Black Distance Runners

                There had been suggested opinion that physical difference among black people might have enhanced their athletic ability in sport. Nowadays, we are able to see black athletes dominating certain sports such as football, basketball and track & field. Many scientists have tried to prove this by examining black athletes’ physical characteristic, and stated that blacks could gain advantage in sports that perform throwing and jumping events because of their longer forearms and hands. In addition, longer legs and narrower hips help black athletes to run faster than other races. 

                The article “Great Speed But Little Stamina” stresses that black athletes are disadvantageous on sport that require great stamina because they have lower breathing capacity. However, I started to question the statement because of the dominating performance of Kenyan marathon runners. If we look at the world top ten lists of fastest marathon runners, all ten of them are black athletes (1 Ethiopian and 9 Kenyan). I heard that Kenyan live and train at 2400m of high altitude land, which this environmental condition might help them to perform better at lower altitude. But my question still lies with the contradicting opinion introduced in the article by looking at the outstanding performance of male black marathons runners.

Media Coverage in Sport: Good or Bad

               I think the media plays important role in illustrating the image and spectacle of sport. The different types of media include newspaper, wire services, magazines and television. As large population gets access to those media, certain sport or athletes gain enormous amount of attention. This is crucial because sport also contains entertaining aspect. While media is having positive effect on sport, there are also some negative influences of media. 

                Media helps sport organization or league to generate astronomical amount of revenue. Media companies pay television rights to illustrate sporting events, while those sports shown on the media gain sponsorship. Media coverage also produces role models for people. Watching greatest sports player on television or in newspapers allow people to look up to those athletes. On the other hand, I think the media coverage can sometimes cause problems. Sports players often complain about media’s too much attention to their private lives, which this will definitely affect the players’ performance. Another fact is that since television shows various kinds of sporting events, people often feel less interested in buying a ticket and going to the actual game; this can result significant drop in ticket sales.

Mass fitness vs. Elite competitiveness

               It was interesting to learn how United States stressed the physical fitness of the citizens in the twentieth century. After the country had figured out that the level of American youth’s fitness are tested way below the European children, the government tried to provide a mass fitness. John F. Kennedy emphasized that the government must ensure sport participation as a basic and continuing policy. However, as the Cold War rivalry between United States and Soviet Union began, the federal government decided to significantly consider American amateur sport.

                I think the sport is playing important role in gaining political prestige, even in the present days. We simply think that number of gold medals won by country is its level of ability in their sport competition. However at the same time, there is a competition going on in the political fight. Dominance in sport competition especially at Olympic Games portrays a relationship between political nature and the sport. I think it’s true that ideological rivalry still exists even though the Cold War has ended.

Unethical Behaviors

          

             On November 29^th, the two most popular soccer teams in Spanish league, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, had their first match in this year. The result was 5-0 win by Barcelona; however when the match was almost ended, a defensive player Sergio Ramos kicked an opponent player on purpose. Eventually he got a red card, but he didn’t stop his violence, which he stroke two more players while he was exiting the field.

            While I was watching the news and reading the articles about the incident, I questioned the sportsmanship that needs to be considered during the competition. I understand that players get mad when they are losing the game badly, but I think Ramos had absolutely crossed the line. He should be condemned not only for the dangerous tackle that he had committed but for the unnecessary violence. Will the result of the game change for being violent player? Will the team benefit from those behaviors? I think Sergio Ramos’ behaviors have outcome disgraceful image of the team. Can the violence in sport justified by expressing anger? Can’t the two teams just end the game congratulating and encouraging each other? 

Related Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6BHmHIrxjE

Collegiate Athletes get paid?

 

                The tremendous amount of revenues generated by collegiate athletic department come just like the professional sports league. The school sells tickets to sports fans and earn enormous amount of money through television and media rights. Where does all those money go to? Every single dollar goes to coaches and school facilities. I wasn’t surprised when Dr. Todd told us that top ten highest paid people in Texas is all coaches except one person. So, should part of that money also go to collegiate athletes?

                I was thinking what if collegiate athletes are getting paid by school. Then what will be the difference between collegiate and professional sport league? Student athletes might focus on getting paid rather than obtaining education in the college, which it is definitely denying the mission of the college. Should seniors get more pay than the freshmen? Should NCAA allow schools to buy or trade collegiate athletes just like in the pro league? Many problems are expected if collegiate athletes are allowed to get paid. Therefore, the school can use the funds for student athletes’ graduate degree or other financial support such as starting a business and making payment on house.

Caster Semenya

               

                An 18-year old girl, Caster Semenya won a gold medal in the women’s 800 meter dash in Berlin 2009. However, she was forced to take a gender test from International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) to verify that she is really a female. The result of the test was astonishing. It has been reported that Semenya has no womb or ovaries and her level of testosterone was three times higher than that of the normal female. As a result, the federation decided to distinguish her as a hermaphrodite – having both male and female organs. 

                I believe Caster Semenya has been raised as a girl in her family, which I think IAAF’s decision to conduct a gender against this young girl is violating human rights. It has been reported in public that she is no longer considered as female, but hermaphrodite. And how would she feel after being tested and realized that she can be both male or female? Although Semenya might benefit from her stronger muscles and faster movements, this issue is different from athletes taking advantage from doping. Therefore, I don’t think any additional punishment is necessary.

Is it an Ethical Decision?

                On November 23th, there was a Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Ajax. Since both teams are very well organized and have shown outstanding performances during the season, soccer fans were expecting a remarkable match. As a result, Real Madrid succeeded to score four goals against Ajax, and reached the top spot in Group G. However, after the game, the decision made by the manager of Real Madrid, José Mourinho, caused a great controversy. At the very end of the game, Mourinho directed two key players, Xavi Alonso and Sergio Ramos, to try to get another yellow card so that they can be suspended on the next Champions League match. At last, Alonso and Ramos received second yellow cards by delaying a ball playing, which they were suspended until the next match (I attached a link that shows video of the situation). Real Madrid have already been decided to play at the knockout stage despite the final match in Group G, and Mourinho wanted to have their yellow card count wiped clean ahead of the Champions League knockout stages.

                Is this an ethical decision made by the manager of the team? It is true that they didn’t violate the rules, and it seems that those two players were adequately punished from their behaviors. Some people say that it was a clever decision and there is nothing wrong with it, however, I think the manager’s decision is against the sports spirit. Professional athletes should try their best to earn victory, which the Real Madrid players’ behaviors were disrespectful to the opponent team. How about the soccer fans watching the game? You will notice from the video that fans were outraged by the behaviors of the players. Those fans paid to watch the team performing exciting plays, not to watch them playing only to gain advantage. This incident has occurred at one of the most popular soccer league in the world, which I think the managers and players should be more aware of the sportsmanship. 

 Related Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPplbi9QeKE