The Application of Social Conflict Theory to Football

The Application of Social Conflict Theory to Football

In the book entitled Out of Their League, David Meggyesy describes his life as a football player from high school through his days with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Born in 1941, Meggyesy was raised in a low-income household in Solon, Ohio. Like many athletes from impoverished backgrounds, he was able to use the game of football to better himself though both a full scholarship to Syracuse University and financial stability with the Cardinals. During his career, however, Meggyesy became increasingly disillusioned with the game of football and how its athletes were subject to tremendous physical and psychological turmoil from those in power—namely the coaches and the NFL team owners. He began to see the game of football from a conflict theorist point of view. This is the belief that sport is an opiate used to benefit those in power through the exploitation of athletes which enables those such as coaches and team owners to maintain their power and privilege in society. (Coakley, 1998) Meggyesy's growing disenchantment with football and adoption of a conflict theorist point of view led him to retire from the Cardinals in 1969.

Research guided by conflict theory generally falls into the following categories: 1) studies of how athletes become alienated from their own bodies; 2) studies of how sports can be used to coerce and control people; 3) studies of sports and the development of commercialism in society; 4) studies of sports and various forms of nationalism and militarism; and 5) studies of sports and racism and sexism. (Coakley, 1998) In the book, Meggyesy provided examples of each of these categories which occurred during his footba...

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...utions. (David Meggyesy, Personal Communication, December 12, 2000) Furthermore, because current NCAA rules make it difficult for these athletes to earn enough money to cover their normal living expenses, he believes they often have to turn to the "black market" (i.e. boosters) for financial support. (David Meggyesy, Personal Communication, December 12, 2000)

Like a conflict theorist, Meggyesy believes there are still improvements to be made in terms of the exploitation of athletes. Thus, it appears the five categories conflict theorists study will continue to be applicable to the game of football and to sports in general.

Bibliography:

1. Coakley, J. (1998). Sport In Society: Issues and Controversies. Boston,

Massachusetts. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Meggyesy, D. (1970). Out of Their League. Berkeley, California. Ramparts

Press, Inc.