After getting settled into the background of historical/ethical issues of sport, it is important that we begin to understand the meaning of modern sports and why we are so interested in sports. We ask ourselves the following questions in order to further examine this: Are sport cultural practices that express common shared values of a society? And what cultural values do modern American sports express?
We reviewed some of the old history and origins of sport including mythology and religion. Sport was known to be directly tied to religion, especially during the Olympic Games. Also, we noticed how many years ago there weren't as many team sports as there are today. Why is this? Well, team sports require longer childhoods, greater leisure time, special locations, and cities. Back then, having all of these requirements were rare and expensive; therefore, in a more developed world today, we are able to create and evolve through team sports. Personally, I believe the evolution of team sports has been one of the greatest inventions to enter the world of sports. It has provided so many life lessons and values to all participants. These values include cooperation, teamwork, respect, leadership, and character.
According to Michael Mandelbaum, the meaning of sport deals with three basic human needs. First, it provides a diversion from the mainstream and routines of modern life. Next, the ritual of sport is logical and dramatic. And finally, sport provides us with heroes. This last aspect is the most important in my opinion. We all want to achieve and the way this happens is with the right motivation. And what better way are we motivated than by having our own personal heroes. Heroes are people we admire and hope to emulate. They're people who embody virtues attainable to everyone who possesses character and discipline. Hard work brings success.
Guttman, on the other hand, has his own seven characteristics of sport. I have found both theories to describe the meaning of sport well; however, Guttman gives a more detailed explanation. In summary, he basically portrays that sport is non-religious, equal to all, specialized, organized, consistent, and measured. Since sport is derived from play, it depends on what type of sport you're discussing in order to apply one of the meaning of sport theories. In conclusion, sports can be symbolic, they're essentially achieving a particular end, and they fulfill aesthetic needs in humans. Sports give us a medium for performance and a reason to compete.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Bigger, Stronger, Faster - Week 3
This week in class we watched a film called Bigger, Stronger, Faster. Directed and narrated by Chris Bell, this movie is a real-life documentary of the effects of steroids. Chris is one of three sons in his family and is the only child that does not partake in steroids on a regular basis. In the movie, Chris interviews his two brothers and their families about using these performance-enhancing drugs. These men claim that they feel like it's necessary to take steroids because of what they do. Considering that they wanted to compete in professional weightlifting and wrestling, steroids were the given solution to becoming bigger and better. These guys, as well as many others across the United States, say that steroids are used for performance but also to avoid feeling inadequate in comparison to other stronger men.
In addition to interviewing his brothers, Chris addresses many other examples of "cheating." For example, Floyd Landis, who competed in the 2006 Tour de France and got disqualified, explains his story. He strongly denies any allegations that claim he used steroids. When asked what techniques he has for preparing for a big race, Landis shows Chris his self-made high-altitude chamber in his backyard that he sleeps in. This method pumps more oxygen into his body, therefore, allowing him to perform longer. When introduced to methods like this, we can't help but ask: is this cheating? According to the rules, it is not. But how is it any different than blood doping (which is cheating)? The rules nowadays are strict, but apparently there are some loopholes. Athletes are always trying to become bigger, stronger, and faster; so they will do whatever it takes, following by their own individual morals.
And what about Tiger Woods? He corrected his vision to 20/15 with Lasik eye surgery. Now is this cheating? Most claim that it is not, because it's available to everyone.....right? As you can see, there are way too many forms of "performance-enhancements" to judge what is cheating and what isn't. Most of these methods will all boil down to deciding what is right/moral, depending on the athlete. This is exactly what we saw in the film. Although the main character, Chris, wants to look good like his brothers, he is completely against using anything illegal and unnatural. He has the same aspirations as everyone else, but he just chooses to achieve his goals through normal physical activity.
This film is the perfect example of demonstrating doping in sports. It's illegal but it's legal. It's right but can also be wrong. We will never truly understand what to believe when it comes to steroids. As children, we learn that they're bad and what not. But as we get older and want to improve our image, we begin to notice the benefits of using steroids, while ignoring what we learned growing up. So in conclusion, we become selfish. Besides the set-in-stone rules stated in certain organizations, we go by what we think is best for our own good. And depending on what choices we make, they can eventually affect more than just ourselves.
In addition to interviewing his brothers, Chris addresses many other examples of "cheating." For example, Floyd Landis, who competed in the 2006 Tour de France and got disqualified, explains his story. He strongly denies any allegations that claim he used steroids. When asked what techniques he has for preparing for a big race, Landis shows Chris his self-made high-altitude chamber in his backyard that he sleeps in. This method pumps more oxygen into his body, therefore, allowing him to perform longer. When introduced to methods like this, we can't help but ask: is this cheating? According to the rules, it is not. But how is it any different than blood doping (which is cheating)? The rules nowadays are strict, but apparently there are some loopholes. Athletes are always trying to become bigger, stronger, and faster; so they will do whatever it takes, following by their own individual morals.
And what about Tiger Woods? He corrected his vision to 20/15 with Lasik eye surgery. Now is this cheating? Most claim that it is not, because it's available to everyone.....right? As you can see, there are way too many forms of "performance-enhancements" to judge what is cheating and what isn't. Most of these methods will all boil down to deciding what is right/moral, depending on the athlete. This is exactly what we saw in the film. Although the main character, Chris, wants to look good like his brothers, he is completely against using anything illegal and unnatural. He has the same aspirations as everyone else, but he just chooses to achieve his goals through normal physical activity.
This film is the perfect example of demonstrating doping in sports. It's illegal but it's legal. It's right but can also be wrong. We will never truly understand what to believe when it comes to steroids. As children, we learn that they're bad and what not. But as we get older and want to improve our image, we begin to notice the benefits of using steroids, while ignoring what we learned growing up. So in conclusion, we become selfish. Besides the set-in-stone rules stated in certain organizations, we go by what we think is best for our own good. And depending on what choices we make, they can eventually affect more than just ourselves.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
History of Doping and Ethics - Week 2
During our second week of class, we learned about the early history of doping and its morality/immorality in the world of sports. Doping tracks all the way back to Ancient Greece, when athletes used hallucinogenic mushrooms and sesame seeds for increased endurance and higher protein levels. Back in these days, however, diets and doping weren't considered "cheating." But we now know that they can be illegal in this day and age depending on the substance and amount taken.
As the years went by, scientists discovered that doping could in fact increase performance but it could also be harmful to the health of athletes. Sports became more and more competitive and therefore, testosterone and anabolic descendants became a common substance taken among those who wanted to get better. Because of its masculinizing qualities, testosterone was known to increase aggression and enhance muscularity. But as the rules became stricter on taking steroids, other types were invented to find their ways around the rules.
In relation to this week's lecture, I found an article that involves doping and morality:
The Hall of Fame's fuzzy standards
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=5563843&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d5563843
To summarize, this writer discusses the requirements of becoming admitted into the MLB Hall of Fame. The voting standard states that induction will "be based upon the player's record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the team(s) on which the player played."It is said that the most important requirements are the player's sportsmanship and character. Relating back to last week's blog post about ethics in sports, this article ties in doping as well as morality regarding performance. Many years ago, doping wasn't illegal and therefore was a moral decision made by athletes. Nowadays, some substances are in fact illegal, so it depends on the athlete to make the right decision of whether or not they should break the rules. Doping will always bring up the morality argument. It's a problem in the sports world that will be around for a while, so it will be the athlete's choice to decide if it will remain an issue in their own individual sports life.
As the years went by, scientists discovered that doping could in fact increase performance but it could also be harmful to the health of athletes. Sports became more and more competitive and therefore, testosterone and anabolic descendants became a common substance taken among those who wanted to get better. Because of its masculinizing qualities, testosterone was known to increase aggression and enhance muscularity. But as the rules became stricter on taking steroids, other types were invented to find their ways around the rules.
In relation to this week's lecture, I found an article that involves doping and morality:
The Hall of Fame's fuzzy standards
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=5563843&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d5563843
To summarize, this writer discusses the requirements of becoming admitted into the MLB Hall of Fame. The voting standard states that induction will "be based upon the player's record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the team(s) on which the player played."It is said that the most important requirements are the player's sportsmanship and character. Relating back to last week's blog post about ethics in sports, this article ties in doping as well as morality regarding performance. Many years ago, doping wasn't illegal and therefore was a moral decision made by athletes. Nowadays, some substances are in fact illegal, so it depends on the athlete to make the right decision of whether or not they should break the rules. Doping will always bring up the morality argument. It's a problem in the sports world that will be around for a while, so it will be the athlete's choice to decide if it will remain an issue in their own individual sports life.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Ethical Decision Making - Week 1
After attending the first week of class, I've formulated opinions about what I think of ethics and morality in the world of sport. Our first lecture introduced some history of ethical reasoning, including the stories of the Tuskegee Airmen in Alabama. As the first African American bomber squad in the United States, the Tuskegee Airmen were considered to be the first test of segregation laws in America.
An ethical issue example given in class also occurred in Tuskegee, Alabama called the Tuskegee Experiment (1932-1972). Black men were given syphilis in an experiment. Researchers decided to just let the disease run, because they were only interested in the course of the disease over a lifetime. These men ultimately passed on the disease to their wives and children. During this time period, researchers failed to treat their subjects even though it was known in the late 1940s that penicillin would cure syphilis. This event became a topic of discussion during class. What ethical principles were violated in this experiment and how so? In my opinion, this test was completely irresponsible. Researchers were dishonest to their subjects and did not treat them with equality or respect whatsoever.
Making ethical decisions will always depend on our own personal morals; however, it always begins with recognizing the problem. Once we've pinpointed the issue, we have to decide what we value and what principles are important to us. The four main ethical principles in "good" sport are justice, honesty, beneficence, and responsibility. When thinking about an example that relates to all of these principles, I can't help but think of the one and only Lance Armstrong. We were given an assigned reading from the New York Times regarding this athlete and his fight with cancer as well as his fight with steroid allegations. Lance Armstrong has been through so many dilemmas in his lifetime, having to make ethical decisions every day. Many believe he his a hero; he's battled cancer, reached out to his fans, and become a world-class philanthropist. As a great athlete and father, of course he'll have some hard decisions to make. "Some of what makes Mr. Armstrong's character difficult to parse is the blinding sheen of his celebrity." Depending on the decisions he makes, he'll represent a hero or a failure. All ethical reasonings portray your character and can very easily determine what principles you believe in.
An ethical issue example given in class also occurred in Tuskegee, Alabama called the Tuskegee Experiment (1932-1972). Black men were given syphilis in an experiment. Researchers decided to just let the disease run, because they were only interested in the course of the disease over a lifetime. These men ultimately passed on the disease to their wives and children. During this time period, researchers failed to treat their subjects even though it was known in the late 1940s that penicillin would cure syphilis. This event became a topic of discussion during class. What ethical principles were violated in this experiment and how so? In my opinion, this test was completely irresponsible. Researchers were dishonest to their subjects and did not treat them with equality or respect whatsoever.
Making ethical decisions will always depend on our own personal morals; however, it always begins with recognizing the problem. Once we've pinpointed the issue, we have to decide what we value and what principles are important to us. The four main ethical principles in "good" sport are justice, honesty, beneficence, and responsibility. When thinking about an example that relates to all of these principles, I can't help but think of the one and only Lance Armstrong. We were given an assigned reading from the New York Times regarding this athlete and his fight with cancer as well as his fight with steroid allegations. Lance Armstrong has been through so many dilemmas in his lifetime, having to make ethical decisions every day. Many believe he his a hero; he's battled cancer, reached out to his fans, and become a world-class philanthropist. As a great athlete and father, of course he'll have some hard decisions to make. "Some of what makes Mr. Armstrong's character difficult to parse is the blinding sheen of his celebrity." Depending on the decisions he makes, he'll represent a hero or a failure. All ethical reasonings portray your character and can very easily determine what principles you believe in.
So events like this in history help us determine what has been deemed ethical and moral in today's society, and more specifically, sports. In a philosophical viewpoint, ethics regards questions regarding human morality and human duty. When dealing with sports, we usually devote our decision-making to what is ethically right. Ethics is concerned with values, issues, and decisions. Morals, on the other hand, deal with our beliefs and practices about how to live a good life. These days, ethical issues concern personal conduct and our judgments of moral obligation. In Lance's case, some believe that for all the good he has done, people shouldn't worry about whether or not he's been using performance enhancing drugs. Others believe that no matter how benevolent he has been, taking steroids will never be acceptable. So depending on your morals, what do you think?
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