Social Media and Sport

In the October 25, 2018 class, we discussed the topic of sports and media. During this lecture, we asked if the two could survive without the other. As we know, both industries generate millions and millions of viewers and they are very closely linked. Today, media is used to:

• engage fans, empower brands/athletes
• be a source for news
• activate and leverage brands
• create social identities that could help them gain support for future business ventures

As previously mentioned, social media and sport are closely linked. Today, we see various people, groups, teams, etc use social media for multiple purposes. For example, Giants Wide Receiver, Odell Beckham Jr uses social media in order to promote and build a brand for himself, that way he can reach people all over the world and market himself globally. Teams use media in order to find ways to brand themselves and try to satisfy all of the fans. Leagues such as the NBA have taken full advantage of the rise of social media. The NBA has been considered a sport bar that doesn't close as it gives fans the access to discuss their favorite teams with people all over the world with the chance of their favorite athlete to reply back to them. The league has also used this to push for younger fans since they are more tech-savvy than the older generation. You can read more about this if you click on this link :(https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/05/31/nba-twitter-a-sports-bar-that-doesnt-close-where-the-stars-pull-up-a-seat-next-to-you/?utm_term=.457cc8eea74f),

Other sources: https://www.pilotfishmedia.com/2018/08/30/the-role-of-social-media-in-sports-today/

Gender and Sports

In the November 15, 2018 class, we discussed gender and sports, specifically women in sports. There is no denying that men's sports are more discussed, watched, and covered than their women counterpart. Women have been misrepresented dating back centuries, as well as men in terms of their roles in society. This is largely due to the topics we discussed in class including:

• Sex-Role Stereotyping
• Agencies of Sex-Role Stereotyping 
• Participation and Equity Issues

While we are the ones at fault for this, we can't help that we learned this from a young age. Since we were born we have been taught how our gender behaves and vise-versa. In particular, this is covered in the topic area of the agencies of sex-role stereotyping.

• Agencies of Sex-Role Stereotyping
• Family
• boy or girl
• parents direct behavior towards masculine and feminine activities (i.e. toys, clothing color, activities)
• children develop gender-typed patterns of behavior as early as 15-36 months
• School
• reinforces differential expectations
• steers boys/girls to different activities
• perceptions of what men and women are good at

Not to mention that by the time that boys/girls graduate they would have already seen thousands upon thousands of ads, movies, TV shows, etc that stereotype the role of men and women. 

In a 2016 study, girls between the ages of 8-12 are 19 percent less active than boys. This is a result of the lack of encouragement from their family members and their teachers. The study also states that girls:

• take approximately 2,000 fewer steps than boys, which can result in health issues
• have 18 percent lower cardio-respiratory fitness
• 44 percent lower eye-hand coordination
• 9 percent perceived altitude in physical activity
• 5 percent more body fat

This gender gap in sports also affects the women who are in the professional sport industry, particularly the athletes. 

Over the course of a 25-year study of women's sport coverage, three researchers from USC and Purdue have found that female athletes are belittled compared to their male counterpart. Over the course of their research, the three coined the term "gender-bland sexism," describing how women sports are talked about when televised. In more detail, networks such as SportsCenter use "bland" language to normalize their sports compared to men's. The authors also discovered that even when compared to women's sport coverage from 1989-1999, that even though it is respectful it is still lackluster. The research also concluded that highlights, interviews, and other coverage were relatively shorter in women's sports than in men's.

While we are still not where we should be in terms of equality of women in sport, people like Leah Robinson have provided hope for the future. Robinson has developed a curriculum, CHAMP, in order to help develop motor skills and physical activity for girls and boys ages 3-5. While there are still differences in terms of participation, the fact that more girls are active and have a support system should help eliminate sex-role stereotypes in the future.

Sources: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/gender-stereotypes-ruin-sports-for-young-women#6

https://www.studyfinds.org/gender-bland-sexism-lackluster-coverage-womens-sports/

Deviance in Sport

In the November 1, 2018 class we discussed the topic of deviance in sport. We discussed what it meant to be deviant, examples of deviance in society and in sport, as well as the problems when studying deviance. In the list below, I have put in more detail what we discussed as a class on the topic of deviance in sport.

• Deviant- an act/person that differs from the norm, especially behavior or attitudes that differ from acceptable standards. 
• Examples of Deviance in Society 
• using illegal drugs
• violent crimes- murder, rape, abuse
• stealing/robbing
• Examples of Deviance in Sport
• fighting/violence
• bounty hunting
• academic cheating
• performance enhancing drugs
• gambling 
• illegal recruiting practices

In addition to the November 1st class, we also discussed the relationship between athletes and drugs as well as role modeling in the November 6, 2018 class. We went over various topics including:

• The use of drugs in society
• The definition of drugs
• Why athletes should/should not use drugs
• How they affect the perception of athletes being seen as role models

While leagues try to stay up to date on current negative trends and be creative in terms of punishment, there is still an issue with athletes in reference to deviance. 

After citing the reasons for his retirement, former Colts and Bears linebacker, Jerrell Freeman was suspended by NFL for 32 games or two years following his positive test for Performance Enhancing Drugs. This was not his first offense, in fact, it was his third time testing positive for PEDs. Freeman was suspended once in 2016 for four games, another in 2017 for 10 games, and now in 2018 for 32 games. 

This goes to show that athletes will do literally anything to win, no matter what the consequences are if they get caught. 

Even "America's Team" has had their fair share with deviance with their athletes. Over the last decade, the number of suspensions handed to the Cowboy players has been absurd. Names like:

• Randy Gregory
• David Irving
• Orlando Scandrick
• Demarcus Lawrence
• Greg Hardy 
• Rolando Mcclain
• Ezekiel Elliot

Currently, wide receiver Terrance Williams was handed a three-game suspension following an arrest for public intoxication in the offseason. Williams, who was rehabbing an injury and already placed on the partially injured reserve list, would not be able to return to the Cowboys until this week. 

In the video below, you can see the extent of his situation that transpired during the summer. Situations like these really set a bad example for those who see Williams as a role model as they see this as normal behavior when you become a football player. This also gives the Dallas Cowboys an even worse image in terms of how they handle their athletes and their behaviors. 

• Sources:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juPRkeZicSA.
• https://www.stampedeblue.com/2018/5/15/17355170/former-colts-lb-jerrell-freeman-banned-two-years-following-retirement
• http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25269035/hot-seat-check-6-nfl-coaches-jobs-line-2018

Abuses in Intercollegiate Sports

During class on October 2, 2018, we discussed intercollegiate sports and the abuses within them. Colleges/Universities all over the United States abuse the NCAA rules. Whether it be illegal recruiting, students taking easy majors, altering their grades, or exploiting them. With scandals like the Sandusky scandal, North Carolina paper class scandal, and the Larry Nassar scandal at Michigan State, it seems as if the abuses at the intercollegiate level are neverending.

Included in the neverending cycle of college abuses are the illegal recruiting tactics, that we discussed in class, in order to get high profile athletes to attend their program.

Brian Bowen II is a former 5-star recruit who committed to play men's baskeball for the University of Louisville. When he signed with the university, it seemed lucky to then-coach Rick Pitino, to get a talent such as Bowen to play for one of the most prestigious basketball programs in recent history.

Then the FBI investigation took place, and players like Brian were forced out of the NCAA.

During the recruiting process, the family of Brian Bowen illegally received up to $100k from an Adidas connection for him to play for Louisville. During the trial, when one of the Adidas executives was asked what the money was for, his reply was to simply "level the playing field." Brian's father, Brian Bowen Sr, also listed the numerous other universities who offered money to his son. Schools including:

• Arizona- $50,000
• Oklahoma State- $150,000 cash, $8,000 for a car, and additional money to buy a house
• "Help with housing" from the University of Texas
• Creighton- $100,000 and a "good job"

The young basketball player was also receiving money to play at the high school level. Listed below are the number of schools who were giving money to Brian Bowen II.

• $2,000/month to attend La Lumiere
• $25,000 to play for the Michigan Mustangs (grassroot program on the Adidas circuit)
• $5,000-$8,000 to play for the Nike Meanstreets
• $18,000 offer from Spiece (Nike grassroot program)- this offer was rejected
• $6,000 for consulting fees from Adidas for work Brian's father said he did not do

Unfortunately for Brian Bowen II, he is one of few athletes who actually gets caught in these kinds of scandals and now has to face the consequences. Having said that, Bowen's NCAA eligibility has disintegrated nonetheless and has since signed with the Sydney Kings.

Source: https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2018/10/5/17941060/brian-bowen-fbi-scandal-offers-creighton-texas-arizona-louisville-nike-adidas

Athletes As Role Models

In class on September 18, 2018, we discussed the topic of athletes being role models. In that discussion, we covered some of the qualities that a role model should possess. Those qualities include:

1. being a leader
2. caring about their community
3. being a hard worker
4. having a good work ethic
5. being genuine

We also discussed a checklist in which what role models should have. Examples include:

1. being honest
2. being committed
3. having good sportsmanship
4. having a good sense of humor
5. being fair
6. having determination
7. possessing a good self-image
8. having high moral values

Unfortunately, not all athletes possess these qualities nor do they check any of the listed characteristics above.

The player above is Mychal Kendricks, a current football player for the Seattle Seahawks. Mychal has also played with the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as the Cleveland Browns. While a member of the Cleveland Browns, news broke that the linebacker had been indicted with offenses in inside trading. Kendricks and friend, Damilare Sonoiki committed these severe crimes back in the years of 2014 and 2015, while he was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

In more detail, the linebacker did claim that he did not know the details of his actions, he did, however, state that he knew what he was doing was not right. Kendricks made a profit of approximately $1.2 million off of mergers from the information that was given to him by Sonoiki. The US Justice Department also alleged that, in turn for his insider tips, Damilare Sonoiki received tickets to Eagles games, $10,000, and more. The two now face three federal charges, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, and aiding and abetting. 

Even though Mychal Kendrick is a first time offender, and likely won't face the maximum sentence, his charges are added up to carry a 25-year prison sentenced, along with a $5.3 million fine after time served. 

Since the story broke the linebacker has been released by the Cleveland Browns, signed by the Seattle Seahawks, and indefinitely suspended by the NFL as he goes through the process of his crime.

For more information on the story: https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/08/29/mychal-kendricks-cleveland-browns-insider-trading-case-damilare-sonoiki-blackish

Youth Sports

On September 20, 2018, our class discussed the topic of Youth Sports. We covered all aspects of youth sport, varying from the background, trends, problems, pervasiveness, and more. In more detail, we touched upon the decline of youth sport within the last decade, dropping almost 10 percent from ages six through twelve. These days kids are more interested in the media and the latest Madden game on their game consoles rather than competing in a competitive contest. Others have also opted not to play sports that are at risk for brain injury including, soccer.

In a recent study by the Sport and Fitness Industry Association, US youth have been dropping the sport of soccer at alarming rates over the course of the last three years. Nearly 14 percent of children ages six through twelve have discontinued in competing in soccer, dropping the number down to approximately 2.3 million kids. According to Joe Drape of the New York Times the participation of youth sports, as a whole, has dropped down significantly within the past decade, as we previously discussed in class. The reasons for this drop-off? The youth have been more occupied with other distractions including their electronics, as well as participating in other sports such as baseball and basketball. Another reason for the decline is because of the financial demand. According to the statistics from the Sport and Fitness Industry Association, 35 percent of soccer players are generated from homes that have an income of approximately $100,000 a year whereas 11 percent come from homes that make approximately $25,000 or less a year.

On the other side of the argument, some say the problem doesn't lie within the sport alone but with the high demand for top-tier play. Other reasons include:

• high risk of injury as the annual injury rate for the sport of soccer is around 10,000 injuries
• increased emphasis on sport specialization which has led to overuse training/burnouts/injury
• soccer not serving all kids

Source: https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2018/07/16/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Soccer.aspx?hl=youth%20sports

Sports and Politics- Sport As a Propaganda Vehicle

On October 4, 2018, we talked about the role of politics in the sports culture, more specifically, the political uses of sport as it is used as a propaganda vehicle. In most cases, athletes who use their superstar platform to stand up in what they believe is right is largely controversial. Athletes raising awareness to controversial topics such as social injustices among African-Americans has dated back years beyond my generation's time. In the last several decades we have seen athletes such as, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who protested against African-American treatment after placing in the 200-meter race during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, as well as Toni Smith, who protested against the war between our country and Iraq.

Today, being no different than years previous, we see athletes standing up to controversial issues that our country faces.

Eric Reid is a Safety for the National Football League, who was recently signed to the Carolina Panthers within the last two weeks. Reid, following those before him, has used his status as an NFL player to help raise awareness to topics he feels need awareness, in his case, it's social injustices amongst African-Americans in the United States. The safety had a stint with the San Fransisco 49ers in which he also partook in kneeling during the national anthem, which drew both positive and negative feedback, one could even debate as to whether that is the reason he hadn't had a job in some time. 

When the time came, during his first week back in the league, Reid knelt again as the anthem was played. After the game, the Panthers' safety was asked as to why he continued his protest, his response was that it was furthered by current events. The current events include the confirmation of judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and the recent hiring of the police officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice back in 2014. The newly signed safety used his star platform to voice his displeasure with the nation as of late. In addition to the kneeling movement, Eric also wore a t-shirt that read "Know your rights" that also stated 10 points. 

To read more about the topic visit: https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2018/10/08/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Reid-NFL.aspx?hl=kneeling.