More handpicked essays just for you.
The relationship between sport and culture
The relationship between sport and culture
The relationship between sport and culture
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
A Fan’s Wishes In Jon Cooper’s article, “Auburn fan writes open letter about mistreatment in Athens”, he is going through the motions of what occurs on a game-to-game basis between Auburn and The University of Georgia (AKA UGA). Upon reading this, it pains me to see how people can be so cruel to one another. Attending football games should be about fun, spending time with friends and family, meeting new people, tailgating, and just having a great time. It should be something to look forward to doing, instead of worrying about being mistreated, ridiculed, or having to worry about the threat of violence. Cooper was trying to show the college football fans a whole new world that he and his friends experienced during one of their trips to Athens. The goal in this article is to get people to realize how some …show more content…
spectators victimize others ruining the experience. Cooper shows this to the audience by using an emotional standpoint or more commonly known as pathos. Throughout paragraph three, Cooper depicts in grave detail the horrific events him and his friends have experienced.
He makes sure to use graphic details and describe the emotions of his peers. “Two of the girls were in tears, and one (the one with the scarf) was genuinely scared she would be assaulted. She got rid of the scarf because she was scared it was making her a target. It’s in some dumpster downtown now” (Paragraph 3, Cooper). Here, Cooper appeals to the majority of a compassionate society by showing the intensity of the girls’ fear. When you read this, your first thought might be either “that’s a daddy’s or mommy’s girl,” or more appropriately, “how could someone harass an innocent girl for being a fan.” Hopefully, you will come to the realization that no one should have to be fearful for their lives, especially for the sake of entertainment from a night at the stadium. It is unbelievable that this happens, but apparently this is a very serious problem, and it needs some kind of resolution. This is a sport after all, so whatever happened to sportsmanship? Sportsmanship should not be limited to the players, but extended to the fan base as
well. In a logical stand point or otherwise known as logos, the author Cooper speaks to the sports fans families. He does this in paragraph 7 by stating “…I know Athens is a town I would never take a family to, if I were a father” (Paragraph 7, Cooper). This statement changes the whole perspective of the “Friday Night Lights” glamour of a family football game outing. After all, when you think of football, you think of an all American sport that brings family and friends together, rooting for their favorite teams. Game night is supposed to be full of excitement, delicious food, and a time to bond to create lasting memories. In Georgia, Athens in particular, is a serious football town; additionally, there are many diehard UGA fans that travel to see the games. Thus, Cooper was very smart including this brief paragraph into his article because many families travel to watch their favorite teams play. However, with his claims, why would anyone want to bring their children around a bunch of ill-mannered, drunken jerks? As parents, you want to protect your children from exposure to these kinds of people and avoid putting them into these kinds of situations. So, perhaps it is best to watch the game in the comfort of your own home. Cooper also manages to have a large ethical appeal, otherwise known as ethos, in his article as well. This is true since he actually went through these experiences himself, rather than just having researched on it. This is pointed out in the introduction when the author starts off by issuing a statement enhancing his credibility; he states “Let me first say that this is 100% honest and accurate to the best of my knowledge” (Paragraph 1, Cooper). The author is trying to establish trust from his audience through his language in the article. He is clearly trying to advocate a cause here; however, he is also trying to be respectful to the other side of the argument. He presents this by explaining that he thought that he and his friends were treated badly due to the fact that the people at the bars were heavily intoxicated; “Maybe those were just drunks last night, and we had some bad luck” (Paragraph 5, Cooper). However, later on in paragraph 5, he shows the audience that this sadly was not the case “Nope. Spat at. CONSTANTLY. I did NOT understand why grown men were literally spitting at me on a regular basis” (Paragraph 5, Cooper). The author is a credible source because even though he and his friends had a rough time Friday night, he still tried to give the Bulldogs the benefit of the doubt. Thus, showing that he was not just being biased, but that he had actually experienced this; even if the audience reading the paper was a Bulldogs fan, he or she would most likely still feel for the Auburn fans. Cooper made it a point to not discriminate and stereotype all Bulldog fans as terrible people, but unfortunately the Bulldog fans proved through actions to be otherwise. In conclusion, Cooper appears to be very successful in persuading his readers through his recollection of events. He tried to present solely factual information, and he was justified, detailed, and unbiased. He did not “trash” talk the UGA fans; instead, he told the audience his experiences from this one particular terrible trip. He even went further into saying that at one point, he had a better trip in Athens when a game day was not involved. “I have been there outside of football, and I loved it” (Paragraph 9, Cooper). All in all, Cooper definitely had the attention of his audience, filling their heads with the horrific images of the trials that he and his friends had endured. Ultimately, this most likely changed how he and his friends viewed Saturday game day in Athens, and it may change how some members of his audience think of it now as well.
Blood pressure rising and testosterone dropping are good symptoms (that is, to someone who is a sports enthusiast); nail biting, heart pounding, and barn burning games are bread and butter to sports enthusiasts such as me. Rivalry, unity, and relaxation help me bond with other individuals who share a common interest as I do. Within the article “Are Sports Fans Happier?”, author Sid Kirchheimer gives his bias reasoning over sports and its social, health, and psychological effects on sports enthusiasts, which elaborates and aligns concisely to why I passionately enjoy lacrosse and soccer. Fundamentally speaking, sports initially bequeath an array of positive benefits besides good health and mental stability; sports allow individuals to indulge
In a generation focused on social justice and the elimination of prejudice from our society, there is still a use of offensive language and terminology in the area of professional sports. In “The Indian Wars” by S. L. Price, Price attempts to make the reader aware of sports teams that use derogatory terms as their team name and their mascot. He does this by highlighting football, and trying to determine whether Native-Americans are offended by team names in sports, or more specifically, the Redskins. Price’s essay is ineffective because although he raises good points, he doesn’t help the reader to form an opinion by adding historical context to the derogatory names used. He also uses inaccurate poll results to make assumptions about the feelings
The Odessa football players couldn't be objective about criticisms of football. Their total self-esteem depended on how they did on Friday night. This was the glorified culmination of their football career: wearing the black MoJo uniform in the stadium under the big lights. Football was more than just a game to them; it was a religion. It "made them seem like boys going off to fight a war for the benefit of someone else, unwitting sacrifices to a strange and powerful god" (Bissinger, p.11). Because football was so meaningful in their lives, to criticize it was to criticize everything they'd worked so hard for and lived for.
While college sports play a valuable role on university campuses, it is important for administrators to not lose perspective. That some football coaches earn more than university presidents, for example, is clearly wrong. Essay Task Write a unified, coherent essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives on college support for sports teams. In your essay, be sure to: • analyze and evaluate the perspectives given • state and develop your own perspective on the issue • explain the relationship between your perspective and those given
It all begins with SOS and SOS+. Those are the freshman orientations. Every freshman has been through it and knows what I am talking about. Many of the SOS and SOS+ leaders told the freshman during orientation that nobody goes to the football games instead, they go to the basketball games. As a freshman you want to do everything that you can to fit into the crowd. Of course if an older student tells you that it is not "cool" to go to a football game, then most likely you are not going to go. Freshman Lucy O'Kelley says, "I was scared to go to the football games after my SOS+ leader told me that nobody went to them. I thought I would be they only one sitting in the stands, so I did not attend the games this past season." If most of the freshman felt that way then that was about 900 possible fans that the SOS and SOS+ leaders scared away. They are supposed to be leaders of the university, but yet they are scaring the fans away.
These players and their families have an obsession for football that is pretty obvious and damaging to the well-being of their future. Not only are the players affected but the school and other institutions as well. When football is at the forefront of everything you can miss key contributions to what would amount to having a successful life after football. The fans of the Permian Panthers love their football team and to them that is all that is important in the world.
The narrator came up with an idea that overpowered his emotions and made him stand up for what he thought was wrong. He said “Over the next few days an idea forms within me, ripening, swelling, pushing everything else into a corner.” (Kinsella 3). This shows his passion for the sport and that he will do as much as he can to right the wrong because it could not be forgotten. The narrator also rebelled against the strike and the artificial turf by gaining accomplices and slowly switching the synthetic grass to a real square of sod. This led a protest against the strike and made the protagonist, and many other community members stand up for what they believe is right. Furthermore, defiance is a theme all through the story by the protagonist rebelling and standing up for what he truly believes in.
Diaz Truman, M. (2013). One Hit Too Many: The Moral Responsibility of Football Fandom. Kennedy School Review, 1310-15.
Some small towns take great pride in a singular activity that the community excels in. The fictional town of Messina, featured in John Grisham’s novel Bleachers, is radical even among that group. American football is a primary focus of many of the inhabitants’ lives, dominating conversation and their free time. With conversation comes gossip and rumors, amplified by the small town atmosphere where everyone knows many details of the lives of the other citizens. This train of thought brings one to the point where these are not people that are being talked about but rather a figure for entertainment. Messina is a town filled with many local celebrities: the players that bring glory to the town, and the one that trained them all, Coach Eddie Rake. Is it responsible for the population to expect so much from their own children?
‘Field of Dreams’ is a diversified script that constantly evolves, but mainly revolves around the game of baseball, ‘the greatest game ever invented’. The game that according to some avid spectators, completely and thoroughly transcends and binds the country to past, present, and future--generation to generation. In this movie this national pastime represents an avenue that finds the connection to the soul of a great audience; somehow insinuating that baseball acts as a means of fulfilling individual spiritual needs. These needs are that of a ‘sense of belonging’, a need to participate in sport, either vicariously as a spectator or directly as a participant. Moreover the desire to engage in distraction and play may be intrinsic to the human psyche. The theme throughout the movie was based on the legendary story of the Chicago White Sox of 1919, where the question was raised on the issue of the team’s “sportsmanship” and the ethical behavior of several teammates during the World Series. This left the image of America’s most idolized team tarnished and lead up to a ban of eight players from the sport; for an ‘unsportsmanlike’ like conduct in the series. The public view of the game up until then was that of perfection, it was clean and straight; but afterwards, the lack of fair play especially coming from such highly ranked players, ended up affecting fans’ enthusiasm for the entire sport. As the movie nears its ending, Robinson evolved on the concept of having utterly devoted fans and as if in a mystified manner drew them in to this already mystical place, just to have them see the most idolized team of ‘the golden age’ play once again.
"College Athletic Programs Undermine Academics." Student Life. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 July 2011.
Smith and Carlos were then able to walk off the field but it just got worse, “the shock was gone and it was officially getting ugly” (Carlos 121). The audience started to yell at them and called them “anti-American” (Carlos 121). Because of the social setting, people did not understand the purpose of what they were doing or what it had represented. There was ta...
College football is a major part of many peoples' lives, especially here in the South. Whether we or someone we know is an alumni, we plan to go there in the future we think the uniforms are cute, or whatever reason, we always have one favorite team we cheer for. sometimes fans of a team will wear a shirt with the team's logo and that is as far as their loyalty goes. Others may attend a few games a season, but there are also those die hard fans that never miss a game or always tailgating, screaming at the refs, and have the team's fight song as their ringtone. While all that may seem a little overboard, there are people believe it or not, who take their team devotion as far as killing to show their devotion to their favorite team. Having team spirit is one thing, but when lines are crossed and people begin causing major problems, security should be tightened at games, even if colleges have to change a few things to pay for the extra help.
College football is beneficial for both the players and city. College football is more than a sport for entertainment; it’s a sport that has been the unifier for colleges, players, and most Americans. It brings people together; strangers standing side-by-side, jumping, getting excited, high-fiving one another, cheering on a group of fifty men playing a game. The cities that host the game are receiving more recognition. Intelligence Squared hosted a debate on whether the sport should be banned. One debater Malcolm Gladwell(2012) stated:
Since the moment I was born, I’ve been a maroon bleeding, TU hating, Fightin’ Texas Aggie. In elementary school, I quickly became known for my A&M obsession. However, it wasn’t until middle school that I really started to ask myself, “What does it mean to be an Aggie?” Sure, Reveille, Midnight Yell, and that little ring made of gold are just a few of the things that come with the title, but what kind of person does it take to be an Aggie? With this question in mind, I began my research, and quickly came across the Aggie Code of Honor; “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.” Now, I was only eleven when I read this, but I knew in that moment that it was the code I wanted to live by and model myself after. I put myself on a path of honesty, integrity, and dignity years before I even set foot in College Station.