Sports and Society - Examples of Each Category of Violence in Sport - Assignment Example

Examples of Each Category of Violence in Sport 1.The course discusses four categories of violence: brutal body contact, borderline violence, quasi-criminal violence, and criminal violence. Using professional hockey, football, or mixed martial arts as a reference, identify examples of each category of violence. Football: Ideally, football players should not have any body contact with their opponent players as they seek to take control of and kick the ball. The body of a player need only touch the ball. However, some players have taken to aggressive physical, verbal or non-verbal acts of aggression with the sole intention of defeating their opponents. Players can use body contact during tackling by using the upper body to push and shove opponents during a football game and this can qualify for borderline violence since it is not explicit in its nature. Using the hands to push other players when trying to control of ball. Sometimes, players will go all out and actually, assault another player defiantly qualifies as brutal body contact. Quasi-criminal violence can come in the form of unprofessional conduct between players and can come in the form of threat, insults or other means that degrade the dignity and honor of a player, players or clubs. Criminal violence is organized violence against a player, group of players or a club where another player, players or club willfully connive to bring harm to the other in order to stop them from performing. [Hec77] 2.If we want to understand violence in sports, we must understand gender ideology and issues of masculinity in culture. How is masculinity related to violence in sports and how do issues of masculinity take on different meanings among men from different backgrounds? Give examples from the course material and from your own experiences as you discuss this issue. Sports have from time immemorial, been relegated to the domain of men. Aggression, displays od power and dominance, driveness, and the male physic in all its powerful glory. Any sign of weakness, empathy and kindness was regarded as a sign of weakness. The Greek culture is the one that sport was birthed in and that is why it influenced many sporting worldviews. The Greeks were obsessed with power and its display in all its form for glory’s sake. The Greco-Roman culture idolized war and aggression as an expression of masculinity and this was seen in sports. Sporting events of the medieval times were gory events filled with real life killings of wild animals and slaves who were called gladiators. The sole purposes of the gladiators were to fight and die in the arena for the sake of glory and entertainment. Though modern sporting events have greatly toned down most of these extreme types of events, there remain cultures that maintain extremely aggressive sports such as karate, judo ,sumo wrestling among others. A lot of money is made in illegal sporting events of such events in Eastern countries because there is a high demand in terms of audience for such events that display raw power.[Gor08][LaC15] Module 8 1.One of the paradoxes associated with the media coverage of sports is that the media open up new opportunities for spectators to view sports, but they also limit and define the experiences of spectators. Explain how the media can do both these things simultaneously.  The media has played a great role in opening up cultures and their particular sporting events around the world. It has made almost every sport of repute a global one through awareness brought about by coverage of the sport. However, at the same time media only concentrates on sporting events that pay since their host media houses need to make money by maintaining ratings. This limits viewer choice and gives preference to some sports over others. The viewer also experiences the sporting events through the experience of the commentators, which really limits their experience of the sport as opposed to watching it live.[LaC15] 2.One of the resources in the course makes the point that mediated sports are symbolic constructions, just as Hollywood films and television soap operas are symbolic constructions. What is meant by this point, and what is involved in the media construction of sports? Boxing and wrestling as sporting events can be stage managed to create characters and personalities so that when they are televised to the public they can become more appealing. This will keep views hooked to the screens. Even where this does not happen, then some characters is introduced as side shows to enhance the setting much like in a soap operas such as lovers of the sorters and public displays, which mimic the opera.[Boa15] Module 9 1.Your parents are having a party during Christmas vacation. Some of the guests are talking about athletic scholarships in college. One of them says that athletic scholarships are great because they primarily serve to give poor kids a chance to attend college. After making the statement, the person looks at you and says, Isnt that right? What would you say in response? Explain who receives scholarships and how many scholarships are given to student athletes. I would kindly like to correct that very incorrect opinion. Though some scholarships are given to student, athletes it is usually as a n incentive to the student and in order to boost the colleges athletic/sports teams. Not all athlete students are poor. Many scholarships are awarded to performance and specialist categories over athlete scholarships in most universities and colleges[Fin15] 2.Breaking into top sport management jobs has been slow for women and minorities. One of your friends says this is due to a lack of qualified candidates; another says it is due to fears among White men that they are losing all their power. Explain to your friends there is another interpretation, and then explain this alternative interpretation so they will understand. Most women have traditionally viewed the area of sporting management with men as sporting has generally been a male oriented activity but things are changing. Minorities have generally opted to go for white coaches even in sporting events where they dominate. It seems to be a trend that has been duplicated the world over with white males leading as coaches worldwide.[Boa15] Module 10 1.One of your friends is a distance runner who has just made the Olympic track team in your country. He tells you that he doesn’t understand why governments have become so involved in sports. You tell him there are a number of reasons why this has happened. He wants you to elaborate. What would you say? Sporting has come to be associated with a countries image and prestige. Governments as regulators also need to regulate the activities of its citizens in terms of taxation, security, foreign relations with other countries who interact with their citizens. It is also lucrative for a country to host an Olympic event as this boosts the economy and it can only hope to vie for a chance if they are involved.[Wom02] 2.A U.S. official once said, I think the playing fields of the world will produce the expertise, the democratic exchange, the give-and-take that will open the door to peaceful understanding among all humankind. Give your reasons for either agreeing or disagreeing with this official. Interaction of different people that happens with sporting events helps to boost intercultural understanding and better relations. It also creates an opportunity for different regions to display their cultures and other unique features about them. This is good for global trade. 3.The global expansion of sports and sport organizations has occurred at a very rapid pace over the past decade. Looking at sports from the perspective of a small country with little wealth or power, what are the pros and cons of this expansion? Sports have a lot of money and can be a great source of foreign exchange for poor countries. it also opens up such countries to the world, which can be a good tourism booster and economic booster. The down side for such countries is that its sporting champions can be bought out to compete for richer countries. 4.There are a number of general and specific predictions made in the course material. Choose two of the predictions you agree with and two that you disagree with; provide explanations supporting your agreement and disagreement. Sporting is fast becoming a very lucrative venture and foreign exchange earner and will soon compete at equal levels with other business ventures globally. This has been made possible by such events as he Olympics games , The World Cup and others.[Wom02] 5.Using the predictions from the course material about what will happen to sports during the 21st century, describe what the youth sports in your community will look like in the year 2020. 2020 will surely see more young people taking up careers in sports as a serious and viable career path since it is gaining more ND more respectability as a profession. 6.Athletes are very visible and popular people in many cultures today. However, there are few athletes who could be described as change agents in society. Why are athletes not likely to be agents of change? What factors interfere with them playing this role in society? The problem with athletes is that many have failed to invest wisely. Their lavish and extravagant lifestyles that have been filled with a lot of scandal have made many of them to fail and end up bankrupt. This has made the m lack the moral fiber that is necessary in becoming a change agent. People tend to emulate lasting success an opposed to fleeting success and most of the rich athletes fail in this area.[Hec77] Read More