When asked why sports are important and not just extracurricular activities that should be cut from a school the moment money is tight athletes and sports enthusiast like to talk about how sports are so important because they teach us life values such as discipline and responsibility. But how can we say that when there are often so many stories in the news of professional athletes getting in trouble for drunk driving, abusive behavior, drugs, etc. If sports really taught discipline would not those who are athletes be practiced in the art of self-denial so avoiding things like over-drinking would be an easy thing to do? Everyone likes to have a good time and everyone also makes the occasional bad choice but when athletes continually exhibit a lack of restraint and end up on the news for disorderly behavior I don’t understand how our argument that sport teaches values can endure; because after all, for professional athletes their sport is their entire life so you would think they would have learned a lot from sports.
Also in our discussion on whether or not Athletes should be expected to behave as role models we touched on the subject of fame and fortune. I agree with the book when it suggests that when athletes accept the adoration of fans and the fortune that comes with that, they have entered into a contract of sorts with the fans where the athletes are obliged to behave in an upright kind of way.
As far as sports instilling values into athletes, i think that is a hard topic. I think that sports have little to do with your choices. In my opinion sports help emphasize some basic values your parents taught, and work to help things such as work ethic and the ability to communicate in groups. I would seperate the actions such as drunk driving, because i bet there are more non-athletes who drink drive then athletes. As far as being a role model goes, obviously there is a certain set of responsibilities that come with being a professional. The media plays a big part in making all of these athletes' mistakes known to everyone and emphasized in a big way. I think no one is perfect and if people start doing bad things children/adults who look up to them should look to someone else as a hero!
I agree with how the book puts into words the sort of contract that athletes have with the fans to be a sort of role model and to act in a manner that is expected of them. There is no denying that athletes are held to a higher standard than regular celebrities such as musicians and actors/actresses. The athlete is meant to be divorced from drugs and disciplined and respectable in nature even though obviously that is not how it always is i.e. Chris Henry, Chad Johnson (just examples from Cincinnati). Sports, when you're young, are a type of tool to help instill basic values in a child such as discipline, respect, obedience, etc. It would only make sense for it to carry on as you get older, right?
I agree with Ana that these values instilled in us through sport should be carried on throughout our lives. We have discussed in class the internal values of sports being more than mere entertainment. If the value of sport is that fans and players alike share certain values such as hard work, discipline, and respect for the rules, then it is inherent that athletes at such a high caliber would have these values apparent in the other aspects of their lives. It seems that there is a degradation in these values as fame and fortune take over as importance for the players while fans still seek those original values in the same players as they increase their level of competition. On the other hand, I would hope that sports help inform your conscience on more ethical matters but it is obviously not always the case. People can still take certain values out of sport without also developing an ethical framework for their actions as Matt has said. Unethical behaviors happen amongst all people, not just athletes and vice versa. Athletes should be valued by society by the values inherent in sports instead of the more external values. Like Matt said, if you want to know how to live a "better" life and not just a more "athletically successful" life, you might want to also look up to someone else.
I believe that sports do instill values in athletes lives. I agree with Matt that this is not the only way to form values, the parents have to instill while the children are young. But sports do seem to increase values. Also I believe that many athletes are role models and they should act like role models. But I don't believe they should have to be held to different standards. Nobody is perfect but if you are in the spotlight I feel that you should be very careful in trying to make good decisions.
This is a great discussion olivia because sports have instilled some of the values i use today. Nobody is perfect but their is a level of respect within the playing field and that competition fosters great character traits.
Every athlete no matter if they're amateur or professional are role models. This is a given when a person chose to be an athlete. This was not negotiable in any contract in any form. Basic role for being an athlete and a role model is to make decisions and actions that will not be viewed negatively.
I believe that we are all role models. No matter what level you are people are always looking up to you. We should always strive to do the right things even when no one is looking.
As a coach there is moral responsibility when it comes to athletics. You teach moral values through athletics like to never give up, work hard, and etc. When it comes to athletics no matter if it is middle school, high school, collegiate, or professional the people below whatever level will look to them as role models. But athletes aren't the only version of role models, there are other famous people, our parents, maybe even our siblings or friends. So we cant just hold athletes accountable as role models. We cannot blame them for people's mistake because everyone makes their own choices. We should all strive to do what is right if we are role models or not because it is the right thing to do.
I would like to say that just because a few athletes don't make the best decisions doesn't mean that all athletes are bad people. I would like to see a stat that shows how man athletes get in trouble with the law. I predict that the number is pretty low. I think that people who have not played a team sport for more then a few years don't understand what you learn from them.
ReplyDeleteWhen asked why sports are important and not just extracurricular activities that should be cut from a school the moment money is tight athletes and sports enthusiast like to talk about how sports are so important because they teach us life values such as discipline and responsibility. But how can we say that when there are often so many stories in the news of professional athletes getting in trouble for drunk driving, abusive behavior, drugs, etc. If sports really taught discipline would not those who are athletes be practiced in the art of self-denial so avoiding things like over-drinking would be an easy thing to do? Everyone likes to have a good time and everyone also makes the occasional bad choice but when athletes continually exhibit a lack of restraint and end up on the news for disorderly behavior I don’t understand how our argument that sport teaches values can endure; because after all, for professional athletes their sport is their entire life so you would think they would have learned a lot from sports.
Also in our discussion on whether or not Athletes should be expected to behave as role models we touched on the subject of fame and fortune. I agree with the book when it suggests that when athletes accept the adoration of fans and the fortune that comes with that, they have entered into a contract of sorts with the fans where the athletes are obliged to behave in an upright kind of way.
As far as sports instilling values into athletes, i think that is a hard topic. I think that sports have little to do with your choices. In my opinion sports help emphasize some basic values your parents taught, and work to help things such as work ethic and the ability to communicate in groups. I would seperate the actions such as drunk driving, because i bet there are more non-athletes who drink drive then athletes.
ReplyDeleteAs far as being a role model goes, obviously there is a certain set of responsibilities that come with being a professional. The media plays a big part in making all of these athletes' mistakes known to everyone and emphasized in a big way. I think no one is perfect and if people start doing bad things children/adults who look up to them should look to someone else as a hero!
Great post Brigid
I agree with how the book puts into words the sort of contract that athletes have with the fans to be a sort of role model and to act in a manner that is expected of them. There is no denying that athletes are held to a higher standard than regular celebrities such as musicians and actors/actresses. The athlete is meant to be divorced from drugs and disciplined and respectable in nature even though obviously that is not how it always is i.e. Chris Henry, Chad Johnson (just examples from Cincinnati). Sports, when you're young, are a type of tool to help instill basic values in a child such as discipline, respect, obedience, etc. It would only make sense for it to carry on as you get older, right?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ana that these values instilled in us through sport should be carried on throughout our lives. We have discussed in class the internal values of sports being more than mere entertainment. If the value of sport is that fans and players alike share certain values such as hard work, discipline, and respect for the rules, then it is inherent that athletes at such a high caliber would have these values apparent in the other aspects of their lives. It seems that there is a degradation in these values as fame and fortune take over as importance for the players while fans still seek those original values in the same players as they increase their level of competition. On the other hand, I would hope that sports help inform your conscience on more ethical matters but it is obviously not always the case. People can still take certain values out of sport without also developing an ethical framework for their actions as Matt has said. Unethical behaviors happen amongst all people, not just athletes and vice versa. Athletes should be valued by society by the values inherent in sports instead of the more external values. Like Matt said, if you want to know how to live a "better" life and not just a more "athletically successful" life, you might want to also look up to someone else.
ReplyDeleteI believe that sports do instill values in athletes lives. I agree with Matt that this is not the only way to form values, the parents have to instill while the children are young. But sports do seem to increase values. Also I believe that many athletes are role models and they should act like role models. But I don't believe they should have to be held to different standards. Nobody is perfect but if you are in the spotlight I feel that you should be very careful in trying to make good decisions.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great discussion olivia because sports have instilled some of the values i use today. Nobody is perfect but their is a level of respect within the playing field and that competition fosters great character traits.
DeleteEvery athlete no matter if they're amateur or professional are role models. This is a given when a person chose to be an athlete. This was not negotiable in any contract in any form. Basic role for being an athlete and a role model is to make decisions and actions that will not be viewed negatively.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we are all role models. No matter what level you are people are always looking up to you. We should always strive to do the right things even when no one is looking.
ReplyDeleteAs a coach there is moral responsibility when it comes to athletics. You teach moral values through athletics like to never give up, work hard, and etc. When it comes to athletics no matter if it is middle school, high school, collegiate, or professional the people below whatever level will look to them as role models. But athletes aren't the only version of role models, there are other famous people, our parents, maybe even our siblings or friends. So we cant just hold athletes accountable as role models. We cannot blame them for people's mistake because everyone makes their own choices. We should all strive to do what is right if we are role models or not because it is the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI would like to say that just because a few athletes don't make the best decisions doesn't mean that all athletes are bad people. I would like to see a stat that shows how man athletes get in trouble with the law. I predict that the number is pretty low. I think that people who have not played a team sport for more then a few years don't understand what you learn from them.
ReplyDelete