The following blog was provided by Matt McLagan:
Check out these videos below, all showing examples of violence in sport. Whether it is used through intimidation, strategy, or strictly as a conscious effort to physically harm another, this has always been an issue in sport. Even our top athletes and role models engage in all levels of violence, and sometimes when displayed outside of the rules of the game, these actions are dealt with in house (with in the organization). Give examples of violence in sport that you have observed and/or experienced (whether it be within or outside of the rules) and explain what kind of influence that has on spectators and observing youth. How much should violence be emphasized as strategy, within the rules of the game? Are the most severe cases of violence we see in sport go above the law at times? What affect does this have on our athletes (what are we teaching them)?
Hockey Fight (used as strategy for the game): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz7Nb6uzg0s
Brutal Body Contact/Borderline Violence (notice the celebration after the play) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGNJox8eLpE
Criminal Violene (post game assault): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz9RE9RGrVY
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Violence is a part of sports, has been as long as I can remember, and it will continue to be. Hockey and football are by far the most brutal sports to play, its no wonder that violence is such a big part of the game. When you see highlights from hockey and football, I guarantee that there will be some "big hits" included in the short film. It seems as though that is why most tune in, to see how much violence will take place.
ReplyDeleteWhat gets the most attention during games, especially in hockey? The fighting. I can't even remember how many times I've "I go to see the fights... I just want to see some blood." Is that really what this world is coming to; going to a sporting event and hoping that a fight breaks out. Why don't you just go to an MMA fight or a boxing match, at least there you know you'll see some fighting and blood. I remember going to some minor league hockey games and remember hearing people say "well our team isn't very good, but they are good for one thing. You can be sure they'll get into a few fights so the people get their money's worth.
I see where violence is part of the game. I can even see where violence needs to be in the game, because it's tradition. But their are boundaries that shouldn't be crossed. But how can we make sure that those lines aren't crossed? How can we make sure that if they are crossed, how to stop it?
The violence in sport may be reaching its peak. Now its not just the players and coaches going at it. Now fans are going after players and vice versa. Parents are going after parents. Where it may be a part of the game, I don't believe it needs to be in the stands.
For a lot of people violence in sports is seen as something that is normal or expected. If you turn on sportscenter you will always see a fight of some kind from hockey during the NHL season to NFL to basketball to NASCAR and evert sport in between. I myself I have been a part of an environment in college football where fighting was not only allowed...it was flat out encouraged. My college fb coaches thought fighting made practices more interesting and those players who were fighting were seen as having more passion for the game. Unfortunately, many young people today are starting to think fighting is something that is ok to do on a regular basis. In my high school there has been a group of students who got involved in fight clubs with other area students. The students would go to a pre-determined spot and they would stage UFC type fights. In my opinion, I don't think fighting or violence should be allowed or promoted in any form at any level. Sport is designed to find out who is the best at that particular activity not to find out who is the best fighter or toughest. If someone wants to fight than they should join an organization like the UFC and find out how tough they are, otherwise, leave the fighting and violence out of the sport.
ReplyDeleteI have witnessed fighting in college and pro hockey, football, and baseball.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen the point to it. It does not prove anything but people being stupid. I have a friend who got hit by one punch in a baseball game because he was pitching and he hit the batter and the bench came out and he has permanent brain damage and is in a wheelchair from ONE single punch.
It just teaches kids that violence is ok and fun for others to watch. I hate it especially in Pro sports where so many kids look up to the athletes. I think that is should NEVER be tollerated.
For this discussion also consider: How is violence related to other topics we have discussed (masculinity, race, etc)
ReplyDeleteViolence exists in sport to the extent that it is allowed by the rules and/or those who apply the rules. In those instances where the rules permit it or it is the express intent of the sport, like MMA or boxing, it is obviously going to be allowed. In other sports, however, like hockey or football, the rules at least to some extent prohibit fighting or violence. So then, why does it still occur? I believe it is because the application of the rules is such that it sends a message to participants that the consequences for violating rules against fighting and violence aren't enough to totally eliminate fighting and violence. If someone knows they can get away with it or have a relatively insignificant penalty, then they're more likely to do it. This is compounded when coaches and/or fans encourage it. If you want to remove fighting and violence from sport, make the consequences significant enough to provide a disincentive to participants.
ReplyDeleteViolence is definitely a part of sport and is very much so encouraged. It is correct that fights are what most people want to see. I have seen numerous fights at sporting events, especially hockey. What I find so interesting is that the same behavior which is acceptable in sports will land you in jail outside of sports. This definitely has an impact on youth and they look to older athletes as role models. This can also be seen in the behaviors they exhibit (other than violent ones) such as scoffing at refs/umps, adjusting their batting gloves, the approach they take at the plate, etc. We are also teaching our children that the only way sporting events are exciting is when they involved violence when we cheer on fights and watch the replays of fights on TV and YouTube. I believe the messages we send to our athletes about fighting have become so significant that it is no wonder many of them are arrested off the field for acts of violence – how are they to learn to differentiate the two?
ReplyDeleteViolence is such a huge part in sports and is definitely related to masculinity in many ways. This is shown in many ways, but one of them being that there is no checking allowed in girls hockey. Growing up in a hockey rink I saw numerous hockey shirts saying "give blood, play hockey" and obvious ones like "no pain, no gain". The saying "boys will be boys" seems to be the easy out when discussion around violence in sports comes up, but when is enough, enough.
ReplyDeleteSports is a form of entertainment and if people are going to games just to see fights, but are bringing in revenue, then I don't think its going to stop. Unfortunately. It seems like for males violence in sports is almost engrained in them from early on. They are told not to cry, they play video games where killing is encouraged, and so when they get a chance to cheap shot someone in sports or just hit harder than need be, some may jump on that chance. (I am not only saying that boys fight, I am just simply referencing men over women right now)
In the movie The Express, Ernie Davis's hamstrings had gotten injured and the opposing teams coach told his players to aim for Ernie's hamstrings because they knew he was hurt. They ended up just absolutely pounding Ernie and making his hamstring injury so severe that he was taken out of the game. Another example shown in a movie is in Million Dollar Baby. Maggie was fighting against the lightweight champion and when Maggie was getting back to her side of the ring the girl just whaled on her, and Maggie ended up cracking her neck and ultimately dying from this.
Violence is prevalent is many sports that our society enjoys. Like Professor Van Mullem mentioned, violence is the standard in football for masculinity and power. The harder the hit, the louder the crowd, the more energy and power the player feels they have. Like mentioned above people go to the games to see this aspect of the sports.
ReplyDeleteThe culture of violence in sports began centuries ago, we can trace it back to the first Olympics in Greece. Their culture thrived on violence and dominence within men. Our current society has continued this tradition with some minor tweaking. Our society even uses a sort of violece within our youth sports.
Speaking in terms of violence within the rules of the game (i.e. "Brutal Body Contact" violence as seen in above video) what is the product of this growing prevalence of violence in sport?
ReplyDelete1. Physical play as strategy?
2. Carrying out the masculine ideology?
3. Evolution of the athlete (bigger...faster...stronger...)?
Violence is part of contact sports. I had a feeling the hockey fighting video would feture Derek Boogaard, too bad he signed with the rangers. Fighting in hockey not fighting just because they can. When used stategically it can swing momentum and protect your players. As far as the Brutal Body Contact clip, as long as it is a legal hit, it is ok. Like fighting in hockey, a big hit like that in a football game could make it so the player thinks twice when running down the sidelines, and thus runs out of bounds for less yards or makes a mistake like fumble the ball.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of violence and sports they go hand in hand. In some sports I know that you aren't considered manly or masculine until you have started or gotten into a fight. Take hockey for instance. My sister's friend went to play juniors somewhere in Michigan and in order to be accepted he needed to get involved in at least one fight. The team said it was sort of initiation that everyone on the team had to go through. Anyone else have an example of this?
ReplyDeleteViolence in sports exist in a person mind. We as athletes have the ability to control our attitudes towards violence in sports. I maybe slightly hypocritical on this topic because as soon as I see the benches clear on ESPN highlight I am glued to my TV like white on rice. Excited about the fact these athletes are THAT emotionally involved into the game. I have been in a couple of fights on the basketball court and the gridiron, but that action was one that I chose due to my frustration of the game and or competitor. Its a game full of testosterone there is bound to be a fight or two. Not saying that it is ok, just stating the fact.
ReplyDeleteViolence in sports is what people go to contact sporting events for. It is as close as you can get to a legal fight without any consequences. Wrestling and Hockey are two of the violent sports on campus that students tend to flock to in case someone gets hurt or in case of a fight or a slam. I can agree with Alii with her statement about tracing our sports violence back to Olympic time. It has and will always be a trend in sports.
ReplyDeletethis is very interesting topic....especially in sports like football, where their is some form of violence of just about every snap. We as coaches define a kid often by how tough he is and what is level of tolerance to give and receive are. It is a double edged sword because you want people in your organization that are good upstanding people, but you also (if you want to win) need to have players who live on the edge. It is very difficult for guys with that type of an edge to turn it on and turn it off, especially when they are 18-23 years old and don't have to maturity to handle conflict off the field. They have been taught their whole lives that to be a "man" you have to be tough and not back down from anyone regardless of the situation. Fear in a sport like football or hockey is a motivating factor for both the person who delivers the violonce and the person receiving it. I had a coach in college who used to always say "sometimes a 15 yarder early in the game is a good thing, lets em know you are going to be getting after them the whole game" The question becames where do you draw the line?
ReplyDeleteElaborating on Doug's response;
ReplyDelete"It is very difficult for guys with that type of an edge to turn it on and turn it off, especially when they are 18-23 years old and don't have to maturity to handle conflict off the field."
Is the violence that occurs off the field from these types of athletes stem from upholding the masculine ideology (being a "man" and "tough") that is developed through these violent sports? Or is there some sense of entitlement from these athletes because, in terms of the law, they "get away" with this type of violence (Cy: "It is as close as you can get to a legal fight without any consequences.") ?
Finally, discuss the causes of violence that occurs from spectators at sporting events (verbal & physical). Consider the following:
ReplyDelete1.) Contact vs non contact sporting events
2.) Fans/former participants living vicariously through the athletes
3.) Alcohol
Violence that the happens with spectators is happening all too much. I do think that for some reason in contact sports is it worse. For example at a Vikings game vs. a Twins game. I have seen so many more physical fights and verbal threats at a Vikings game than the twins. I do agree that alcohol has a role in some of this, but the fans get so into the game that they forget it is just a game and take things much too far.
ReplyDeleteViolence is a part of contact sports as well as non contact sports. The prevelance of violence seen in professional sports is growing, but it is also growing in collegiate sports. In hockey, fighting is huge, and in some cases is the highlight of the game-everyone wants to see a good fight, it's entertaining. Regardless of the entertainment, this is something that needs to be put to an end. Athletes of any kind need to be seen as role models again, and until then, violence in athletics will continue to be on the rise.
ReplyDelete