Saturday, September 25, 2010

A few of Allen Guttman's Characteristics of Modern Sport

I find Guttman's characteristics of modern sport very interesting. Because although some may seem pretty obvious, I have never quite thought of them or seen them actually written and explained. His first characteristic, Secularism is one of the most obvious in my opinion. Sport has lost a lot of it's religious origin. One example I can think of here are the female athletes such as Amanda Beard, Anna Kournikova posing for risque pictures for magazines like Playboy. Female athletes are more of a sex or media icon. Two things which definitely have not come from a religious background. One reason someone could argue secularism in sport may seem appropriate is that there is a wide variety of religions in the world now and even those with not many religious beliefs, therefore it is good that everyone can feel comfortable and able to participate in the sport.The second characteristic of equality is very important. Everyone has an equal opportunity to play sports in their community from as young of an age of about 4, such as tee-ball, and soccer. They are relatively inexpensive and open to everyone. This equal opportunity continues into middle school when students are given a chance to participate in athletics and represent their school. Specialization of Roles, Guttman's third characteristic. Specialization of roles is his fourth characteristic specialization is a positive aspect in that each athlete is given a very important role. Each athlete has different talents and this has led to for successful teams once all roles are filled with the optimal talent. However, one could view specialization as negative if they consider the situation where a baseball team already has enough pitchers, or catchers, or if a football team already has plenty of good quarterbacks, then if that was your specialization you would not have a spot on one of those teams, because you would not be needed. The last characteristic that I am going to mention because it is one of my personal favorite characteristics of modern sport is Bureaucratization. One reason I think it is neat is because it has provided jobs for people like me! Like UT Kinesiology, Physical Culture & Sports major. In the days of ancient Greece sports, there were no need for sports managers, sports attorneys,  NCAA governing officials, sports media photographers, etc. Bureaucratic Organization has established the NCAA, and a whole different, sophisticated level of sport. One other part of Mrs. Todd's lecture I enjoyed learning about was the Greek word for honor arete, and that's where we get our modern day sportsmanship. 

Monday, September 13, 2010

Doping

In my own personal opinion sports will not be as interesting to me if genetic doping, steroids, and other drugs became legal in the world of sports. I think of them as needing to be natural, involving talents that the body can naturally and self obtain using training. But it is such a tough issue because, consider this, creatine and other supplements are now legal, but they could at some point become illegal and found as a performance enhancer just as steroids are, that would mean all this time people have been using performance enhancers. In other words, creatine and other building supplements are possibly the loop-hole drug at this point in time. Just as the slides that Ms. Todd showed us said that performance enhancers have dated all the way back to the time of ancient Greek athletes, there has been loop-hole drugs since that time, and just because we feel our technology is now reaching the top, I feel there will still be loop-hole drugs in sport. It is just a part of sports, the bad side of sports in my opinion, always has, and most likely always will be. However, when it comes to Hollywood actors such as Brad Pitt, I don't see the problem in them taking steroids and other drugs for appearance. Of course I see the problem in the health aspect, and that is upsetting, but Hollywood actors and actresses have been using drugs just as long as athletes have and I do not see it stopping anytime soon. They are only hurting themselves as far as the health goes. However America is obsessed with fit, thin bodies, and I can understand where their urges may come from as much as they are in the public eye. Whereas in sports, I feel it is almost cheating to use performance enhancement because I really like to think of someones body as being naturally able to move a certain way, or jump a certain height, or run a certain speed. However as I mentioned with the creatine being legal... and how I do not particularly see an issue with athletes taking that..It makes me begin to wonder if the only reason myself, and the majority of America looks at drugs so negatively is simply because of the "illegal" factor. Other supplements or objects such as an altitude tent could boost your performance just as much, however since drugs such as steroids are "illegal" that automatically gives them a horrible stigma.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Lance Armstrong article

When Lance Armstrong was fourteen my dad was the president of a popular running club in Waco, the Waco Striders. Lance came to the Waco Marathon (keep in mind he was fourteen) and blew the field away. Fair and square. He beat 20, 30, and 40-year-olds who had been running professionally for years. There is no way at this young age he had already started taking performance-enhancing drugs. I would imagine his athletic abilities and development have only improved as his experience and practice increased. With the exception of the major setback of his cancer, his athletic talent most likely only progressed from the age of fourteen. I feel if he didn't need the drugs then to preform shocking performances, he would not need the drugs as he got older. As far as people disliking him on a personal level...I could only imagine being the best (literally) at something from such a young age gave him feelings of confidence and simultaneously cockiness. Several professional athletes are cocky.. that does not make them cheaters. People have have shown their amazement and told him how impressive his performances have been for over 20 years, and yes, I am sure that has gone to his head, but once again, that does not mean he is a cheater. The only evidence they have had of any drugs in his career is a certain medication after the cancer that the doctor had prescribed. Lance would not intentionally cheat and risk his career and cancer foundation. I am a Lance Armstrong fan and have read two of his books. Sure, I think he is a little sorry for leaving his wife who supported him through cancer for Sheryl Crow, however, he most likely had his personal reasons and I feel people judge him for those types of choices and also have a somewhat "jealous" attitude towards his success.. it is no wonder people want to find something to break him. They try desperately to find evidence and have yet to find any to charge him guilty of the allegations. There is a part in one of his books that talks about how often officials would come to his house, knock on the door, and barge in to drug test him, he could not refuse no matter the circumstances, or how inconvenient of a time, or that would automatically count as failing the test. On one occasion the officials come while Lance and his wife are rushing to the hospital to have their baby. Lance must stop, wait until he needs to use the bathroom, and then take the test for the officials, while his in-labor wife waits near the car. I say leave the man alone! He has done great things for cancer and is a great contributor to society. If they have not found illegal evidence in the several years they have been trying, they may should give it a rest. He has been awesome at the sport since he was fourteen and there is a good chance he is still that all-natural, awesome athlete he has always been. It just comes NATURAL.