London Calling

     Recently the NFL has flirted with the idea of expanding a team out to Europe, hoping to broaden its fan base. Not only does it care about the fans but the NFL also wants to tap in to a market it could be generating revenue from, which is most likely their prime motivation. In particular though it wants to create a team in London where games are held each year as a promotional event. London's Premier League for soccer is the only sports market that is larger than the NFL, and unlike the NFL the Premier League "can sell the right to broadcast its games to literally hundreds of countries around the globe." (Barnwell) This is the level the NFL wants to be at: connecting with countries from around the world. Also, London is a high income city which would provide the financial backing for a team.
     There are barriers that stand in the way though. The one that comes to mind initially is the issue of traveling. This would not only be difficult for the players but also for the dedicated fans who would have to cross oceans in order to see their team play. As for the fans who actually make the trip across the Atlantic, the cost of going to such an event would be outrageous due to London's high prices. Personally, I don't believe this is a good idea because fans will be lost in the process. Any team that ups and moves to another country is going to lose support immediately from some of its long time followers. Now some might say that's ok due to the new fans that will be generated, but the issue is that these new fans won't consistently show up to the games like the NFL believes. Moving a team to London seems like a good "business" idea, but as far as helping the game out I believe culture and true fans will be lost.

Reference: London Calling Article

Sociogenesis of Egg Rolling

Every Easter in order to celebrate the resurrection of Christ (Easter), millions of people across the world participate in the game of egg rolling. Starting in Europe before settlers even came to the US, egg rolling had become a tradition in the UK and other countries alike. Children would use long sticks to push their eggs down a hill, and whoever could get his/hers furthest without cracking would win. There would also be people going from event to event singing traditional egg rolling songs, dressed brightly in order to entertain the children.
It really is a simple game developed from simple times, but egg rolling made its way to the US where it took on a more prestigious roll. Dolly, wife of President James Madison, brought the games to the White House every Easter Monday starting in 1814. Hundreds of children and their parents would come to the White House lawns to be entertained by costumes, celebrities, and even book-readings by Cabinet secretaries. This event has often been used by the Presidential Office to extend its hand towards social outliers, like when Mamie Eisenhower opened it to black children for the first time. Although it had been suspended a few times due to circumstances like war, President Obama has continued the event and even invited same-sex couples to carry out this tradition. He also pushes the "Let's Go Play" campaign which promotes healthy living for young people. The games continue to happen every year at the White House as a staple of American culture.


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_rolling
http://clinton2.nara.gov/WH/glimpse/Easter/

Sport in the Acient World

At the very first Olympics, hosted by the Greeks in 776 BC, the sprint was the only event to be played but would later be joined by others. The athletes at these events would compete naked to emulate the Gods, who's bare bodies were the idealization of what humans should be like. Before events athletes would be doused with dust and scented oil, and scrape everything off after as the remains of a youthful body were seen to have medicinal properties. Only Greek-born males were allowed to compete though which kept the Olympics exclusive. Although it seems like something only the wealthy would enjoy any Greek male could participate if he was willing to dedicate the time. This brought Greek society from all backgrounds together. The games also helped to drive a religious agenda within Greece with the idolization of Gods and athletes. The winning athlete was even seen as being favored by Gods and held to a higher standing. To the Ancient Greeks the Olympics were by far the most important events, suspending wars if it was necessary.
Unlike the ritualistic Olympics, gladiator games created by the Romans were based on brute force and savage-like behavior. Slaves, criminals, and prisoners of war would be forced into battle training and inevitably against each other in front of the Roman people. They would be trained much like the Roman army had been trained in order to put on a show for the public. The Romans absolutely loved these gladiator fights and would come together for them, cheering on their favorite athlete. Although a portion of these participants weren't even Greek they would be revered as celebrities within the community if they continued to win fights. This shows that the relevance of gladiators during this time was of great magnitude.

References:
Youtube video - Ancient Rome
Youtube video - Ancient Greece

Sport, Society, and Me

Sports have always been a large part of my life due to the influence from my father. Being an alumni from Iowa State University, he would dress me up against my will in Cyclone(their mascot) gear from head to toe when the opportunity arose. Ever since I can remember I've had some type of sports attire in my wardrobe, and even had baseball wallpaper as a baby. When I got old enough I signed up for the city recreational leagues in baseball, basketball, and soccer, basically playing sports year around. This was my primary way of making friends as a kid and a way for my parents, who were new to town, to meet other couples as well. Seeing that sports developed most of my friendships as a child and were the center of daily activities I would say they were extremely important to me growing up.
Much like me, US society loves its sports. Gathering together during particular games brings families together as well as friends. This makes sports a healthy part of our lives and a large contributor to US society as a whole. Not only does it bring people together but it also teaches kids sportsmanship. Character building at a young age is very important and sports does this though regulated and structured games, so many kids eventually play. Stanley Eitzen agrees that "Most children are involved in organized sport at some time in their lives"(Eitzen 3), making sport a major influence in America. Not only do we glorify the idea of sports but the players as well, if not more. Athletes are basically celebrities now with endorsement deals, commercials, merchandise, and other aspects that put them in the spotlight of society. Now while they may be valued and respected in their primes, once the talent falls the fame goes with it. They will still have respect from people in the industry but many ex-athletes are no longer valued due to the lack of "star power" they use to have.

Sports in the US

Here in America our popular sports are significantly different than those of the rest of the world. Basketball, football, and baseball dominate the scene while other sports like hockey and soccer remain relevant. These popular sports pull in large amounts of revenue and have become a market of their own, making them a large part of American culture. According to Jay Coakley, some "relationships between family members are nurtured and played out during sport activities or in conversations about sports."(Coakley 21)

Professional games take place in large stadiums and are televised for viewers to see as well as the fans at the game, making them accessible to everyone. Typically friends and family will gather before games to watch them or just go see it in person. Putting on jerseys of the favorite team is also something that takes place whether it be college or professional. Football, being the most watched and profitable sport in the US, controls most of Sunday television during NFL games. You can see how sports brings people together, and this even starts with recreational sports programs for kids. Parents place their kids in these programs to build certain social skills as well as develop physical ones. It also allows them to have an outlet and start new friendships. It is normal for children to join a team, learning values that will help them create good character.

Success in US sports is often measured by a large amount of wins and a small amount of losses. More importantly though is the success an athlete has during the playoffs and championship games. Successful athletes not only win the big games but they also carry themselves in a correct manner, being advertised through various corporations. Respecting the game will make an athlete likeable amongst the public but more importantly amongst his peers. This is important with our sports, which obviously goes along with high intensity and competition.

The Sports Ethic

A common topic of interest in sports society is the one of ethics and how games should morally be played. Sports Ethics are interrelated sets of norms or standards that are used to guide and evaluate ideas, traits, and actions in a sports world (Coakley 163). It is important for athletes to follow these rules in order to maintain stability in his/her chosen sport, because in their absence the structure of sports falls apart while no one can distinguish what is right from wrong. Looking specifically at the four general norms can explain how sports ethics are actually formed. The first is the athlete's dedication to the game and the respect he/she gives to the sport, following all ethics. Next is an athlete's strive for distinction which symbolizes winning and the importance of sports. Third is the culture of risk athletes play. They put themselves in such harms way that it is only right to go about it ethically, because anything else might be barbaric. Finally is the athletes rejection of all obstacles on the path to success, wanting to beat the odds at any moment. These four dimensions give sports the respect they demand which forms the ethics around them. From personal instances I can say I have experienced the first of these dimensions the most in my life. While growing up I developed an immense love for the game of baseball and began to respect it as much as anything. As soon as I heard stepping on the white-chalk foul line would bring upon bad luck I watched my every step on those fields. Till this day I refuse to step on any foul line, out of respect for the game. That does not mean change cannot happen though, because inevitably sports must adapt to new morals and values that begin to shape society. Sports is often an excellent representation of how evolved people are, just look at how the NFL is getting safer as our country looks negatively upon head injury and future brain damage. Sometimes there "is a need for new guidelines to replace the old ones"(Hughes and Coakley 323). Until then sports must be played within its ethics and wait for change to come naturally as society changes.

Coakley, Jay. Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies, Tenth Edition. New York City: McGrawHill, 2009. Print.

Hughes, Robert; Coakley, Jay. Positive Deviance Among Athletes: The Implications of Overconformity to the Sport Ethic. Sociology of Sport Journal. 1991