London Calling

Recently the NFL has brought games to London in an effort to gain international attention and increase economic gain. In addition there is potential a interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars owner to move the franchise to London permanently given the lack of current ticket sales as noted in the article. With a common language and being an “internationally renowned city” London marks arguably a great location bringing in a range of European fans.  In order to push this effort forward, the NFL has considered giving a London based franchise an additional 30 million dollars a year in cap space to ensure that it remains “competitive in the marketplace”. In addition they have considered setting up team bases in America to help aid travel concerns.

However, even with such efforts there are a lot of limitations that the NFL will have to overcome to make this expansion successful.  The first thing that the NFL has to do is convince players to play and potentially live in London. Second, they have to work out scheduling so that long distance traveling is limited and finally they have to overcome the challenges of the different time zones such as the effects on game times and even players bodies, i.e. jetlag.  With all this in mind it seems clear that such an expansion is not in the immanent future. The NFL will continue to host games in London, however, with the current barriers and potential costs it is does not seem rational for the NFL to make London a permanent stake for operations given current circumstances. 

Sociogenesis of Skydiving

The origin of skydiving is debatable, but is most commonly attributed to André-Jacques Garnerin, who was a French inventor and an individual known for his large jumps where he used a canopy to break his fall. His first descent using a parachute happened on October 22^nd 1797. Since this time, parachutes have evolved and have become much more advanced. Also with the invention of the airplane people have been able to jump from greater heights, which has in effect pushed the sport into new bounds. Since it’s beginning, skydiving has been a sport but has also been used as a tactical advantage during warfare. Today parachutes are commonly made with nylon and are rectangular shaped to provide greater stability compared to the circle shaped counterparts that were used throughout World War I.

As this sport has progressed, the outfit has developed to accommodate colder temperatures, goggles have been added to help with visibility, and a helmet for protection. However, as far as rules go, the laws of gravity and aerodynamics are the only true factors that define what people are allowed to do. Therefore, individuals who engage in this extreme sport are free to push the limits at their own risk. This in effect has created competition and thus has resulted in great progression; in 2012 Australian, Felix Baumgartner successfully landed a freefall jump from a record height of 39 kilometers. While this record is astonishing, it is only a matter of time before someone tries to break it.  However, it is important to note that with great strides comes great costs, in the case of skydiving, this has resulted in death. Every year people die because people either take too many risks and or as a result of faulty equipment. Thus, it is clear that this is a sport for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers who are willing to put it all on the line each and every time. 

Sport in the Ancient World

Sports in Ancient Greece included the triple jump, javelin, discus, wrestling, boxing, sprinting, pankration, and four-horse chariot races. As noted in the short film Ancient Olympia “losers were disgraced and forgotten”, the games played were all about winning, just as they are today.  However, In Ancient Greece woman were not permitted to attend the Olympia games, the only woman allowed to enter the stadium was the sister of Zeus: Hestia. During this period sports were both viewed as a function of religion and entertainment for men and Greek men only, with the one exception.

Sport in Ancient Rome was also reserved for men and where they engaged in many of the same sports. However, while wrestling and races were practiced Roman gladiatorial combat seems to have been the most popular sporting event. This kind of live combat that aloud criminals, slaves, and war prisoners to fight for their freedom in the arena with humans and animal created amusement that was unmatched. As National Geographic points out in Gladiator Training, Gladiators were “caged performing animals”, meaning these individuals were under lockdown and forced to constantly train for such quote on quote games.  During this events the fighters’ well being was never much of a concern; rather the audience was focused on the thrill and excitement that these matches created. Which in some ways is consistent in sports even today, when we look at contact sports such as football or hockey much of the same callousness is still evident. For example, when a player from the opposing side gets injured it is common to see fans celebrate. Last year Kansas City fans even cheered when their own quarterback: Matt Cassel got injured, because of their own team’s poor play. All of which is extremely interesting because these acts highlight the barbaric nature of humans that exists even today, even when we continually try our best to argue otherwise.

Sport, Society, & Me

I grew up playing sports, like most kids I engaged in a range of sports, I played peewee baseball, soccer, tennis, and even tried track; I was interested in any activity in which I could exert my energy. In high school I joined the rugby team where we later won a state championship, which is a memory and achievement that I will never forget. For me sports have been a source of exercise, a way to relieve stress, an outlet for my competitive nature, but most importantly it has been an activity for enjoyment. In addition to this, sports have given me another family; regardless of race, religion, class, or creed sports has emphasized the value of unity and support on and off the field. Aside from playing sports, they have always served as entertainment that have and continue to bring my family and friends together. Sunday is day where we all get together to watch the Broncos; it is a routine that I love and cherish.

However, It is important to note that sports provide both a positive and negative role in U.S. culture and around the world for that matter. Sports reinforce values of dedication, perseverance, and teamwork, which are all beneficial, however, by the same token sports can also create tension and animosity amongst players and fans. The recent incident that occurred in the NFC championship game involving Richard Sherman and Michael Crabtree highlights many of the issues that sports can create. Within the twittersphere there has been a lot of racial backlash that has been directed towards Sherman as a result of his post game comments. This underlines the hostility and violence that sports create. Prior to Sherman’s comments he was regarded at the best corner in the league, however, recent narratives have tried to deem him as a “thug” given his African American background and or undermine not only his physical talent but also his character. This is one example that highlights the presence of racism and hostility as well as the small triggers that create such negative reactions within the sports world. 

The Sport Ethic

Sports Ethic is the standard that defines what Hughes and Coakley refer to as a “real athlete”. They are the player norms that push for success. The sports ethic is made up of four points: 1) Making sacrifices for “the game”, 2) Striving for distinction, 3) Accepting risks and playing through pain, and 4) Refusing to accept limits in the pursuit of possibility.

These dimensions are believed to be the standard for success; they are the keys that are required. These are the phrases we hear when we talk about past champions, and it is because of this that athletes have and continue to adopt and carry out such beliefs. Through out my athletics I can honestly say that these are all values that we preached and had to execute in order to achieve our goal. I switched positions, played with various injuries, and had to push and overcome both mental and physical limitations to do so.

I believe that each dimension of the sports ethic highlights the relentless drive that is needed in order to achieve the results that are desired. Ronda Rousey, Michael Jordon, Usain Bolt, and Lindsey Vonn are only a few of the many athletes who have proven that such measures are needed in order to succeed. In addition, if we look at football players and the frequent incidents of concussions with the mounting evidence of long-term effects such as early dementia we see that such athletes still are willing to put their bodies at risk in pursuit of glory. This is true for sports across the board, as the X-Games start up this week each of the athletes competing are taking a risk, some more than others, all in effort to achieve greatness and to be the best. Caleb Moore was professional snowmobiler that died last year in the X-Games, however, this year, old and new riders including his younger brother still continue to push the limits. Which, has proven it’s justice, his brother Colton Moore just won gold in Freestyle Thursday January 24^th 2014, one year since the death of his brother from an injury in the same event. This underlines the fact that even in the face of fear, injury, and death, athletes will continue to take on such dangers in the effort to progress their sport and achieve their goals.

Sport(s) in the USA

Sports in America dominate the spotlight. Major sports in the U.S. include baseball, football, basketball, and hockey, which are followed religiously by fans.  All of these sports are team based and reinforce values of competitiveness, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and leadership all of which are the core principles that American culture is built on.

Sports are a daily headlining topic. Fans have a deep connection with their teams to such a degree that a teams success or lack there of dictates peoples moods and behaviors. It is for this reason that game day in the U.S. is a huge deal; it is an event that fans look forward to all week. For example, Sunday has become synonymous with “football”; it is the day that brings people together and makes cheap beer and hotdogs taste amazing. Game day is all about team spirit, which has the ability to both unify and divide people. Therefore, typically anyone one who is a supporter of the other team is immediately deemed the enemy, which brings on inevitable trash talking usually in light-hearted sense before the game and less so after the game.

Many Americans would say that what defines a successful athlete is their physical talent, work ethic, commitment, and accountability. These play an obvious role for sure, however there are also many other factors that play into an athlete’s success. From an athletic standpoint, the other players that surround the athlete and the coaching that they have access to can also play a part in an individual’s success- because let’s be honest in the US winning in the end is all that matters. As from a financial standpoint, success can be determined by their likability and physical attraction, as these characteristics bring in sponsors and endorsements from outside sources.