Sports Rage

“One, two, knock-out punch”…save it for the ring not the court, field, stands, or parking lot. Parents losing their tempers at their children’s sporting events have proven to be potentially fatal. Two hockey dads argued then engaged in a fist fight after their sons’ violent play in during the drills of their hockey practice. The two men, Thomas Junta and Michael Costin had fought once before this incident, but this would be the last tussle between the two men. In fact, this would be Costin’s final fight of his life. Junta was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Michael Costin’s children testified in the trial and strove to extend Thomas Junta’s sentence by describing what they saw and how their father’s death has so greatly affected them. Junta’s children did not attend the trial, as they were too upset (“Thomas”).

Disastrous events such as the one involving Junta and Costin should not occur. Many more people are affected by these circumstances other than only the parents. Over-zealous parents of children at youth sporting events are a real danger and negatively affect the youth involved in sports. Understanding the causes and effects of sports rage will help these issues be avoided. Several different factors contribute to the incidents of parent rage at their children’s athletic activities. There are short-term effects from vulgar actions at youth sporting events. Long-term effects can also come from devastating occurrences at athletic events involving the youth. In addition, specific precautions can be taken that will help to prevent such horrendous situations from arising at sporting events.

Violence as a result of sports did not begin in the last century, but it goes back in history to the sport of chariot racing in Ro...

... middle of paper ...

...N Justice.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. January 2002. 7 December 2011 .

Vedantam, Shankar. “Sideline Rage – Sports Parents Go Berserk”. The Washington Post.

The Washington Post Company. July 2008. 6 December 2011

.

Wells, Carrie, and Todd Ruger. “UPDATE: Sheriff Wrapping up Football Brawl Investigation”.

Herald-Tribune. HeraldTribune. September 2011. 20 December 2011

< http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110831/ARTICLE/110839898?tc=ar>.

“Dreaming of Becoming a college or Professional Athlete?”. Outlook. Georgia State University.

Winter 2006. 5 December 2011

< http://www.gcic.peachnet.edu/newsletter/dec06/dec%20outlook/athletes.html>.