When we talked about the study by Kian about the Themes that deal with women’s sports, I found it really interesting because it was something that I had not really noticed before. However, now I notice it very often within women’s sports.
The first theme was that “he is always on my mind.” This one was very clear cut as the commentators of many women’s games very often referred to the men’s side of sport. They always made references that talked about how great of a play that woman made and then talked about the comparison to the men’s game. Also, often times if women win a game or a championship, they will talk about the men’s team in comparison to the women’s team. When the Connecticut men’s and women’s teams won the basketball national championships in the same year, there was always a reference to both teams when talking about the women’s team, but not always when just talking about the men’s team.
The second theme about “she must have played with boys to get that good,” seems ridiculous to me. Women often times are just naturally talented. They do not necessarily had to of played with boys when they were growing up to get their talent level.
The next theme that struck me was the one about how “fathers are the role models and not many mothers are.” I found this interesting because I would believe that this is actually true in sports. Most fathers are the ones that push their kids to work hard in order to be great at sports. They are often the ones that had played when they were younger and want their children to do the same.
What themes from the study stuck out to you? I thought the study was interesting, but did not think that every theme applied in every situation.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Indian Wells Reaction
When we were watching the situation that happened at Indian Wells between the fans and the Williams Sisters, I was really shocked. I did not think that anything like that would actually happen at a tennis match of all places. I could understand if fans were upset about a call at a football, basketball, baseball, or even soccer match, but to be that unsportsmanlike and cheer against Serena when she did poorly is just not right.
I believe that out of my knowledge that Venus told a doctor or trainer that she would not be playing within plenty of time so that the director could tell the fans that there would be no match. The match however was not cancelled and went on and that created a huge controversy that made it look like Venus was a terrible person and just taking a fall so that the tournament could still get the money that they raised from fans wanting to come watch Serena play Venus and instead show them a match that consisted of Serena and a player that was obviously not as well known as Serena.
In the end, the fans were terrible to Serena, Venus, and their father. They booed them as they came down to the court and cheered every time Serena messed up. They were unlike what would be expected of tennis fans at a match like this. Although Serena ended up winning the match, I think that I would agree that the Williams’s should not ever go back to that tournament no matter what the penalty is. They went there when it was not required within the tour and were treated extremely poorly, so why would you want to go back. I would not want to go back to any place where I was treated poorly, let alone booed and had racial slurs said to me.
It is not fair to be angry at the Williams family. They did what they needed to do and it was very obvious that Venus was not feeling very well with her ankle. She has competed consistently well throughout her career and never had such a situation occur since, so why would anyone still believe that this situation was just Venus taking a fall so that Serena could win. It does not seem right to me at all.
I believe that out of my knowledge that Venus told a doctor or trainer that she would not be playing within plenty of time so that the director could tell the fans that there would be no match. The match however was not cancelled and went on and that created a huge controversy that made it look like Venus was a terrible person and just taking a fall so that the tournament could still get the money that they raised from fans wanting to come watch Serena play Venus and instead show them a match that consisted of Serena and a player that was obviously not as well known as Serena.
In the end, the fans were terrible to Serena, Venus, and their father. They booed them as they came down to the court and cheered every time Serena messed up. They were unlike what would be expected of tennis fans at a match like this. Although Serena ended up winning the match, I think that I would agree that the Williams’s should not ever go back to that tournament no matter what the penalty is. They went there when it was not required within the tour and were treated extremely poorly, so why would you want to go back. I would not want to go back to any place where I was treated poorly, let alone booed and had racial slurs said to me.
It is not fair to be angry at the Williams family. They did what they needed to do and it was very obvious that Venus was not feeling very well with her ankle. She has competed consistently well throughout her career and never had such a situation occur since, so why would anyone still believe that this situation was just Venus taking a fall so that Serena could win. It does not seem right to me at all.
NCAA Basketball History
On November 3rd, we talked about the history of Men’s College Basketball. While talking about it a few major events were mentioned. Those events were when Texas Western won the National Championship and was the first team to start five African American athletes in that game. Another was when Larry Bird for Indiana State and Magic Johnson for Michigan State played in one of the most memorable National Championship Games of all time.
These events along with many others are what have made March Madness what it is today. The perfect setup of sixty five teams in a playoff, single eliminations tournament has evolved over the past thirty years. The idea that each game means the entire season for every team in the tournament creates for an excitement that is unmatchable. Due to the events that have occurred in the past, the NCAA has been able to create something that creates such an enormous amount of attention. Each night is a big night on ESPN as they have Big Monday, all the way through Throw Down Thursday. They have the nation’s attention for every conference tournament; even the smallest of conferences and then Selection Sunday creates a large amount of controversy on who will make it in the tournament.
Some of the games that have made the NCAA tournament so memorable for me have been both recent and multiple years ago. One of my favorite games of the tournament was in 1998 when Valparaiso’s Bryce Drew hit a give and go three point shot to knock off the fourth seeded Ole Miss. The shot was amazing to me because at the time I was only ten and all I wanted to see was upsets. I loved seeing the Cinderella stories make it deep into the tournament. Granted I am still like that today, but at that point I would sit there and root for the lower seed in nearly every matchup.
Probably my favorite tournament of all time would have to be the 2007 NCAA Tournament when Ohio State was a number one seed and had so many close and exciting games. I enjoyed when Ohio State was down by three against Xavier and Justin Cage still had one more free throw attempt to seal the game with nine seconds to go. Cage missed the shot and Ohio State took the ball down the court and drained a three point shot from deep behind the line to send the game into overtime and eventually win the game. I also love the Tennessee game in the next round when Ohio State was down by 17 at the half. They came back with a huge second half to pull off a one point win. They also beat two great teams in Memphis and Georgetown before unfortunately losing to Florida in the National Championship, but it was such an incredible run.
Those were some of my favorite moments, but what are some of your favorite moments that have made the NCAA Tournament what it is today?
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=200703220443
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/17663487//
These events along with many others are what have made March Madness what it is today. The perfect setup of sixty five teams in a playoff, single eliminations tournament has evolved over the past thirty years. The idea that each game means the entire season for every team in the tournament creates for an excitement that is unmatchable. Due to the events that have occurred in the past, the NCAA has been able to create something that creates such an enormous amount of attention. Each night is a big night on ESPN as they have Big Monday, all the way through Throw Down Thursday. They have the nation’s attention for every conference tournament; even the smallest of conferences and then Selection Sunday creates a large amount of controversy on who will make it in the tournament.
Some of the games that have made the NCAA tournament so memorable for me have been both recent and multiple years ago. One of my favorite games of the tournament was in 1998 when Valparaiso’s Bryce Drew hit a give and go three point shot to knock off the fourth seeded Ole Miss. The shot was amazing to me because at the time I was only ten and all I wanted to see was upsets. I loved seeing the Cinderella stories make it deep into the tournament. Granted I am still like that today, but at that point I would sit there and root for the lower seed in nearly every matchup.
Probably my favorite tournament of all time would have to be the 2007 NCAA Tournament when Ohio State was a number one seed and had so many close and exciting games. I enjoyed when Ohio State was down by three against Xavier and Justin Cage still had one more free throw attempt to seal the game with nine seconds to go. Cage missed the shot and Ohio State took the ball down the court and drained a three point shot from deep behind the line to send the game into overtime and eventually win the game. I also love the Tennessee game in the next round when Ohio State was down by 17 at the half. They came back with a huge second half to pull off a one point win. They also beat two great teams in Memphis and Georgetown before unfortunately losing to Florida in the National Championship, but it was such an incredible run.
Those were some of my favorite moments, but what are some of your favorite moments that have made the NCAA Tournament what it is today?
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=200703220443
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/17663487//
Required to Speak English
Yesterday in class, we talked about how the LPGA imposed a rule stating that every player has to speak English. This rule was imposed to diminish the boundaries between the players. LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens received a large amount of criticism for this rule that was imposed on the players. This past summer after having to deal with many different complaints and objections to Bivens’s new rule, she stepped down as the commissioner. However, I wonder if the complaints that she was receiving were really that fair.
Carolyn Bivens was trying to reduce the boundaries between the players so that there were not nearly the troubles that there are with communication while playing. The trouble is that there must be a translator for the players that cannot speak the English language and that creates an issue when an English speaking woman is paired with a woman that does not speak English.
I think that what Carolyn was doing was the right thing to do. Most athletes that come to the United State at least put forth an effort to be able to speak English and communicate with others. Although the English may not be that great, they still are trying to make it easier. If I were to go out and be paired with a person that could not speak the same language as me, I would be frustrated because I would not be able to talk to them at all. Any communication I would want to have with them would take longer due to the translation and would probably get fairly annoying.
I am not saying that Carolyn’s rule was completely fair, but I do think that the amount of criticism that she received for this was wrong. She was trying to make it fair for everyone on tour and the majority of players are English speaking. It is only fair to try to make the most dominant language the primary one.
http://sports.outsidethebeltway.com/2009/07/is-lpga-commissioner-carolyn-bivens-about-to-be-ousted/
Carolyn Bivens was trying to reduce the boundaries between the players so that there were not nearly the troubles that there are with communication while playing. The trouble is that there must be a translator for the players that cannot speak the English language and that creates an issue when an English speaking woman is paired with a woman that does not speak English.
I think that what Carolyn was doing was the right thing to do. Most athletes that come to the United State at least put forth an effort to be able to speak English and communicate with others. Although the English may not be that great, they still are trying to make it easier. If I were to go out and be paired with a person that could not speak the same language as me, I would be frustrated because I would not be able to talk to them at all. Any communication I would want to have with them would take longer due to the translation and would probably get fairly annoying.
I am not saying that Carolyn’s rule was completely fair, but I do think that the amount of criticism that she received for this was wrong. She was trying to make it fair for everyone on tour and the majority of players are English speaking. It is only fair to try to make the most dominant language the primary one.
http://sports.outsidethebeltway.com/2009/07/is-lpga-commissioner-carolyn-bivens-about-to-be-ousted/
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Shaq vs. Yao
We talked recently about the impact of Asian's in sports within the United States. One topic that came up was about Yao Ming and how he was portrayed when he came to the United States. Many viewed him as slow and non-aggressive and that he would not perform very well in the league going up against bigger, aggressive players.
We then talked about how Shaq made comments about Yao and how Yao basically had no chance against him and then made what some called racial remarks. Some people in class thought that those remarks were racist and I think that is completely wrong.
I hate how it is so hard for people to just talk within sports without being criticized. The media makes every athlete that speaks out look to be a bad person, when sometimes they are just expressing how they feel or just trying to have fun. Then these players are hit with fines and suspensions. This is why I think that I have such a problem with the fact that people call Shaq’s comments racial. He is a funny guy. He is always making jokes and there are probably not more than two or three instances that I can remember him publically being upset. Most of the issues were dealing with either Kobe or a coach not getting him the ball.
I believe that there is a fine line between what is racism and what is just a person having fun and joking around. Everyone is going to have an opinion and try to make a story out of the smallest of comments, but why even bother with it. In the video, Shaq is very clearly just having fun. It is not like Shaq or Yao retaliated against each other in their games against each other. Shaq loves the competition and wants to play against the best. Some people considered and still consider Yao to be one of the best from China and even in the NBA and so Shaq just wants that upper hand. He wants to be able to get a dig in and just try to get under the other person’s skin.
What I really wonder, is if Shaq said something about an African American or a Caucasian if he would have got the same criticism? I would doubt it.
We then talked about how Shaq made comments about Yao and how Yao basically had no chance against him and then made what some called racial remarks. Some people in class thought that those remarks were racist and I think that is completely wrong.
I hate how it is so hard for people to just talk within sports without being criticized. The media makes every athlete that speaks out look to be a bad person, when sometimes they are just expressing how they feel or just trying to have fun. Then these players are hit with fines and suspensions. This is why I think that I have such a problem with the fact that people call Shaq’s comments racial. He is a funny guy. He is always making jokes and there are probably not more than two or three instances that I can remember him publically being upset. Most of the issues were dealing with either Kobe or a coach not getting him the ball.
I believe that there is a fine line between what is racism and what is just a person having fun and joking around. Everyone is going to have an opinion and try to make a story out of the smallest of comments, but why even bother with it. In the video, Shaq is very clearly just having fun. It is not like Shaq or Yao retaliated against each other in their games against each other. Shaq loves the competition and wants to play against the best. Some people considered and still consider Yao to be one of the best from China and even in the NBA and so Shaq just wants that upper hand. He wants to be able to get a dig in and just try to get under the other person’s skin.
What I really wonder, is if Shaq said something about an African American or a Caucasian if he would have got the same criticism? I would doubt it.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Muscular Men and Women
When we were looking through the magazines and watching the videos on the body building men and women, I could not help but think how weird it is to want to look like that. The general consensus of the class appeared to be that they thought it was pretty disgusting that people do look like that and no one seemed to find it attractive. Everyone seemed to think that it was okay for people to be muscular and toned, but not ripped with bulging veins.
I would have to agree with everyone in the class. What would make you want to look like that? When in high school, I absolutely hated having to lift weights. I hated the fatigue I felt every day after being done with the practice and knowing that it was just going to be the same feeling I would feel the next day. Almost every single person on every team I ever played on felt the same way as me and I think that is why I just cannot understand why these people would want to look like this.
I understand that some people actually do enjoy weight lifting and I do not think it is wrong to want to do so. Some people like to do it as a hobby. The problem is when does it become an obsession? I feel like it is unnecessary to look the way the lady in the video today did. I do not think that is how a man should look, let alone a woman. It just does not seem right.
I got a general idea of what the class thinks, but what were some more feelings you all had about these people. They can do whatever they want with their body, but is it an obsession or just something they really want to look like?
I would have to agree with everyone in the class. What would make you want to look like that? When in high school, I absolutely hated having to lift weights. I hated the fatigue I felt every day after being done with the practice and knowing that it was just going to be the same feeling I would feel the next day. Almost every single person on every team I ever played on felt the same way as me and I think that is why I just cannot understand why these people would want to look like this.
I understand that some people actually do enjoy weight lifting and I do not think it is wrong to want to do so. Some people like to do it as a hobby. The problem is when does it become an obsession? I feel like it is unnecessary to look the way the lady in the video today did. I do not think that is how a man should look, let alone a woman. It just does not seem right.
I got a general idea of what the class thinks, but what were some more feelings you all had about these people. They can do whatever they want with their body, but is it an obsession or just something they really want to look like?
Jordan Effect
When I was younger, I really could not stand Michael Jordan. I did not like the Chicago Bulls because I was an Indiana Pacers fan and they always seemed to be in the way of them going to the championship. Even after the Pacers, were out every year, I could not stand rooting for them to win. I do not recall the first three championships because I was too young, but when Jordan came out of retirement, I really wanted the team to fail, but they did not. I hoped that Seattle would beat them first, then the Jazz the first time, and then I was extremely upset when Jordan won the game with his push off of Russell.
However, after over ten years of not having to deal with his dominance, I can look back and see how incredible his accomplishments were during those years. Other than his dominance on the court, he was incredibly popular amongst fans and other players, and he was extremely marketable. He was the greatest athlete of the time and because of that it lead to his popularity and Jordan took advantage of it by making his own line of, well by now, just about everything. His image is known worldwide and his clothing is still by far one of the most popular items to wear. I still remember in middle school when if you did not have the Jordan clothing or shoes that you were not a cool kid. Jordan had such an influence on just about everyone in the sports world and it is amazing that just one person can do that.
I now have an incredible respect for the man. I lost a little when he came back to play for the Wizards, but the man just loved playing the game that he could not give it up. Just like Favre. If you have the talent, you may as well keep on playing. He worked very hard to get where he was and I now look back and think about how incredible it was that he won three world championships with the Bulls, retired for eighteen months, and then he came back and still dominated for three straight years by winning three more championships.
People will always ask the question if there will ever be a “next Michael Jordan.” The answer really is no. There will never be a person that is to his level. He brought back popularity to the NBA that was not there before. He redefined the game and as popular as Kobe and LeBron are, they will never come close to doing as much for the game as Jordan did.
However, after over ten years of not having to deal with his dominance, I can look back and see how incredible his accomplishments were during those years. Other than his dominance on the court, he was incredibly popular amongst fans and other players, and he was extremely marketable. He was the greatest athlete of the time and because of that it lead to his popularity and Jordan took advantage of it by making his own line of, well by now, just about everything. His image is known worldwide and his clothing is still by far one of the most popular items to wear. I still remember in middle school when if you did not have the Jordan clothing or shoes that you were not a cool kid. Jordan had such an influence on just about everyone in the sports world and it is amazing that just one person can do that.
I now have an incredible respect for the man. I lost a little when he came back to play for the Wizards, but the man just loved playing the game that he could not give it up. Just like Favre. If you have the talent, you may as well keep on playing. He worked very hard to get where he was and I now look back and think about how incredible it was that he won three world championships with the Bulls, retired for eighteen months, and then he came back and still dominated for three straight years by winning three more championships.
People will always ask the question if there will ever be a “next Michael Jordan.” The answer really is no. There will never be a person that is to his level. He brought back popularity to the NBA that was not there before. He redefined the game and as popular as Kobe and LeBron are, they will never come close to doing as much for the game as Jordan did.
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