Gender and Sports: How equitable are sport opportunities for girls and women?

http://www.feminist.org/sports/titleIXfactsheet.asp

 

          In American Sport in the 21^st century on November 18, 2014, we learned about gender and sports. We were working towards answering the question of “how equitable are sport opportunities for girls and women?” First, we learned that participation by girls and women has increased dramatically since the early 1980s, mainly due to new opportunities, global women’s rights movement, increased media coverage of women’s sports, and government equal rights legislation. In an article written by the Feminist Majority Foundation, they explained that because of Title IX, girls and women have received more opportunities. More women have received athletic scholarships which can lead to more opportunities for higher education. This leads to my next point that Title IX was not created to simply give girls and women and equitable opportunity in sports, but in every aspect of federally funded education programs. These include areas such as career education, employment, technology, sexual harassment, and standardized testing. Title IX opened the door for women and girls to gain more opportunities in all aspects. In the article, it was explained that in 1972 Congress passed the legislation as part of the Higher Education Amendments. The document does not allow discrimination on the underrepresented sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. This fact directly correlates to what we learned in class. Third, we learned that with Title IX there are legal standards that have to be upheld by any school that receives financial assistance by the government for their athletic department in order for the organization to be in compliance. There is a three prong test that takes place. The Proportionality Test, The History of Progress Test, and The Accommodation of Interest Test are the three tests that are used. In the article, The Foundation explained that the implementation of Title IX has been subverted. It was not until 1975 that the regulations were implemented. Even then, the Office for Civil Rights did not enforce the regulations. We learned that 80% of schools and organizations are not in compliance with the Title IX regulations. Although looking at the facts, girls and women have expanded in sports. By the number in the article today, we see that has increased to 2.7 million from 300,000 that is was before Title IX. We see that sport opportunities have gotten better for women and that there are more equitable opportunities for them. Although most organizations are not in compliance, there is a benefit and a positive outlook for girls and women in sports.

Race & Ethnicity- Are they important?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jimmie-lee-solomon/african-american-baseball-players_b_4923689.html​

          In class on November 11th, we covered the topic of race and ethnicity. First, we learned that today all around the United States, racial minorities continue to face systematic and pervasive discrimination. Discrimination is defined as treating someone differently from others. We can directly connect sport and racial issues in society because they reflect each other. Prior to the 1950’s, African Americans faced a segregated sport system. In the article, “Percentage of Major League African-American Players Has Fallen Drastically,” written by former MLB Executive, Jimmie Lee Solomon, he states that it was not until 1947 that the color barrier in the MLB was broken. Famous baseball player, Jackie Robinson, was the individual that broke the barrier and ended the discrimination and segregation that was very much alive at that time. Second, we learned that African American men and women are underrepresented in most sports. We learned that the number of African Americans in the MLB has decreased significantly since 1975 by 15%! In the article, Solomon supports this fact in saying that since Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, and other great African American players with Hall of Fame talent, the number of African Americans playing the game has decreased over the past three decades. In the mid 1970’s, the MLB was made up of 27% African Americans and today they represent 8.5%. Third, we learned that from these statistics comes reasoning for why the numbers are dropping. We learned that such reasons can include power imbalance, family income, medical insurance, etc. In the article, putting an emphasis on baseball, Solomon explains that African Americans are underrepresented for various reasons. These reasons include the cost of playing baseball, increasing competition in football and basketball, lack of mentor, MLB’s focus on Latin American recruiting, and the national marketing of the game of baseball. He says that all these factors not only push away potential players but they are mostly rejected from the game. From the reasoning and statistics above, it is clear that race and ethnicity are very important factors in the way sports are viewed in relation to society.



Deviance in Sports: Is it out of control?

 

http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/rjmorgan/mba211/steroids%20and%20major%20league%20baseball.pdf

 

 

          As we learned in class on October 30^th and November 4^th, deviance is very clearly seen in sports.  As explained in our last blog, deviance is defined as an act/person that differs from the norm especially in their behavior or attitudes that differ from acceptable social standards.  Who is deviant is defined by different situations and standards.  In this blog we are going to focus on Major League Baseball.  First, we learned that what is considered deviant outside of sports may be acceptable inside sports.  Things that are deviant outside of sports include fighting, trash talking, drugs, etc.  We see all these actions take place in society and especially in the MLB.  In the MLB, there has been an increased use of drugs, more specifically steroids.  In a study written by Berkeley University, they said that steroids did not make the banned substances list until 1991, but a breakout of the performance enhancing drug came about from 1994-2004.  Second, we learned that violence, aggression, and abuse are not acceptable social practices but what about sport where aggression is mostly encouraged?  It is seen as a mirror; that what occurs in society will occur in sports and vice versa.  Just like in society if there is suspicion of drug use, that person will be tested for the substance.  In the MLB the article explained that testing started in 2003.  There was an agreement made with the Major League Baseball Players Association that required one random test per player per year.  Regardless of the outcome, there were no punishments in the first year.  If up to five percent of players were testing positive for steroids, then punishments would be implemented.  Such punishments included suspensions for up to a year.  The overall punishments depended on how many players were tested positive.  Third, we learned some reasons that athletes might start taking steroids in the first place.  We learned that physiologically athletes take drugs to increase oxygen transport, to build muscle, increase energy, lose weight and train harder, and heal injury and reduce tiredness.  We learned cases where steroids have been a problem.  We learned about the BALCO Scandal and the Mitchell Report.  The BALCO scandal involved the use of banned, performance-enhancing substances by professional athletes. The Mitchell Report comes from a former US Senator, George Mitchell.  He did a twenty month investigation on players in the MLB using PEDs.  The report itself is of the players who were caught.   There are almost 100 names on that list since it was first released in 2007.  Our initial question of whether or not deviance is out of control now has a clear answer: it has become out of control ever since the outbreak of steroid use in the MLB.

Deviance in Sports: Is it out of control?

 

http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/steroids.html

 

          On October 30th and November 4th, we learned about deviance in sports. We learned that deviance is defined as an act or person that differs from the normality’s; especially behavior or attitudes that differ from acceptable social standards. Deviance is seen all too frequent in sports today. One example of deviance in sports is the use of drugs and more specifically prescribed drugs, social drugs, and performance enhancing drugs. First off, we are going to focus on performance enhancing drugs. They are substances that are used to improve the athlete’s performance in sport. In an article written by ESPN, they explain that anabolic steroids are the most commonly used PEDs in sports. They also explain that it is not just football players and heavy lifter males who take them although they are the majority. Others include white- and blue-collar workers, females, and most alarmingly adolescents. Second, we learned that these drugs can be injected, taken orally, implanted, or used as a cream. The two most popular ways are orally or injected. The ones that are injected are broken into additional categories which make them either last longer in your system or shorter. ESPN also explained that both come with a price to pay both physically and mentally. Finally, in class we learned the consequences of athletes being caught with the PEDs. We learned that each organization has their own set of rules. In the article, they explain that all major sports organizations have established drug consequences starting after 2005 yet athletes persist on taking the drugs for the sole reason of them getting an advantage and being able to win, even though these drugs will cause serious physical and psychological side effects. Some of these disciplines stop athletes but most will continue their deviance at the cost of their advantage and the ability to win.

 

Sport and Media: Could they survive without each other?

 

http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2014/07/how-social-media-is-changing-sports-coverage/

 

          As we learned in class on October 23^rd and October 28^th,, sport and the social media are very closely related. The media industry has been growing quickly and more sport organizations have been getting involved. We read in an article that social media is starting to affect how we cover sports and ultimately the clubs, organizations, and franchises that are involved and they want to keep up with the demand of the fans. The demand of the fans is closely related to the roles that the media has to play in sports. The media works to inform, entertain, educate, and advertise. In the article it explained that around the time of the FIFA World Cup media became vastly used. You could receive game statistics and updates within seconds and you could also discuss and share your thoughts on the games through Facebook and Twitter instantly. This has a positive impact on sport organizations in the sense that they are trying to gain more supporters and build a stronger relationship with their fans so they put a stronger emphasis on their social media streams. We learned that athletes are starting to increase their interest in getting involved in social media. They have embraced the opportunities to connect with fans via twitter and other social media tools. In the article it explained that fans like to get involved with athletes because they feel closer to them on a more personal level. During the FIFA World Cup, a selfie that was posted by Lukas Podolski with Angela Merkel received almost 500,000 likes and was shared from his site almost 30,000 times. Those numbers can show that fans are very involved with athletes. In conclusion, sport popularity is as a result of media coverage.

Sports and the economy: Who benefits economically from sports?

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2014/07/10/2014-15-nba-salary-cap-computations/

          In American Sport in the 21^st Century on October 16^th and the 21^st we learned about sports and the economy.  The question that we were aiming towards answering was, “who benefits economically from sports?”  We came to the conclusion that athletes are the biggest benefactors.  First, athletes benefit the most from salaries, endorsements, and appearance fees.  All these fees and payments fall under what is called a salary cap.  A salary cap is the limit a team can spend on players’ salaries (per player/ per team).  In an article written by Chris Bernucca about the 2014-2015 National Basketball League’s salary caps, he explains that the overall cap will be $63.065 million.  This number is a 7.5% increase since last year.  With this increase, teams may now add another player to their team without struggle.  Clearly that increase, will highly benefit the players.  Next, we learned that there are luxury taxes.  A luxury tax is the amount levied by the league on teams that exceed the cap.  Bernucca explained that this year, the NBA’s luxury tax threshold is $76.829 million.  This is a 7.1% increase since last year.  This shows that teams are willing to spend more money to ensure that they will sign a worthy player on their team.  This will benefit both the organization and the athlete.   Third, we learned what a salary floor is and how it has affected the teams spending.  A salary floor is the minimum amount that must be spent on the team as a whole.  Again, in the article Bernucca tells us the numbers.  The salary floor for the NBA 2014-2015 season is $56.759.  This number is for the entire NBA.  The number will then be divided within each team in the organization.  Just from these numbers we can see that both the athletes and the organizations benefit from sports.  The NBA especially has very large numbers that are tossed around during the season to benefit their teams and secure the best players economically. 

Sports and the economy: Who benefits economically from sports?

http://www.spotrac.com/blog/nfl-minimum-salaries-veteran-discounts/

Left to Right: Arthur J. Ronney II (Team President) Ben Roethlisberger ( Steelers Star QB) Daniel M. Rooney (Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers)

          From what we learned on October 16^th and 21^st in American Sport in the 21^st Century, there are two groups of people that mainly benefit economically from sports.  We learned that both the athletes and the owners of the organization benefit the most in the sport industry.  In a recent article we read regarding the NFL, it stated that the salaries have increased by $15,000, and up to $420,000 for a rookie in 2014.  This correlates to what we have learned in class.  First, we learned that money has become the foundations of sport at all levels.  In the NFL, they have what is called a salary cap.  This is a limit that a team can spend on players’ salaries (per player and per team).  Second, we have learned different terminology that regards salary caps and spending for each organization.  Sticking with the NFL, they have what is called a hard cap and hard floor.  A hard cap is the maximum amount that cannot be exceeded.  A hard floor is the minimum that must be spent on the team as a whole.  In the article it explained that this season of 2014, for a free agent, their salary would be a minimum of $420,000. Third, we learned that profit motive shapes owners and athletes.  For athletes, they make a profit off of salaries, endorsements, and appearance fees.  In the article, it explains that with signing a contract a player can get signing bonuses.  For example, Shayne Graham recently resigned with the New Orleans Saints for a one year contract worth $570,000.  With that, he reached his salary cap.  He then received a signing bonus of the maximum $65,000.  We learned that with a salary cap, the leagues are trying to keep costs down and balance the league.  All of these examples are obvious in the article above.