Gender and Sports

         

   In class on April 14, 2015, we discussed gender and sports. The question that we were asked was how equitable are sport opportunities for girls and women. We discussed the agencies of sex role stereotyping. These agencies include family, school, and the media. We also learned about the history of women in sport. One of the most important dates was 1900 when the first Olympic Games were held. The two sports that women could participate in at the time were golf and tennis. During the 1920s, women’s participation in collegiate sport emerged. Also, Title IX was introduced in the 1970s and it allowed girls and women to participate in sport. These were some of the key topics that we discussed in this section.

            In his article, Terrance F. Ross discussed gender inequality within collegiate athletics. One of the things that he pointed out is that many people in the United States were going crazy about the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and they would not pay attention to the women’s tournament until the Final Four. He also pointed out that other than tennis, many people do not pay attention to women’s sports because they are said to be inferior compared to major sports like baseball, basketball, and football. He also discussed the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act. This act was passed in 1994 and made a rule that all colleges had to make all gender-equality information in terms of their athletic programs available for public access. Expanding on his point, he mentioned that the men’s basketball coach for one school made approximately nine times the amount the women’s basketball coach for the same school makes. This article makes a lot of sense for this topic because it shows that women are viewed as inferior to the public. In terms of sport, women’s events are disregarded by many in this country, especially due to the media. Out of all topics, I feel that this was the most important topic discussed in this class.

Link: http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/03/what-gender-inequality-looks-like-in-collegiate-sports/387985/

Race and Ethnicity in Sport

            In class on April 7, 2015, we discussed race and ethnicity in sport. Some of the terms that we defined were bigot, prejudice, stereotypes, discrimination, and race. Learning about these key concepts was helpful, as we were able to learn the difference between prejudice and discrimination. We also learned about ethnic groups and minority groups as well. It was very interesting to learn that African-Americans face a segregated sport system prior to the 1950s. We also learned about some famous African-American athletes including Jackie Robinson, Althea Gibson, and Tom Molyneux. This section was important, as race is a major issue not just in society, but in sport as well.

            In his article from March 16, 2015, Richard E. Lapchick discussed the alarming results from the 2014 College Sport Racial and Gender Report Card. Racial hiring practices were given a “B” in 2013, but the grade declined to a “C+” in 2014. Lapchick pointed out that men’s and women’s college basketball coaches of different races declined in multiple categories from last season and other previous seasons. He also noted that the amount of college football coaches of different racial backgrounds has declined as well. This issue makes sense for this section because the number of African-Americans is declining in sport. During our lecture, we learned that the percentage of African-Americans in Major League Baseball now is 9.8 percent. This has declined significantly from 25 percent in 1975. After reading this article, I feel that colleges should hire more African-American coaches and coaches of other races as well.

Link: http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/03/16/Opinion/Richard-Lapchick.aspx?hl=african-americans%20in%20sport&sc=0

Deviance in Sport

          

  In class on March 31, 2015, we talked about deviance in sport. Deviance can be defined as an act or person that differs from the norm, especially behavior or attitudes that differ from acceptable social standards. There are several examples of deviance in sport including fighting, performance-enhancing drugs, and gambling. In the real world, athletes have higher rates of alcohol use and binge drinking. Even though felony rates are not out of control, athletes do tend to constitute a problem in domestic violence. There are also issues with studying deviance. It is illegal to fight someone out on the streets, yet hockey players will square off in games and only receive five-minute penalties. Also, aggression is encouraged in sports like hockey and football, but is not proper behavior outside of sports. These are some of the various issues that have to do with deviance in sports.

            Recently, former New Orleans Saints’ safety Darren Sharper pleaded guilty to sexual assault. He was accused of raping two women in California after he had given them an alcoholic beverage with which he added a sedative. He is expected to serve only nine years of a 20-year sentence. He also noted that he assaulted a woman in Phoenix in 2013. This article makes sense for this topic because Darren Sharper did not leave the violence and aggressiveness on the field. He is just another example of the many current and former NFL players who have sexually assaulted others.

Link: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/03/23/darren-sharper-plea-deal-rape-sentenced-los-angeles-phoenix-las-vegas-new-orleans/70326360/

Economics in Sport

        

    In class on March 17, 2015, we discussed sports and the economy. Some of the terms that we identified that had to do with this subject include gate revenue, media rights, sponsorship, and merchandising. We spent a lot of time discussing who benefits economically from sport. Athletes benefit greatly from sport because they are paid to play a certain sport. Another topic that we discussed in this section was salary caps. A salary cap can be defined as the limit a team can spend on players’ salaries. Some other terminology associated with salary caps includes hard cap, soft cap, salary floor, luxury tax, and cap room. Currently, there are salary caps in MLS, NBA, NFL, and NHL. Major League Baseball, however, does not have a salary cap.

            In his article, Maury Brown opined that the NBA, NFL, and NHL should get rid of the salary cap. One of the reasons why he believes that these leagues should do away with the salary cap is that the salary cap causes more work stoppages. He pointed out that owners in Major League Baseball have known that a salary cap would cause issues. Brown also stated that media rights deals create revenue to help a team compete. He also feels that it is not right for NFL teams to spend 89% of the salary cap and that the teams should make a percentage of players’ salaries guaranteed. Throughout this article, Maury Brown praised Major League Baseball for not using a salary cap. He feels that Major League Baseball will have no trouble agreeing to a new collective bargaining agreement and leagues like the NBA and NHL will have more difficulty agreeing to a new agreement. This article makes sense for this section because it outlines the details of the salary cap and it discusses economics within the Big-Four professional sports.

Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2015/03/10/its-time-to-blowup-the-salary-cap-systems-in-the-nfl-nba-and-nhl/

Sport and Politics

Tucker Schmidt

          In class on February 26, 2015, we discussed political involvement in sport. Throughout this section, we were able to define politics, government, and globalization. Politics can be defined as a social process through which individuals and groups acquire, exercise, and maintain power over others. Another segment of this topic that we went over was protests. A perfect example was when Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists at the podium to stand up for the African-American population. This was important because African-Americans were looked down on and they had been poorly treated for years. Activism is a big part of this section, as people stand up for what they believe in and take action for their beliefs. These are just a few of the reasons why politics in sport is a major topic.

          Donna de Varona was an American Olympic swimmer who was named the world's top female athlete in 1964. She also is known as the person who broke the gender barrier in sport broadcasting when she became a broadcaster for "Wide World of Sports" for ABC. When she became a broadcaster, Donna de Varona became an activist in many ways. One thing that she did was that she convinced Roone Arledge to hire more African-Americans to become commentators for ABC. She also took action when she noticed several things wrong with the Olympics in 1972. She urged Congress to change amateur sports in the United States. She even worked for the Senate and created an Olympic sport structure. Along with Suzy Chaffee and Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation was founded. She also helped with the Special Olympics. Donna de Varona has made several great contributions to sport. This article makes sense for this class because it deals with political issues and activism.

Link: http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/03/02/Champions/Donna-de-Varona.aspx?hl=donna%20de%20varona&sc=0

Sport and Education

Tucker Schmidt

            In class on February 19, 2015, we discussed sport and education. One of the arguments that we discussed was sports having an impact on education. Some of the arguments against school sports include the creation of pressure and distraction of attention from academics. Another reason why people do not allow their children to participate in school sports is because of the price. In the United States, 43 of the 50 states require students to pay to be involved in school sports. The reasons for include enhancing fitness and lifetime participation and the development of value skills. Other positives about letting students get involved in school sports is that it is an opportunity for the students to be noticed and to be taken seriously as human beings. While there are many positives to students participating in school sports, there are also many reasons why students should not participate.

            There is an argument over how athletics impact education. One problem that is discussed is time management. Student athletes have reported that they have insufficient amount of time to complete various assignments and to study for examinations. Also, the teams may have to travel, so this causes the students some stress due to the fact that they will be missing classes. On the other hand, some students feel that the limited amount of time they have to complete their assignments gives them the urge to complete their work. A study also showed that students who are involved in athletics are able to do better academically due to their better concentration and higher self-esteem. Another study shows that students who have both academic and athletic success tend to come from wealthy areas. Gender also plays a big impact as well. According to the California Department of Education, girls athletic teams tended to have higher grade point averages compared to boys' teams. This article makes sense for this class, as athletics have a major effect on education.

Link: http://www.livestrong.com/article/540517-does-participation-in-sports-negatively-affect-academics/