Growing up with four brothers and parents who were college athletes, I have always felt that I have a strong connection to sports and they play a big role in my life. As an athlete myself, I have spent countless hours participating in sports. However, my connection with sports is deeper than my personal experiences. Cheering for various sports teams, attending games, and being able to bond with my family over our mutual love for the game or team has made me grateful that sports are such a big part of my life. Not only do I like playing sports and watching sports, but I feel that sports has been something that has kept my family so close over the years. Whenever my brothers and I are home from college, I always love being able to hangout with my family on Sundays and watch the game together.
I believe that US sports are a reflection of US society, both the good and the bad! Although one could argue that competition makes athletes cheat or sports promote hegemony, I believe that the positive role sports play in society greatly outweighs the negative. Sports teach teamwork, hard work, discipline, physical fitness, promotes friendships, creates healthy lifestyles, etc. I have come to this conclusion because sports have personally been a positive influence in my life and taught me more about these things than I could have learned any other way.
Athletes hold a very elite status in US society. They are celebrities in the sense that they are constantly in the public eye, make huge salaries, and have a fan base. Some are highly respected, while others are hated. Regardless, athletes are very highly valued in the US but I find it interesting that fans are so harsh on athletes when they mess up because after all, they are only human.
I definitely like how you highlight that sports has a good and bad effect on society. My one question to you is that in your last paragraph you say that "athletes hold a very elite status", do you think this is true for all athletes. I feel like there is a separation between not only the hated and popular athletes but there is also the athletes that aren't as popular or aren't as hated. So my other question is what do you think might differentiate between the different categories of athletes?
ReplyDeleteAusten Mayemura
I find it interesting that you touched on how athletes are usually treated like celebrities and that people are so harsh on them. Every little mistake a pro athlete makes is blown up by the media, something that would never happen to a normal person walking down the street. Athletes are good at what they do and I agree that they are only human!
ReplyDelete-Wesley Morton
I like how you talked about mistakes athletes make being blown up by the media. But everyone makes mistakes don't they? I don't see why someone would be so harsh or athletes for making a simple mistake but any normal person it would never be blown up.
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about mistakes athletes make being blown up by the media. But everyone makes mistakes don't they? I don't see why someone would be so harsh or athletes for making a simple mistake but any normal person it would never be blown up.
ReplyDelete-Brandan Brisco