Interrogating Inequalities in Sports Media: Examining Gender Representation in Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated published the total of 102 magazines in 2013. Out of all 102 covers, only 3 of them featured women and only 1 of the 3 was a woman unaccompanied by men. Kate Upton, an American model/ actress was featured on two of these covers being completely exploited and objectified. Media in today’s culture is portrayed through the male eye. Women's role in most media is to portray a "sex symbol" role, or really not to play any role in media at all. The male vs. female athletes on the Sports Illustrated in 2013 is undoubtedly 102 to 0. There was not one female athlete featured on a single cover of Sports Illustrated in 2013. I am not a feminist, and I definitely do not believe that women can do everything men can do. On the other hand, I don't believe that men can do everything women can do. Mass media's role is to reach its audience and to satisfy. Men are easily the dominant audience of sports illustrated. Therefore, the magazine must reach men by revealing what they wanted to read and see. Most men reading Sports illustrated do not want to see a naked man on the cover. Although I do believe it is wrong that women are being exploited and objectified, it is the women like Kate Upton whom are ok with doing so. So personally, I don't see the problem.

As far as the women athletes go, they are not being featured on the covers of sports illustrated because they simply don’t attract as much publicity and audience. Sports illustrated is not purposely excluding female athletes, they are solely trying to keep their audience interested and their business in tact by seemingly and continuously providing its readers with top stories. Gender equality in sport will always remain an issue. Different ideologies affect media worldwide. 

Reflecting on the Shame of College Sports: Should NCAA Div 1 Basketball and Football Players get Paid?

The ongoing argument of whether or not collegiate athletes should be paid has been a topic of debate for years. While there are various aspects to consider, the pro's and con's of this particular topic have caused a seemingly large amount of controversy that has effected universities, coaches and even players themselves. 

Many people are FOR the paying of collegiate student athletes because "Student-athletes generate billions of dollars for universities and private companies while earning nothing for themselves" (Branch, 2011). Student athletes whom have earned full ride scholarships have surely benefitted from the University's generosity to pay for their schooling and living expenses. Unfortunately, while these student athletes are forced to prioritize their academics and athletics to remain in good standing with their scholarships, they have given up other opportunities like jobs, social participation in society, and even friendships. "According to various reports, the football teams at Texas, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Penn State—to name just a few big-revenue football schools—each earn between $40 million and $80 million in profits a year, even after paying coaches multimillion-dollar salaries" (Branch, 2011). The NCAA is a multimillion dollar industry that has money to compensate players for their devotion and sacrifices of the normal college student. However, many will argue that collegiate student athletes should not be paid. In the New York Times article by Laura Pappano, the economy and sports effects on economic status is discussed. People are worried that in paying student athletes, the money that is given will go to substance abuse and to unnecessary materialistic wants. 




Personally, I do think collegiate student athletes should be compensated for their work. Participating in a Division 1 sport is a job. Period. It has it's benefit of compensating for school and living expenses, but living a college life is far more than just school and a house to sleep in. While football and school do make up a majority of a division one athletes life, there has to be an opportunity for an athlete to buy himself a shirt or go to a movie. The argument that college sports should not be commercialized like professional sports is understood, but these athletes are juggling a lot more than just football. Paying collegiate athletes should be included with scholarship.

References:

Branch, T.(2011) The Shame of College Sports. The Atlantic.

High School Sport

The emergence of high school sport in America originated in a culture among which is one of the only nations in the world that funds inter-school sport programs. While many people may argue the purpose of such programs, high school sport in the US has grown drastically.  The objectives of high school sport have always been a thriving topic of debate. The purpose of high school sport is to create an opportunity for social identity and learning experiences. Sport is obviously healthy for the teenage body and provides student athletes with a sense of physical activity education.

Interscholastic sport in America in today's society plays a key role in the ultimate high school experience. Playing sports in high school and competing for state titles is an expectation in American culture. If you are not participating in sport, you are attending Friday night football games in support of your school's football team. Sport serves as an opportunity to participate in a team's effort to succeed. High School sports have also progressed in a way that emulates a professional sports culture. High School sports used to be more about competing for fun and interacting with peers after school. In todays high school sports, the atmosphere is much more cutthroat; The best athletes will play, and the remaining students will be cut.

Problems associated with interscholastic sport are that people think they are a distraction to students' academics, and that they create pressure on athletes. Some fear that High school sports will take students focus from academics and that sports will become the only priority for some.
I don't believe that there is a distinct solution to the aforementioned problems.However, I do believe that sport in high school and an individual athlete's success is based solely on their work ethic. Both their academic and sports life will teach an immense amount of life education and the balance of the two will teach even more.

Once the Cheering Stops: The Life of a Retired Athlete

Essentially, if you partake in a sport and plan to succeed to the highest of your potential, your ultimate goal is to become a professional athlete. While professional athletes externally portray that they are "living the American Dream" with their expensive cars, fame through media, and their million dollar paychecks, the reality of their lives don't quite settle internally. Professional athletes spend years of hard work to reach the top. It is only understandable they treat themselves to nice things after their signing bonuses. However, while the money initially may seem endless, their spending habits on unnecessary luxuries quickly become a lifestyle. Unfortunately, the game is not a lifestyle. It is quite temporary, and so are they pay checks.

In ESPN's 30 for 30 film "Broke", we are introduced to the not so luxurious lifestyle of retired professional athletes who are facing extreme financial debt. The film stated that nearly 78% of former NFL players file for bankruptcy just two years after their retirement. While most professional athletes are caught up in the fame and money of their careers, the idea of someday not playing the game isn't necessarily on heir minds. I think a key ingredient to this irresponsibility is the lack of financial education. When entering the NFL, you are well aware of the external accounts that come with being a professional athlete. What many are not aware of, is the constant competition not only to be the best on the field, but off of the field in terms of materialistic and unnecessary items. It's truly a game outside of the game. Cars, homes, jewelry, gambling, etc., are no longer desired, but required. This battle of materials is what causes x-NFL players to go into debt.

As athletes transition from their professional lives to their retired lives, not only have their careers come  to an end, but their lifestyles. They no longer receive million dollar paychecks, but they solely depend on their "savings" from their past NFL career. Whether the former player saved money or not determines where they are now. In ESPN's Life After Football article, we learn the many challenges x-players now face. Troy Vincent, a former Pro Bowl corner back states: "Every athlete has to face the same question when they are done: Who am I?". While this question may trigger what their next steps in life may be, this question also both mentally and emotionally effects their lives. This question can send many players into deep depressions and cause harm for themselves or others. The US is keen on measuring success through money, power and fame. This expectation/ standard plays a huge role on how an why professional athletes may save or spend their money. As previously mentioned, it is a constant battle to compete both on and off of the field.

Personally, I was aware of  life after the NFL, however I was not aware that a shocking 78% were financially unstable in today's society. I think this goes to show the cultural "norms" are no longer normal and achievable but are set to high, unreachable standards that creates an unhealthy competition between professional athletes. Although it is hard to feel sorry for former professional athletes who are now bankrupt, I understand the struggle of competition. Unfortunately, I don't think paying for your 10 kids' child support and gambling and buying 6 cars are "cultural norms"and players should be aware of that before living that kind of lifestyle.

References:
ESPN's 30 for 30 film "Broke"
Life After Football. ESPN. 9/25/12. (p.3 of 15)

Sport, Politics and the Olympics

In the Summer of 1936, the Nazi Olympic Games took place in Berlin, Germany. At this time,  "Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany and quickly turned the nation's fragile democracy into a one-party dictatorship that persecuted Jews, Roma (Gypsies), all political opponents, and others"(Holocaust Encyclopedia, 2013). This was a time of extreme attempts to eliminate and cleanse Germany of any Jewish or African American people. In addition to Hitler's dictation over the political components of Germany, he also managed to dictate all sporting aspects of this time. "German sports imagery of the 1930s served to promote the myth of “Aryan” racial superiority and physical prowess" ( Holocaust Encyclopedia, 2013). Muscle tone and Aryan bone-structure was highly worshiped, especially in athletes. Only Aryans and non-Jewish Germans were allowed to partake in sport during Hitlers reign. Jews, Gypsies, and others were excluded from German sports (facilities, teams, and associations) all together. Hitler used the Olympic Games of Berlin as an opportunity to exploit his dictatorship and the power of the Nazi regime. However, In the summer of 1936, "the Nazi regime tried to camouflage its violent racist policies while it hosted the Olympics. Most anti-Jewish signs were temporarily removed and newspapers toned down their harsh rhetoric" (Holocaust Encyclopedia, 2013). This "camouflage" was in hopes to eliminate any negativity and present Germany with a peaceful image. 

Out of Eitzen and Sage's Five Political Uses of Sport, "Sport as a propaganda vehicle" defines the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. "Adolf Hitler's use of the 1936 Olympic Games was to strengthen his control over German people and to introduce Nazi culture to the entire world" (Eitzen and Sage, p198-199). This shows how Hitlers power over the Nazi regime and their success in the Olympics in effort to impress foreigners. Propaganda both influenced the politics in sport and in Germany under Hitlers reign. 

I disagree strongly with the statement "Sport is pure and devoid of political interference". The aforementioned definition of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin was highlighted under "sport as a propaganda vehicle". If the Nazi regime and hadn't banned all Jewish citizens from participation in the Olympic Games, politics wouldn't have been involved. Political perspectives differ everywhere world-wide. Politics is easily one of the most prestigious ingredients of sport in the world and in viewing the history of the Olympic games, I think it proves to be quote evident throughout history. 


References:

The Holocaust Encyclopedia. June 10, 2013. Washington, DC. 
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005680

Eitzen and Sage. Sport and Politics. Chapter 9. 

London Calling: The Globalization of the NFL

The globalization of the NFL has been a major topic of debate for many years now.  In effort to gain international attention, the NFL is eager for expansion outside of the US for various reasons. While the NFL is a multibillion-dollar industry, the expansion factor hopes to boost revenue and acquire a more international fan base. The NFL is looking to expand into the London area, where the new Wembley Stadium resides. Although this stadium is easily accessible, there are other sporting events like rugby that the NFL would have to schedule around, which proves to already present conflict.

For many reasons, I strongly disagree with the aforementioned expansion of the NFL. The article London Calling by Bill Barnwell, speaks largely about the “NFL targeting London franchise” (Barnwell, p1) However, in this article, the word “unfair” struck my attention on numerous occasions.  From scheduling around other sporting events and even different times zones, the coordination of game times seems like just that alone would prove to be more troublesome then beneficial. Although London is easily accessible for in that distinct vicinity, the overall fan base will not sellout each game as the majority of fans can not afford to travel to London for each home game. Not only will the time change affect the away teams schedule, it will also play a factor in affecting players’ bodies. Many will argue that eventually the profit of the expansion will outweigh the obstacles of the process overall, but I beg to differ.

This globalization of the NFL has the potential to further business, revenue, franchise and marketing internationally, but the cons are much too unstable to further any possible thoughts of expansion.

Barnwell, B. London Calling