for school-age players. There bill passed the House but never came to a vote in the Senate but the point is that the government has been so involved with sports and setting guidelines rules and regulations that sports aren’t just sports they are a political statement and are being used in politics.

Playing Sports and Politics by: Alex Parker

http://www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/playing-sports-and-politics/2

Jennifer Porter

011105560
T-Th 9:30-10:45

Should Professional Athletes Be All-Around Role Models?

Professional athletes are well-known for their athletic ability and outstanding skill in their respective sports.  The become famous because of this skill alone, not what they do in their personal life.  So why is it that the greater amount of athletes are held to such high esteem and seen as role-models in the view of the public?  These athletes are spotlighted in the media when their moral character is negatively exposed and are said to have failed in their role as role models, specially to the young athletes who look up to them.  I believe that professional athletes should be respected for what made them professional, and that is their activity in their sports alone.  The media plays a large role in showing athletes as morally bankrupt when they are involved with the law but should really report on what the athletes do on the field, court or track.  The athletes are normal people along with the rest of us and are not, in general, any higher morally than the average population.  So when athletes such as Michael Vick are arrested for dog-fighting and are widely exposed on the news, fans and general populations hate the man for what he did and refuse to respect what he had been doing for the NFL in years prior.  He was a dynamic quarterback, able to pass the ball down field and also dodge would-be tacklers when we ran.  I am not excusing his participation in illegal activities, but I am questioning the reasons he was held to high regard in all aspects of his life, on and off the field. Why are these athletes' lives held on a pedestal when they are an average person like I, save the athletic superiority?

Stephen Graham
008613642
T-Th 9:30-10:45

Militarism In America

Growing up I always thought American Football was an exciting and very dangerous sport. As Americans we are thought to believe that these football players playing on Sunday are almost like warriors or some kind of heroes. They are always being displayed to us through commercials or endorsements via; TV, Internet, Magazines or Radio, they are everywhere! It is not until we viewed the move "More Than A Game" the connection between football and the military became so clear. Much like real war the sport of football is glorified. We see the touchdowns and long runs, but the promoters are smart to hide the devastation the game causes. Unconscious newly paralyzed players being carted off the field with ambulances and doctors. A far stretch I know, but I can see the connection between this and how America glorifies our military. We are shown images of soldiers storming up hills and jumping out of helicopters, but we are not fed the images that war causes. Soldiers being slaughtered and killed. Football players are pretty much civilians playing war. They promote masculinity and fighting through pain regardless injury. They are taught to line up in formations where the individual is sacrificed for the cause. It is no surprise to me that the world's most militarized nations favorite sport is football or a war on a field.


Evan O'Rourke
Tu/Thu 2-3:15

Football and the Military

The sports culture offers role models as an explanation to show what it's like to be a real man. Being masculine means being able to inflict pain; therefore, it inflicts violence. However, the relationship between football and the military became very irrelevant to me throughout the film, "Not Just a Game". It became irrelevant to me because I couldn't see the relationship of football and the military until Dr. Kerrie Kauer pointed out to me that in the 1980's football was used to prepare men for the military. The relationship between football and the military has existed since football was invented and became more known after World War II. Dave Zirin mentioned throughout the film that "Sports and Politics just don't mix", but what do you call it when a professional football player quits his dream job to go fight for his country just like Pat Tillman did after the September 11 attacks? There must be SOME type of political influence there and I think it's simply carrying your country's pride. Pat Tillman was killed 22 months after enlisting in the military and going to the Iraq War. Tillman took the pride of his country with him. The pride he had for his country was obviously bigger than passion he had for his football career, or maybe it wasn't, but he sure did feel like it was more important to serve his country in that time of need. This reminds me of the heart warming feeling you get when saying the Pledge of Allegiance to a waving American flag at a football or baseball game.

Maria Melendrez
KIN 332i - TTH @ 9:30-10:45