Thursday, September 30, 2010

Different Fields of Kinesiology

    Kinesiology is a broad field. It is defined as the science of movement. Many people connotate kinesiology with health promotion and physical fitness. However, I believe there are two different world within Kinesiology. One that is beneficial to the good of all. This is the one I mentioned above, helping individuals do be more active and live healthier, more quality lives. The other side I am not as supportive of. I feel there is a side in Kinesiology that focuses on self-interest. This is a new concept that was revolutionized in the 20th century.
     Greed has become a large part of sport nowadays, and in turn has become part of kinesiology. Americas are paying a person millions of dollars to run around a base.  In this quest for publicity, we have been sexualizing sport. Girls and boys alike are idolized for their bodies and not even necessarily their talent. Many of these athletes are on steroids and drugs to make themselves more appealing. What kind of example is this setting for society? I want to be a nation about more than looks and statistics. In this sense, sports have lost the values of teamwork, perseverance, and hardwork.
     Additionally, the greed comes out in the sport business now capitalizing our market. I consider the major of sport management less respectable than other majors.  People involved in this aspect of sporting world are not interested in helping society. They are in it to make money, or to create power for themselves. I dislike this world within Kinesiology, and wish rather we could have a greater focus on helping an individual and thus improving society. I do not want to be the field that brings the world into a greater focus on consumerism and commercialism. I feel we need retract a bit to where Kinesiology started: the study of movement not amplifying greed.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

New Emphasis on Money

    We discussed in class the new themes emerging in sports. Originally, intended as a display of power and strength, sports have come a long way in our society. Their popularity has grown dramatically. Physical education is now a requirement in school, and it is the accepted norm to try a range of sports in your youth because everyone it seems has some "natural talent".
    Media has capitalized on this increased popularity. As Janice Todd noted, the 2010 Superbowl drew in more spectators than has any other television event. With over a hundred million people watching one sporting event how can we overlook the influence of sports to our lives, particularly in America. Everyone knows how expensive commercials during the superbowl are.  I feel association to a team or successful athlete is important. Clothing apparel, car decals, cups, posters, all highlighting sports exist. There exists an increased demand for sporting objects. Companies are capitalizing on this. Athletes are one of the highest paid people than America. Successful ones easily make more than doctors, lawyers, or actors. Tiger Woods became the first athlete a few years ago to earn over a billion dollars. That is a tremendous amount of money.
   New technologies are always being created to better enhance the athlete in whatever the sport. I would argue every 3 months a new line of golf clubs emerges claiming to drop one's golf score by 5 strokes. Having the best available equipment is fundamental to the athlete. Research and development must be creating a large share of money.  The modern sporting world is definitely a capital business. Revenue is a characteristic of the sporting world.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Steroids in Sporting Events

     Prior to taking this class, I must admit I was a little niiave to the steroid use in sports. First off, I did not realize to what extent steroids were in use to enhance performance and additionally, to what a wide-range athletic enhancing drugs had spread. There is no clear distinction between steroids and numerous other drugs such as the Human-growth hormone, cocaine, or beta-blockers. After watching the video today in class, my stance on steroids has changed. I initially condemned them, as short-cuts, ways to avoid hard-work. But I now feel those athletes who use steroids are the ones most dedicated.

    I would not go so far as to say steroids should be legalized in all sporting events. I still feel it undermines the core aspects of sporting events. But times are changing. The things our "founding fathers" anticipate never end up the way they plan anyway. For instance that is why we created the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation did not allow for change in America, which we now see is so clearly needed. Why then should the same concept not be applied to sports? I think people need to be able to reason with the idea of steroid use in sports. However, I think regulation of these steroids must increase. If governmental regulation is not increased, I feel people are more likely to get hurt by the effects of steroid use.

    A large number of people take steroids. These range from professional athletes to local gym enthusiasts; from both old to young. One would think since steroids are illegal people would have trouble getting their hands on them, but that is not true. High-school students even are getting them. And with all the pressure from coaches and parents to get stronger and bigger faster, they see steroids as a quick turn to. I mean its your football season junior year, one of the last opportunities your going to have to make yourself known to college coaches. Why not injects some steroids, bulk yourself up to stand out against everyone else. For many people, I feel the problem of steroids is the worry of health problems. This is valid concern. Yet, most of the results show steroid has more short-term effects than long-term, and these short-term consequences are reversible if someone stops taking the steroids.  Others may say, injecting yourself with drugs is cheating. The whole concept of sports is competition and creating an advantage against you and your opponent. Steroids are not alternatives to hard-work and practice. They may actually help an athlete to work harder because they allow them to see the effects more rapidly.

  In conclusion, I am not necessarily saying yes let us legalize steroids in sports. I am now much more open to the idea, and I think others should at least view the argument from both sides. It is so easy to take the route saying steroids are drugs and drugs are cheating. However, I think the steroid world needs to be viewed from two different angles. If it was greatly regulated I feel any potential long-term consequences of the drugs would be realized and we could exclude that product from the steroid. Now doing it all illegally and behind closed doors, humans are more likely to hurt themselves.
  

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Doping Allowed in Sports?

There was talk today in class of making two worlds for sports. One for the athletes who take drugs and steroids, and one for those who chose not to. I do not like this option. To be a top athlete one is acting as a role-model. Taking drugs does not depict a good image for youth. How can others admire an athlete for their superiority if those desired qualities are not even natural?
If two different federations were made to govern every sport I am fully confident the federation allowing doping will be lost and overlooked. As mentioned above, spectators cannot lookup to a "fake" athlete. As our knowledge of medicine expands more and more drugs will be developed enhancing athlete performance. I refuse to believe any of these enhancements actually help the human body, and as more are created it will just serve to hinder health. So by creating two worlds of sports humans will just be supporting this unnatural, harmful lifestyle.
Also, even if two worlds were created there would be tension between the two divisions. I believe the athletes on dope would be envious of the "natural" athlete. The "natural" athlete would become a sport champion the old fashion way: through hard-work and dedication. That diligence is what makes athletes so admired. Few would admire anyone taking the short-cut to get to the top. Therefore, creating two worlds for sports would only further progress the issues surrounding doping.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Reflections on Paul Brown

I was very disapointed in the classes reaction to the Paul Brown story. A coach cut old footballs in half and attached them to his players shirts, in order to confuse the other team so no one knew who had the ball. I find this incredibly wrong. It undermines the entire spirutuality of the game. He clearly intended to decieve the other team. That is in no way right ethically or morally.

I realize winning is important and I have just as much desire to be the champion as everyone else, but if you so blatently cheat, how can you call that winning? Its the same story from third grade: You and the other dude in class decide to sprint across the playground to decide who's fastest. You start the countdown.. 1-2- and he sprints off before ever hitting 3. I assume a similar story has probably happened to about everyone. When has anyone ever gone up to the other guy and been like great job you are totally beat me!? The kid who took off before the go totally cheated.

It is the exact same situation for the Paul Brown story.  It would be one thing if Mr. Brown was trying to prove a point, but he simply did it to win. Not only are his values revolting but what kind of example is he setting for the student he is coaching? They are at a critical age. High school students are so easily swayed by the people around them, especially those with authority they are taught to respect. He is teaching them sports is about winning at whatever the cost. These same students would be the ones to go out take steriods and drugs to enhance their performance. Also, this mindset could be reflected in the classroom. It is better to cheat on the test, rather than fail the class. Avoid failing and neglect whatever morals and principles are in the way. It is a never ending, health-degrading cycle.