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.