Conclusion - Week 15

I started out taking this class because I enjoyed SM 221 and I needed another elective to fill up my schedule. Now that it's over, I can honestly say that I would have taken the class whether I needed it for an elective or not. Even though I didn't always voice my opinions on articles or video clips during the class, (mostly because there was generally one or two people who controlled conversation) I really enjoyed being able to post my reflections about subjects that we discussed on my blog.

I've learned so much in this class about how sport and gender have been constructed by our society and by the media especially. I've also been opened up to several unique issues in sport and how they have been handled or resolved by institutions such as LPGA, NBA, or other league. I've also learned about how males look at the construction of sport and gender through hearing their opinions on issues in class. Even though I didn't always agree with them, it was nice to get their perspective and a different way of looking at the issues. The thing I found most useful from class was having the videos to supplement the PowerPoint presentations. It was nice to be able to read the articles and then pick out the key points in class through the notes, but having the videos helped me the most. It was like having something to compare what I just learned to.

I would have to say that one of the readings/topics that I found most interesting was the one I talked about during our blog presentations, The River Jordan. I found this interesting because it just seemed really interesting to me that the author was comparing the type of change that Martin Luther King Jr made to the potential that Michael Jordan had. In my mind, I think that was just over the top. Martin Luther King Jr did incredible things for civil rights. Even though MJ was an amazing athlete, I think it's ridiculous for anyone to try and hold him to the standards as Dr. King. Another topic I really enjoyed was Serena and Venus Williams at Indian Wells. We discussed this topic a little bit in the 221 class I took, but we went into the topic in depth a lot more in this class. I also enjoyed reading Serena's version of what happened that day and her reactions.

Keeping a blog has already worked out great for me in this class and other classes I've taken. Normally when you take a class you might think about the topics again a little after the class, but it's not likely. With a blog, I had the opportunity to actually go back and reflect on the topics we discussed in class. The blogs also gave me the opportunity to consider my own life experiences with sport and how they compare to the topics were discussing.

My career will be in the field of event planning and tourism, but even though this class doesn't relate specifically to my career, I will definitely take the concepts we discussed with me. I also think I may be interested in doing event planning for an athletic facility someday! Besides that, I really do like the concept of keeping a blog to post my reflections, so this may be something I continue with as part of my career profile.

Who Should Get the Heisman? - Week 14

It's that time of year again... time to pick college football's most prestigious player of the year. There are five finalists nominated to receive the Heisman this Saturday in Manhattan including Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart and Ndamukong Suh. This is a tough decision because these are all five great candidates that deserve to be in the running. Tebow is always a great competitor having already won the Heisman as a sophomore in 2007, this would be a great accomplishment for him to become a two time winner. McCoy has had a great season and led Texas to the BCS National Championship. He was also nominated for the Heisman last season. Suh was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player, which wasn't an easy task because he had to beat out a lot of top defensive competitors. Ingram is someone i didn't even think about when I considered Heisman nominees, but now the mix, it makes perfect sense. Ingram broke Alabama's school record for rushing yards this season and in my opinion he is really the only person who put up good numbers against Florida. This brings us to the final candidate. Gerhart is a running back from Stanford who led the nation in rushing yards this season.

When I first looked over the list of nominees, it seemed like Tebow or McCoy were most likely to receive the honor. However, I think the other contenders may give them a run for their money. More specifically, I think that Toby Gerhart just might pull it off. Even though he is from a team that will not be competing for a BCS championship, he still had a great season and he surprised everyone by coming up with all of those rushing yards! Besides that, he plays good, solid football and he can catch the ball. He also ran all over USC's defense and that's no walk in the park.

Anyways, that's just my opinion. We'll find out for sure on Saturday night!

Magic Johnson & AIDS - Week 13

In class we learned that Magic Johnson held a press conference on November 7, 1991 to announce that he had contracted the HIV virus and he would be retiring from basketball effective immediately. Even though I was only 3 years old when that happened and obviously too young to even comprehend the situation, I can see now that what he did was for the best. I admire that Magic took control of the situation and did what he had to do. It was very unfortunate timing for the athlete though. Magic Johnson was at his prime. He was a 3 time NBA MVP and his career was on the rise. Another reason I really admire Magic Johnson for is his decision to actually announce his condition to the world. Up until this point, HIV & AIDS was completely associated with homosexuals and drug use. I think this announcement really opened up the public's eyes to the severity of the HIV/AIDS situation and brought them to the realization that anyone could actually contract the virus.

Even though contracting HIV/AIDS is a devastating thing to happen to someone, Magic Johnson turned it into a learning tool and developed an empire dedicated to promoting health and well being. He created Magic Johnson Enterprises and Magic Johnson Foundation. His efforts have helped so many people since 1991 and continue to do so today.
Link to Magic Johnson's Website

What is Butch Anyways? - Week 12

In class we had a discussion about women being "butch" and I remember one person mentioning that women are "supposed" to be a certain way that is "obviously" not butch. Well according to The American Heritage Dictionary, butch is a slang term meaning Exhibiting stereotypically or exaggeratedly masculine traits or appearance. Used especially of lesbians and gay men. This term is offensive and based solely on a person's appearance. Before that class, I also thought of butch as meaning a lesbian woman with short hair. Even though I never use that word because honestly, how often does it come up?; I still associated it with lesbians and a short cropped haircut. I realize now that it is stereotypical and judgmental. However, in class the discussion came up about a woman being called butch because she is competitive, athletic, and strong. It is absurd to consider a female athlete a lesbian because she possesses these qualities. This issue relates directly to the "image problem" we discussed in class about a fear that all women athletes are lesbians. Really? I want to know who sat down one day and decided that in order for a female to be a strong competitor with great talents, she must be a lesbian. This concept is ridiculous and it forces female athletes to believe that they have to use the "feminine apologetic" to convince others of their sexual orientation. Homophobia is an issue in women sports that needs to be addressed. I think it's great that Jen Harris stood up for herself against that kind of discrimination. Also, I found an article that was written by Pat Griffin about the entire Jen Harris/Rene Portland situation. The link is below.

Settling Can Mean Victory

Asianization & Yao Ming - Week 11

In class we discussed the article by Barker and the idea that the "Asianization" of America has becoming a new phenomenon that has been sneaking up on us for several years. We made a list in class of several influences of Asian Americans in our culture and in sport. Personally, I think this is great. I really don't understand why it's made a big deal of. We are supposed to be "the melting pot," a country with blended cultures and pasts. I never realized the impact that Asian culture has actually had on the United States. It is everywhere, from candy to movies to food.
When it comes to Yao Ming, it seems like everything we have discussed has been so ready to focus on stereotypes of commercials or magazine covers and everything else that sets Yao apart from Americans. Yao has become what is referred to as a "model minority" and a contributor to globalization of the NBA. To me, the term "model minority" is equivalent to "model citizen" and that is just something that society views as what is right and proper. I don't feel like that is something positive as all. It is an expectation that you at societal standards and should be made an example of. Well, no one is perfect and that seems like an awful lot of pressure to put on someone.
The last thing I wanted to mention was the video we watched where Shaq did an interview and made a somewhat racist comment that was more of an act really. Even though he claims to have been joking, it could almost be seem as taunting. Also, if that was indeed a joke to Yao Ming, it should have been something that was said between them and that way it would not have offended any other person.

Athletes & Politics - Week 10

Are male black athletes being asked for too much? What is the line between being an athlete and a being a political figure? Is supporting an issue just another endorsement?



These questions seem to be increasingly important lately with all the hype about Lebron James declining to sign a letter condemning China for its role in the genocide in Darfur. The same thing happened to Michael Jordan when he refused to back a democratic African-American senate candidate. Michael Jordan paved the way for other athletes to remain apolitical and not publicly shares their views on controversial issues.

In my opinion, that is perfectly acceptable. Even though these two very powerful black, male athletes are sure to have a lot of influence, they shouldn't have to be subjected to using their influence over anyone. I think it's actually admirable that the athletes refused to back these issues because by doing that, whether it was the intended purpose or not, they would be persuading thousands of fans to have the same belief. People would certainly want to have the same views as their heroes and important issues should be decided on ones own. Everyone is capable of coming to their own conclusion without persuasion from Jordon or Lebron.

I think it is ridiculous for some people to assume that these athletes should have to take a stand on political issues simply because their good at basketball. It's a personal choice for them to voice their opinions and they should not be persuaded to use their position if they do not so choose. They sign a contract to play basketball, they sign contracts to endorse Nike and other sponsors, but they do not sign contracts that force them to back political figures and put their name to an issue.

Brown Eyes, Blue Eyes - Week 9

In class we watched an experiment by a third grade teacher on her students. She divided them into 2 groups and gave each privileges equivalent of white person of that era in turn. If you haven't watched the entire series, you can do so here:

A CLASS DIVIDED

After watching the original experiment and then the reactions of the third graders as adults, I've concluded that this experiment really changed them for the better. There was no longer racial discrimination and prejudice. It is clearly that before the experiment the students find black people to be below them because their skin is white. They call black people derogatory names and refer to themselves as better because that is what they were taught to believe. It was so refreshing to see how they felt after the experiment. The students realized that they were only being treated that way because of the color of their eyes and that's not fair. Just like it's not fair to treat someone differently because of the color of their skin.

Another thing that I noticed is that on the second day the children were just so willing to accept that the teacher lied to them about the eye colors and the other ones were actually better. They were so willing to just accept their teacher's word for it. This is proof of why it's so important to set a good example for young children and teach them right from wrong at a very early age. Also, the test scores seemed to improve on the days that the children were more powerful. This proves that empowerment and encouragement plays a large part in education. Each child can do better if they believe they should.

All in all I think this was a great experience, however I do agree wit the teacher in saying I would hope that it wouldn't have to be used on children everywhere. Especially today. The experiment obviously had a great impact on those third graders and I hope that the effects will continue to reach everyone who has seen the videos.

Athletes & Muscles - Week 8

After our class on muscular men and women athletes, I'm ashamed to say that my reaction was that I thought the men and women were just too much. I feel bad saying that because discriminating against someone based on appearance is something I'm most certainly against and I try my hardest not to do. However, I just don't understand why individuals want to make themselves look that bulky with muscles. The consensus in class seemed to be that fit and toned bodies were acceptable and desirable while overly muscular bodies were not. I think that is definitely due in part to our societal and cultural norms.

These norms play a direct part in the "ideal" feminine and masculine bodies. These ideals are what leads men to believe that they should have large muscles as a sign of dominance and women to believe they should have a tight, fit, contained body. These "ideals" are in place because we allow them to be and we accept them. The truth is that if we didn't embrace them, they wouldn't be our ideals and overly muscular men and women wouldn't be looked at by people with unapproving glances.

Another issue we discussed in class were the three predominant themes in Flex magazine; positioning reader as inferior, promise of transformation, and muscular body as a sign of hegemonic masculinity. After reviewing these facts alone, I know I most certainly would not be a subscriber. According to the themes, this magazine is trying to show you that the people in it are better and they are who you should want to be. I for one don't need someone to tell me how I should look and I'd hope that other people wouldn't want a magazine telling them either.

Athletes & Disabilities - Week 7

In class when we were first asked to write down names of athletes whom we knew with disabilities, I drew a very large blank. The only thing I could think of were the Special Olympics/Paralympics and I began to rack my brain to try and recall a name. Nothing came. Finally I thought of one person, than another, and before I knew it, I had a little list going. I guess the reason I was drawing a blank at first is because athletes and disabilities are generally two terms that I don't associate together very often. After taking the time to think about it, however, I knew a kid in my high school that was legally blind and terribly awful at sports. That was okay though, because he just loved playing him. His name was Chad but I can't remember his real last name because we always called him Chad Pennington because he loved football so much. Anyways, the coaches allowed him to play on the JV team with very little playing team, seeing how it would b dangerous to him. Another example is a friend of mine from a different school that was exactly the opposite of Chad. He had no left hand, it was just a limb, but he was the best wrestler at his school. I'm not sure of his exact accomplishments, but his name was Tony and he won several tournaments. I think knowing people like Chad and Tony have helped me realize that disability definitely doesn't mean immobility. Despite their differences in athletic talent, neither of them let their disabilities prevent them from doing exactly what they desire.
Finally, I recalled a movie I watched in another class entitled "Murderball." It's a very intense game where many quadriplegics participate in wheelchair rugby. After watching that film, I had an entirely different perspective of individuals in wheelchairs. They are not weak and most certainly not helpless. The quadriplegics who played "Murderball" were determined, strong, athletic, and inspired.

Good old Boys & Girls Club - Week 6

After reflecting on our discussions in class and reviewing "Good Old Boys and Good Old Girls Clubs: Myth or Reality?," I have come to the conclusion that it is most definitely not a myth. The decline of women coaches is a real issue that is directly related to the reality of the "Good Old Boys Club" and the lack thereof the "Good Old Girls Club." Just consider that there have been decades upon decades of male coaches and athletes in the athletic system at a high school and college level. The continued hiring of men to fill those roles is undeniable. It may not be unanimous everywhere, but the traditional pattern is clear.

It is obvious why the Good Old Girls Club does not exist. Simply because female administrators were hardly existent before the passing of Title IX. That makes it nearly impossible to establish a large weave of female administrators who are in a hiring position among high schools/colleges. Title IX may have increased opportunities for female athletes but it seemed to have the opposite effect on females coaches.

After looking at the results in class of our own high schools and 2 person structures, it is clear the Good Old Boys Club seems to exist as a highly identifiable cause. Male athletic directors were quick to offer the lack of female preparedness and shortcomings as the reason for decline of female coaches. However, that seems rather sexist to me to blame the lack of women coaches as a whole on the entire unpreparedness of all women. It would seem more appropriate to me to blame it on a lack of interest in coaching rather than insult the skill of women everywhere.

Boys, Girls, & Sports - Week 5

Should boys play on girls; teams? Should girls play on boys' teams? Well I say equality means that all things are equal and what you give to one, you must give to the other. I'm a strong believer in Title IX,which states that there should not be discrimination when it comes to educational programs. Well that definition has stretched to sport and been enforced to let girls on a boys' team so why not let the boy on the girls' team?

The public minimizes what a girl should be able to do in sport. This leads to the mentality that girls shouldn't play with the boys because they aren't strong enough, fast enough, tall enough, physically fit enough or whatever excuse they can possibly think of. But the truth of the matter is that if a girl wants to play a sport that is not offered in her own than gender than she should be granted the opportunity to participate on the male team. The girl and/or her parents should be able to asses the possible risks and dangers that come with that. In the same respect, boys should be allowed to play on a team of all girls if the sport is not offered in his own gender. When it comes to boys, the argument completely changes. The boys have a greater athletic advantage, or it is unsafe for a male to play with a bunch of females.

Speaking of safety, why is it that when people are fighting for girls to play on a boys' team, they are not saying anything about the safety of the girl? They are just arguing her right to play. But then when it comes to boys, suddenly safety is a major issue and everyone is worried about the one boy on a team injuring the girls.

This is an issue that could go on and on because there are so many arguments that people could make either way. However, the bottom line is that what is fair is fair, and what girls can do, so can boys.

Jordan's Induction Speech - Week 4

So I have watched the clip from class and I have watched all of Michael Jordan's actual speech and I have absolutely no problem with it.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

I can see where some comments may seem a bit snobbish or that he's stuck up, but it doesn't seem like that was his intention. When he first gets on stage he is actually crying after watching the video attributing his career. It looks to me like he is touched and overwhelmed. Jordan even goes on to say that his plans were to simply say "Thank you" as his speech. Therefore he was up there on the spot trying to thank the people he needed to and make a few jokes along the way because we all know that a speech without humor is going to be criticized. I read an article that was written about Jordan after I watched the speech that completely bashes him.

MEAN ARTICLE

One of things that is definitely meant to be a joke is the part where Jordan comments about his high school coach making a mistake by putting Leroy Smith on the basketball team instead of him. Smith was in the audience during the induction and he laughs at this. It was wasn't Jordan being cruel, it was him laughing it off. I think that the clip we watching in class were people who overreacted. There isn't a problem with civility in our athletes today, there is a problem with over-criticism by people whose opinions don't really matter anyways.

Athletes & Images - Week 3

Due to the recent debate in class over Serena Williams' outburst at the US Open, I have decided to write about the things athletes do and how it really affects their images. In case you have been living under a rock, here is a clip of Serena.



One of the issues discussed in class was that it doesn't matter what an athlete does, their image won't be tarnished. I definitely don't believe this. Whether it's something they did on the court or during the off season, if it's in the news, you're going to remember it. Something that goes right along with the way we perceive athletes' images is through femininity and masculinity. If a woman has an outburst like Serena did at the US Open, does the fact that she is a woman and she is "supposed" to play into the roles of femininity make it worse in the public eye? When a male acts out, is he just being masculine and fitting into his role of being aggressive and dominant? Another example used in class was Michael Vick. His image is most certainly tainted whether you want to believe it or not. Last summer my dad mentioned something to me about the possibility of the Dolphins trying to sign Michael Vick with his return to the National Football League. I was disgusted. I love the Dolphins but I definitely didn't want him on the roster. Thankfully he is with the Eagles who just recently took him off the exempt list so he can practice with them. Another example was Brandi Chastain at the 1999 Womens World Cup. She tore her shirt off after kicking the game winning goal to reveal a SPORTS BRA. Everyone made such a big fuss over it. Really? It was a sports bra. I see girls jogging in the same attire on a daily basis. If a male had done this.. it wouldn't have even made anyone blink, but apparently a woman isn't supposed to act this way.

I understand that many athletes make several different mistakes and can usually find themselves slipping back into their sport and going about their business with only a slightly bruised image. It's the athletes who commit crimes like Michael Vick's that make people think twice. Things like that should tarnish someone's image, not an outburst during a tennis match that didn't even hurt anyone. What's next? Serena will be gender tested because her outburst was a masculine act of aggression? Get real.

The Case of Caster Semenya - Week 2

This week I have decided to blog about Caster Semenya because of all of the controversy over her looks in class. It's because of reactions like the ones we heard in class that her sex is even in question. Semenya doesn't have very feminine features. her shoulders are broad, her chest is flat, her torso is very muscular, and her face has very tough features. Semenya is being stereotyped based on preconceived conceptions of what we think a woman should look like.



Her physical appearance along with accusations from defeated rivals because of her great improvements have contributed to the questioning of her gender. After watching the clip in class from YouTube with Zirin, it just backed up my opinions even more. It is absurd for this 18 year old girl to have to be put through gender testing because of other people's insecurities. I find it really disturbing because they are only testing certain athletes. The IAAF is discriminating against female athletes because of other people's opinions. This can cause a lot of self esteem issues for these young girls. I think that if the IAAF is going to subject anyone to gender testing, then it should be universal. Everyone should be tested.

Introduction - Week 1

To start off, my name is Brandy Rosebrock and I am an event planning/tourism major. I'm from Hicksville, OH which is about an hour west of Bowling Green. I am taking this class because I had Dr Spencer for SM 221 and I really enjoyed the class. At first I just picked 221 off a sheet of electives, but after taking it I have found out many interesting things about sport and I'm really looking forward to taking 425. I am a big fan of the Miami Dolphins who are doing very well in the preseason and I hope they keep it up! I also love the Ohio State Buckeyes, always have. Of course I support my Falcons as much as possible too. I also like the Cavaliers, but I am more into playing basketball than watching it.
As for sports I have participated in, I used to play soccer when I was in elementary school for about 4 years, softball from t-ball all the way up to my sophomore year in high school, and basketball from Jr. High to my senior year. I would have continued playing softball, but for some reason I became uninterested in it. I have always loved playing sports, being part of a team, and of course winning. Basketball has always been my favorite sport to play. It's exciting from the second you start to the very last shot. I was the team co captain my junior and senior year. I even coached 4th, 5th, and 6th graders throughout high school because I love helping them understand the game and I love seeing their excitement when they master a layup or hit their first jump shot.

As for my sports interests, being a Miami Dolphins fan wasn't really a choice in my household. I was dressed in Dolphins gear since I was a baby. My dad is a huge Dolphins fan so it just sort of fell into my lap. That's okay though because I love them! I have only seen them play in Miami once but someday I would love to go back down there for a game. Football is my favorite sport to watch and is really the only one I do so consistently. I did get to go to a Cavaliers game last year for the final regular season game; however I was very disappointed that Lebron James didn't play. I was so excited to go watch him and I didn't even think about it being the last game and the Cavs saving their best players for the playoffs.

Let's see, I'm going to go ahead and say Lebron James for the male I would like to see compete in their sport. It only seems fitting since I didn't actually get to see him when I tried last season! I think it would be a great experience to watch Lebron play because he has a lot of potential and he is a great basketball player. I believe Lebron is one of the greatest athletes of our generation and watching him play is something I've wanted to do for a long time. As for a female athlete I would pay to see, I think I would choose Venus or Serena Williams. I am not a big fan of tennis, however I do respect the sport and I think that the Williams sisters have a lot of talent. Also I would like to watch them play because not only are they great athletes, but they have also had to deal with a lot of ridicule and I really respect the way they handle those situations.

In taking this class, I am hoping to gain a broader knowledge into the world of sports. I've taken a women's studies class and a history/philosophy of sports class, so I think that this class on sport and gender will be a good one for me to take. I don't really have any concerns or issues but as for goals I am hoping to do well in this class. I expect to learn a lot of new things and see sport and gender issues from a new perspective.