It has been fun

It is funny how fast college has just flown by. It seems just yesterday I was graduating from high school. I must say out of all my college courses that I have taken thus far Sports and Gender was one of my favorite. It gave the opportunity, for those who liked to, to speak in class and give opinions on such topics as men and women playing in the same sport. We had tons of arguments over the semester which led to no boring classes. It's always good to look forward to going to class and that's what I was everyday because I knew we would be talking about a different issue. I liked how we had assignments to help us understand the material better. Also, giving us what was on the test and not tricking us on test, like some of my teachers have was very appreciated.

The blog I'm about to finish up hopefully will not be my last. I have enjoyed expressing myself. This was the first time I have had a blog that I actually had more then just a couple of entries in. The freedom to not worry about what you wrote was nice and gave me even more incentive to not censor myself. I think during class discussions I was more hesitate to talk because I was more worried about what others might have thought. Even though classmates had the chance to read my blogs, I feel like I get what I want to say out better when I write it done. I'm more likely to remember everything I wanted to say.

My favorite topic to write about was the WWE and masculinity. Only because I never realized how many stereotypes they tried to use to make us think that this is how areal man should act. I still kinda of laugh after thinking back to that article. Just growing up as a kid I always saw it as entertaining, not as something I wanted to be. Yes, I did copy their wrestling moves with my brother, but I never wanted to have muscles on top of muscles. And if I really got hurt, I was going to cry. I think topics like these and many others were a great understanding of sport and gender. I would recommend this class to anyone who was thinking about taking it. I think one thing I would change though is have the blogs do once a week so that people always keep up on them. Finally, as mention by other classmates have a time like once a month to meet with your blog/journal groups to talk about certain discussions.

Michael Oher

Recently I saw the movie The Blindside. And I have to say it was one of the best sports stories and movies I have seen or heard of. It had me thinking that why we didn't talk about such a subject in class. The topic about athletes coming from a tough home I think is very important issue in sports. The movie talked about how his mother was a drug addict and that he basically had to raise himself. I'm sure there are a ton of athletes that have gone through rough moments like this before they became a professional athlete. I think these players have more character to them and don't seem to be as flashing when it comes to show boating. I think a lot more of these players stories should be told. What Michael Oher went through was incredible. Now he did have a family that took him in and raised him when he was a teenager and they were really rich. But, the entire time he never changed who he was. He didn't need all the top styles of clothing. He was very quiet and to himself. I think a white family adopting a black kid also shows how racism today is even lesser and lesser. Anyways he ended up getting to go play football at the university of Mississippi and was later drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. I think this goes with people who have disabilities. These athletes are inspiring and kids growing up that don't think it is possible to succeed can see that it has happened before and is possible for their dreams to come true. It is awesome to see and hear about stories like Michael Oher because it makes you realize once again that people have it a lot worse out there. This was a great movie to have seen before finals because he was motivating and really got me studying more then I usually do. I think for future classes the topic of coming from a rough childhood to a professional athlete should be brought up. Here is the trailer for the movie Blindside if you were wondering what it looked like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khtBvQdxta4

Disability in Sports

I noticed during the presentations that a lot of people found this as there favorite topic to talk about in class. I will say I was very interested in this topic because it isn't something I have ever really been around. In high school on all the sports teams I think there might have been one or two athletes that had a disability. To be truthful I never really noticed it either. I just think that what these people do is inspirational in every which way. Not complaining about the disadvantage they now have because they might be missing an arm or they are blind and adapting to their surroundings is amazing and very impressive. If I had a disability I don't think I could have the heart and desire to train and become great athletes like some of the stories we heard about in class. My favorite of all time is Jim Abbott just because he was able to throw a no-hitter with only one hand. He was able to still field the ball and overall he was just an excellent pitcher. Not a fan of the Yankees, but I have to say it would be hard not to root for this guy. Here is a look at this player if you never have seen him pitch before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKF5DgysfDU&feature=related. I think when we think how hard our lives are at the moment, where it is a upcoming test or getting a pimple before a date we should be reminded that people have it worse off. And if they can have a positive look to the world then we should be able to do the same. Life is too short to worry all the time.

Is it better to just wait?

The first barrier to be broken in sports was letting African Americans and Whites to play together. It was a major issue, until Jackie Robinson stepped up to the plate and delivered a knock-out punch that gave the opportunity for more and more players to enter the league and eventually we all have come to accept this. With Jackie stepping to the plate and opening the door for many other black athletes, discrimination do to color no longer really exists. That was the past and leads me to present day. We have a similar problem that is apart of sports teams today. That is the acceptance of gay athletes on sports teams and around the locker room. Now, we have had male athletes that have come out after they retired, but never one during his playing career. The main reason is because these athletes are afraid if they do come out they will be discriminated like Blacks were when they first started pouring into the league. So, what needs to be done to eventually bring acceptance to having gays in sport is that someone is just going to have to take a stand and come out during their career. Like Jackie did and how Magic Johnson announced about having HIV. There has to be a first. And yes Jackie and Magic were judged when they first started. But, bow Blacks are the top players in our professional sports teams and Magic educated and got rid of many myths about HIV. Once a person comes out and tells the media who they are, people are going to be furious and others will accept them. I do understand players concerns about being in the locker room and being afraid they may be hit on, but you have to look at the person as who he is and how being gay doesn't turn them into a different person. I also must say I wouldn't want a gay teammate, but I'm sure after time you would just have to get use to it and realize that they are the same teammate you played with before their announcement. No matter what though someone needs to be the first and the rest will naturally happen for the best. I want to end this discussion by saying I know I didn't mention lesbians in sport, but for some reason it hasn't been a issue. With several female athletes coming out, I have heard no uproar about them playing sports still. I don't know if people just assume that because they play a less feminine sport as say volleyball that they are automatically more likely to be a lesbian. Furthermore, it seems that women have had players come out the closet and end up being just fine. And I realize when a male athlete comes out that it will be a much bigger story, but over time it will eventually pass. These athletes that wait til they retire to me are not cowards they just didn't want to deal with the constant distraction during there playing career and bring tension to the locker room. Maybe it is a better decision when it comes to waiting to tell those their secret.

How can you say they are the real champion?

With the fall semester coming to an end and Christmas just around the corner, it must mean that college football season has come to the end of another season as well. I love this time of the year. From December 19th, with my hometown hosting the New Mexico Bowl, and it all coming to an end on January 7th in Pasadena for the national championship. A total of 34 different bowl games take place and I love every minute of it. Now I do like how spread out the games are with only having two or three games a day. But, it isn't as exciting as the first two rounds of the NCAA college basketball tournament that has drama just about every other game. However, that isn't til March and this will do just find during the holiday break. My favorite thing about this is I get to go to the Fiesta Bowl and the Sun Bowl this year. I kinda wish the running back from Standford would have won the Heisman so I could witness a Heisman winner play, but what can you do. And getting to see two undefeated teams like Boise State and TCU play is going to be awesome. Finally, I just want to say being a big Oregon Ducks fan that I hope we can beat Ohio State for the first time in school's history. Go Ducks! Bring home the yellow roses.

However, I do have a problem with this whole BCS system that is going on. And this time every year I like to take a moment and say how once again this system is a disaster. Alabama will play Texas and I'm sure it will be a great match up. But, how can you say a true champion is crowned. I must mention that there was three other teams that went undefeated also (Cincinnati, TCU, and Boise State). How is it fair for these teams to not get a shot to win the championship after such a great season? The BCS reminded me of a class discussion we had on how football is the dominate sport and how it is the main money maker/loser for a university. BCS isn't fair at all. These lower schools will never be able to get the opportunity to prove themselves if they don't get the chance. And to have Boise play TCU in a BCS game is a low blow because neither team gets to prove what they can do against a major conference. This is what I like about March Madness is because it allows for even the smallest school like George Mason the chance to prove themselves. And if I recall since non-BCS teams have made it to BCS games, there record is pretty good. Utah has beaten both Pittsburgh and Alabama, yes just one year ago the number one team in the nation was beaten by a non-BCS school. Boise State shocked Oklahoma in one of the best games of all-time. By making a playoff you can take the top eight teams and it will not only make more money because of more games, but it will determine a true national champion. Here is the great ending of Boise State winning the Fiesta Bowl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb2ntCDZz0w

Sex Sells: at least for Women it does.

A very interesting subject that we talked about in class this semester was about the sex appeal that athletes show on such things like magazines. First off, I do think women need to put themselves out there. I don't think it's right, but if a guy sees her and thinks she is attractive then potently he will be interested in watching her play sports to. I don't think tennis has as big of a problem and really doesn't need to show there female athletes in sexual poses. I only say this because I think out of all women's sports tennis matches best when it comes to competing to their male counterparts. However, women's basketball: college and professional have a really hard time getting viewers. There just isn't as much interest in it. So, if these athletes show themselves as something other then a basketball player they are more likely to get more fans. Softball, swimming, hockey, etc. could go about doing this as a way to promote the sport. The big thing here is that sex is going to sell. It's a major reason why a lot of people watch the women's volleyball team in the Olympics. It is because they are wearing less clothing and it becomes more of an attraction to male viewers. As much as I think it's a good idea for women to help themselves to promote their sports, I think it has a negative result for men. I mean it's fine if they are showing off muscle like Dwight Howard did on a ESPN cover to show off his strength. But, it isn't a good idea for them to be in their underwear. Yes, some women will find it attractive. Where as, most males who are more likely to watch that athlete play will be turned off by what they did and may be less likely to want to watch that athlete perform. Men are constantly watching sports and are more likely to watch the female on television after seeing her in a swimsuit then a female after seeing a male athlete in his underwear. The reason is because the female will think he is good looking, but probably will not search and find out the next time their team plays. Overall to me it's a good marketing strategy for females, but not as much for male athletes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epi4kXZZxb4 this video is an example of how it draws the audience to the sexy side of this tennis player.

The Role of the Black Athlete Today

I found it interesting in class that we were asked the question does racism still exist in today's society. And at first I couldn't say that there was. After reading this article by Major "Cool pose" I have realized there still may be racism around us today. The first thing I noticed in today's society is that there are very view black head coaches. I think in college football there are close to 120 division I-A teams and there is only around five black coaches today. Now I know there was more then just five head coaches that were qualified to run a football program. I found that as a shocking number. And with thirty-two NFL teams only seven of them are black head coaches. They also made a big deal during the Superbowl that when the bears and colts played a couple years ago that it would be the first time an African Amercian head coach had won a super bowl in history. Which means it took over forty years for that to take place. I really don't understand how there is such a few number. But, it real does go farther then that. If you look at all the major positions in football, what position has most of the power? The quarterback position. Which has more whites controlling this position. They have more power to decide whether the wide receiver or running back get the ball. And these positions are more dominated by blacks. These positions also have to do more work. There might be a fair amount of assistant black coaches, but once again who has most of the power? The head coach.

To continue, I have also noticed that in the NBA more and more European players are coming over and getting drafted and taking starter jobs away from other players. Then a sport that has almost no black athletes is the NHL. When I say almost none, I can say there isn't one player I can name off the top of my head that dominates the sport. Jerome Inglina might be the closest. Next to him though I couldn't name any. I can see how there can be thought that racism still exist today. There are plenty of examples in sports that I have noticed and pointed out. When it comes to "the cool pose" I think it is just a personality thing and shows there individualism as a athlete. The style an athlete brings to the court is what diversifies them as a person.

Athletes and Politics

Many people feel that athletes have a voice. Especially players like LeBron and Kobe who dominate their sport. They think that because they have a voice that many will listen and go with the choices these athletes have chosen. Think about it, when an athlete promotes a new shoe or some different type of merchandise, people want to buy it. It is a part of our popular culture today that many fans of these athletes will do and support what their favorite athlete does. Does this mean that athletes she voice their opinions in politics. This blogger thinks absolutely not. Athletes I agree have a major impact on society and can convince people to do something if they step up and support it. But, what if that isn't their personality. An athlete chose to dribble a basketball, shot a puck, throw a football, or hit a baseball. They never signed their contract saying you must be a part of the political world to. In many ways Michael Jordan might have stayed out of it to save advertisement and to prevent the lost of customers, but it is a personal choice if he decides to keep quiet. Forcing someone to speak on a subject they don't feel comfortable about or have no response to shouldn't be made as such a big deal. By Jordan taking a stand, I gained a lot more respect for him as a person and really shows his individualism. Because others superstars may have felt obligated to partake in the political world. If athletes decide to speak on the matter then we can respect what they have to say and listen, but if they don't want to then let them move on with their lives without facing the constant harassment that they did the wrong thing by keeping their mouth shut.

Male and Female Teams

Alot of talk in past classes has been whether or not women and men should be able to play on the same team. I think at a younger age it is perfectly acceptable to have boys and girls on the same team. But, it also depends on what sport we are talking about. When it comes to football it is a very physically demanding sport and is hard for me to say if I had a daughter that I wouldn't worry every second she stepped out on that field. All the possible things that could go wrong. Most males are stronger and in this case I don't think a female should be able to play on a football field. However, there was this female kicer Katie Hnida who was a kicker for the University of New Mexico. She is actually the first female ever to score a Division one point. But, before she went to New Mexico she was at Colorado and there were reported cases that she had been sexual assulted my many of the players. This is why I think it is also tough to have females playing with males. Some males are just less mature then others and that is just how they are. Here is a video of Katie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvnC7A2Q6g. For other sports like basketball, I think many females can out play some odf the men and if they can make the team they I see no problem with it. With that said, I think the kid who wanted to play field hockey should be able to just as much then. And ou can say he might hurt the other girls and more guys would take over. But, the video we watched said no girls had been hurt and plus there was another guy on the team and he wasn't good enough to start. So, you can't say every male can just go out there and dominate. I had a girl who played on my hockey team senior year and she was really good. She was in the top ten in total points in the state. She was much faster and had better stick handling then most guys we played against. This subject to me is very tough to say whether or not males and females should be teammates. Some circumstances it works out and in others it seems to be a disaster.