Violence in Sports

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield once joked, I went to the fight the other night and a hockey game broke out, barely effect in sports is a continuous problem that is non amusing. Whether the conversation is the about the aloneiance games of the Ancient Greeks and Romans or the 2012 NFL season, there is one common factor and it is power. Over the course of history sporting events rescue become more civilized which does not make the blood games and Monday Night Football an apples to apples comparison, however one cannot debate the fact that madness still remains a main stay in sports directly.The real debate is who is responsible for its continuous globe. Has society witnessed so much emphasis that sports would not be sports without it? Did the media and the commercialization of sports help keep violence vital in todays games? Is there truly enough evidence to pinpoint the real culprit or can we all mutually oblige that all parties are to blame? The author argues that much of t he violence in sports today involves overconformity to the norms of the sport ethic which is absolutely valid.Jay Coakley discusses how athletes may use violence to prove their status amongst peers and gain popularity with spectators. He believes some athletes compensate their insecurities with extreme measures to prove themselves because they are only as good as their last game. each day athletes are looking to make that crowing devastating make up that will take aim fans jumping out of their seats, teammates giving them high fives and coaches praising them in team film sessions. They have a desire to gain a reputation that demands respects, a player with a killer instinct that opponents panic.While I hit with Coakley, it is only to a certain degree. In todays society you must factor in the media and the commercialization of sports as well. Players understand that the big hit will gain them the respect they desire, but it will also gain a clip in ESPNs top ten highlights. Pl ayers in todays game have a need to be noticed and recognized by the media because it will lead to cashing in on a big time sports contract and endorsement deals. Back in the 1970s players demanded respect because they wanted to be a tough guy which is also true today, but now they prefer to be a famous rich tough guy.Violence in sports does not only exist within the participants of sporting events either, which continues to build on the Coakleys argument that athletes use violence in an effort to gain spectators popularity. Sports fans fighting against other fans for obscene comments toward each other, wearing the wrong jersey in the wrong section, or looking to fight players for poor performances are becoming the norm. These events are putting fans in a state of wanting, in fact needing violence in order to be satisfied with sporting events.Soccer has become a sport that is synonymous with fan violence. Soccer fans have no level of fear when it comes to violence and it has come th e point that soccer players are scared of their own fans. Alexei Barrionuevo and Charles Newberry of the NY Times wrote an article discussing the extreme fan hostility and violence that occurs in Argentinian soccer. There is an organization in Argentina dedicated to ending violence in soccer named Lets Save Football, but there existence is not enough to deter the violence.In fact the president of the organization Monica Nizzard, stated, We dont feel safe inside of our stadiums in Argentina, That is why families have stopped going. (NY Times 2011). This is just one example of many fans creating a violent atmosphere that exists in sports today. Coalkey also describes a scene from Pat Conroys novel The Prince of Tides that has a coach addressing his team in a manner that puts a player in a state of mind looking to farm a violent experience.However he states many coaches dont use such vivid vocabulary because they know it can inspire dangerous forms of violence and then adds that the se coaches seek athletes that already think that way. He is correct, but at the same time incorrect. For example, the NFL recently made headlines with the New Orleans Saints bounty computer program where MSN Fox Sports quoted defensive coordinator Greg Williams quoted as dictum, We need to decide whether Crabtree wants to be a (expletive) prima donna or he wants to be a tough guy. He becomes gay when we take out that outside ACL. (Associated Press 2012). Coaches are just as responsible for violence in sports as the athletes. around coaches may not be quoted like Greg Williams was, but on both amateur and professional levels coaches prepare game speeches about going to war with the enemynot go pull up stakes it your best effort. Below is a recent controversial video of a football coach that may or may not have assaulted an fence 7th grade football player depending on your side of the situation. Regardless of the opinion on his actions it makes people wonder what this coach ma y be saying when the camera is not on. http//network. ardbarker. com/high_school/article_external/ covering fireyard/new_video_emerges_of_youth_coach_assaulting_player/12191230? refmod=backyard=foxsports Sports play a significant role in society and grab the attention of millions of viewers while impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of athletes. Some athletes use violence as a basic instinct while playing sports. Some athletes will use it as a means to gain money, power and respect. Some fans will cheer for violence and some fans will jeer against it. Coaches and parents will teach their children the right and wrong of violence in sports.With all that said, violence is not doing a disappearing magic act from sports. It used to exist, still exists and will continue to exist. Throughout all of my reading for this assignment I go back to one quote from Dan Lebowitz, executive director of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University in BostonQuestionin g violence in sports offers an opportunity to question humanity in general. (Discovery News, 2012) Cited References BarrioNuevo, A and Newberry, C. (2011, Nov. 26). In Argentina, Violence is Part of the Soccer Culture. Retrieved from NYTimes. com http//www. nytimes. om/2011/11/27/sports/soccer/in-argentina-violence-is-part-of-the-soccer-culture. html? pagewanted=all=0 This article discusses the extremely violent nature of soccer in Argentina. It goes into detail the actions of violent Argentinian soccer fans. It also discusses how they are attempting to put a stop to the violence. Associated Press (2012, April 06). Report Tape Captured Bounty Offer Retrieved from Fox Sports http//msn. foxsports. com/nfl/story/gregg-williams-instructed-new-orleans-saints-players-to-injure-san-francisco-49ers-040512 In this article the author discusses the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal.It discusses the initiative released quotes from Coach Greg Williams regarding the bounties. It goes into detai l about the entire tape and how it impacts the bounty scandal. Issac, A. (2012, Nov. 12). MNew Video Emerges of Youth Coach Assualting Playerkes Neon- Retrieved from Fox Sports http//network. yardbarker. com/high_school/article_external/backyard/new_video_emerges_of_youth_coach_assaulting_player/12191230? refmod=backyard&refsrc=foxsports The video clip was used as a reference. The video shows a clip of a youth football coach assaulting an opposing 7th grade player.It details the legal action taken stupefy against the coach and how it has affected his life. The players mother also speaks out against the coach. Sohn, E. (2012, March 07). Is Violence in Sport Inevitable Retrieved from Discovery News http//news. discovery. com/ misfortune/violence-sports-football-120307. html The author discusses violence in sports and fans reactions to violence. It discusses actual fan violence as well as the viewership reactions to violence. The author also discusses the impact violence would have on sports if it did not exist.