Conclusion

The semester is winding down and its time to reflect on the time I've had blogging. Sports gender has really made me think about issues that I really have never thought about before. I have learned a lot over the semester and enjoyed blogging. Blogging is a fun and easy way to express your opinions on issues in the world of sports. I hope in the future I have a job or take courses that require me to blog because I love hearing other peoples opinions on topics and giving people feedback. My favorite article to write about this semester was the WWE article. I just thought it was hilarious that professional wrestling was referred to as masculine. I believe wrestling is a joke and its funny how older men are chasing each other around in their underwear. My favorite topic to learn about was homosexuality in sports. I just thought it was ridiculous how badly homosexuals are looked upon especially in the world of sports. It is unfair that women don't get scrutinized as badly as men, but homosexual men are heavily criticized. I also thought it was bad how most NFL, NBA, and MLB teams didn't respond to the surveys they were sent. I believe everyone should be accepted for who they are but the fact is no professional athlete will come out of the closet because of all the negative attention they will get. I just thought overall blogs really let classmates communicate with each other and is a great alternate to homework. I hope I get the chance to do blogs in the future.

The Tale of Two Undefeated Teams

As the end of the regular season is nearing in the NFL two teams are doing the unthinkable and attempting to chase NFL history. The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are both 13-0 and undefeated heading into week 15 of the NFL season. Only one team has ever finished the season undefeated when the Miami Dolphins went undefeated and won the Super Bowl in 1972. The New England Patriots of 2007-2008 finished the regular season undefeated only to lose the to Giants in the Super Bowl. What the Colts and Saints are doing in this day and age of the NFL is amazing. So many teams are competitive in the league and there is now a lot of parity. The one question looming is should these teams play their starters in the final month of the season? Both teams have locked up divisions, conferences, and home field advantage so resting their starters may make sense. If the ultimate goal is to win a Super Bowl then resting players may be the wise choice to make but going for the undefeated season is the popular choice among NFL fans. Either way both of these teams are having amazing seasons and it would be something special if both teams finished undefeated and faced off in the Super Bowl.

Is the NBA one big Hollywood Movie?

One story that interests me is the issue of referees and gambling in the NBA. Tim Donaghy's interview with 60 Minutes really could hurt the image of the NBA. Donaghy claims that numerous referee's are involved with gambling on NBA games, in which as referee's they alter the outcome of the games. David Stern has come out and denied these allegations explaining how the NBA monitors the activities of the referee's. Donaghy went to jail for gambling on NBA games while refereeing for the NBA, in which he was working with the mob. Donaghy admitted to altering outcomes of games by the calls he made. San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich said he wouldn't want to coach in the league anymore if any other referrers were doing this. Whether you believe Tim Donaghy or not this is a big issue for the league. It makes you wonder as a fan if these games are being altered just like a script of a Hollywood movie. As a big time fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers I really hope these claims by Donaghy aren't true because the NBA is one of my favorite leagues to follow and the last thing I want is referee's determining outcomes of games. The NBA needs to monitor referee's closely so actions like this never happen again. If multiple referees are found guilty of gambling and changing outcomes of games this could be permanently damage the reputation of the NBA.

The Fall of Another Star

Tiger Woods for years has been the blueprint for how to be a respected person and athlete. Woods has had a squeaky clean reputation and is one of the most successful and famous athletes in the world. Lately however this has drastically all changed. Multiple stories have surfaced indicating Tiger Woods has committed adultery and has had numerous affairs on his wife. This new is very sad because it destroys Tigers credibility as a role model, father, and husband. Woods was also involved in a car accident in his own driveway where some theory's hint at it having to do with a domestic dispute with his wife. Tiger has since taken a leave of absence from golf and lost some endorsements. This is bad for golf and the world of sports. It's a shame that such a successful athlete and person like Woods could commit these actions. The good thing for Tiger is that in the world of sports, all people care about is "what have you done for me lately"? I believe Tiger needs to take a brief break from golf to get his personal life back in order but must return in the near future so he can start winning again. Once he starts to win tournaments again some may forget these acts Woods has committed. I personally will never look at Tiger the same again and am very disappointed in him. If Tiger Woods is lucky his image will eventually be repaired in a similar manner as Kobe Bryant's.

Hiding In The Closet

In Tuesday's class we discussed the topic homosexuality. We talked about if it was a good thing for players who are homosexual to come out of the closet during their playing career. Most homosexual athletes are too scared to publicly confess their sexuality and often wait until their playing career is over. My firm belief on sexuality has always been to be honest and express yourself. I believe athlete or not, if you are homosexual you shouldn't be afraid to let everyone know it because that is who you are. When it comes to sports however I have a different opinion. I believe if you are a professional athlete it may not be the best idea to come out of the closet. With all the media attention surrounding sports today it would just become a huge distraction and controversy for the player and the team. I believe this can be a huge distraction for a team because of homosexual males are looked at in the sports community, and could make things awkward in the locker room and off the court. When baseball and football were polled about homosexuality only one team responded and gave their input. Former NBA player John Amaechi came out of the closet following his playing career which promoted criticism with some saying that was a cowardly act. Another former NBA player Tim Hardaway hit headlines when he commented on the issue by saying he "hates" gay people. Shaq however said he would protect Amaechi if he were on his team from outsiders. A statement that bothered me was how in class we talked about how many athletes believe being gay is worse than being a felon. That is an awful thing to say because someones sexuality shouldn't matter, and has nothing to do with being a felon. Breaking the law is one thing but your sexuality is another. I believe athletes need to accept homosexual teammates like the Corey Johnson situation is Massachusetts. It is embarrassing that Mike Piazza needed to call a press conferene to shoot down rumors he gay. The world of sports and athletes need to accept the fact that there are homosexual athletes all around them, just "Hiding In The Closet".

Hegemonic Masculinity

One topic we discussed in class that caught my attention was hegemonic masculinity. I really enjoyed the activity when we went through the fitness magazines. I agree that it is important to get plenty of physical exercise but when does the line get crossed? In society today women prefer men that are toned or ripped. I just think these magazines that are meant to help men get fit are completely ridiculous. To achieve results of masculinity seen in these magazines numerous supplements are required or even steroids. It is not natural for somebody to be as big as men in these magazines. If you go to the rec center and see people who have huge muscles they tend to have a lot of acne and stretch marks over their body. This is a common sign of steroid use or working out too much. I believe society has built this image of Hegemonic Masculinity that a man is supposed to look like and it isn't realistic. A man should still be considered inferior if they are in shape and work out. You shouldn't have to have muscles bulging out of your shirt to be considered inferior. Since muscles are such a sign of dominance there will never be a limit to how big someone should get which will cause many people to take steroids and other supplements that will eventually hurt their bodies.

Boys and Girls

One topic we covered this semester is the debate should girls be able to play with boys when it comes to sports. I hate to be sexist but I truly believe for the benefits of all parties girls should NOT be able to play with boys in sports. A good example I have experienced personally is playing basketball at the rec center. Whenever a girl is playing with the men it is obvious that the game takes on less meaning and less effort is made by the men. If a man goes to steal the ball or block a girl it is considered a cowardly act and other male players will even laugh. This is why in recreational sports there is a men's league and co-ed league. In flag football at the University of Bowling Green the mens flag football division is considered competitive, while the co-ed league is considered just for fun. I just think girls will get hurt or discriminated if they play with boys. There was a case at the University of Colorado that a girl kicker on the football team was sexually harassed and discriminated against. I just think men are a lot more competitive and rough than girls. I believe girls can be good at sports and competitive but it it just a different level. Boys should play with boys, and girls should play with girls.

Asianization of America

After discussing the Asianization of America in class I realized how much Asian influence their is in our society today. Many Asian influences exist outside the sports would such as Toyota, Honda, Chinese food, and karate. The sports world over the past few years has also seen Asian influence. Yao Ming is one of the most recognizable NBA players in the world and is one of the best big men in the game. Ming's success in the NBA has opened the door for other Asians to come to the NBA. In baseball many successful players are Asian including Ichiro Suzuki, Hideo Nomo, and the 2009 MLB World Series MVP Hideki Matsui. Another trend starting to develop is many baseball teams trying to sign players from Japan and paying hefty fees to negotiate contracts with them. An example of this is the Boston Red Sox signing pitcher Daisuka Matsusaka because they outbid teams to negotiate with him. To say the least there is starting to become a trend of Asianization in sports. Another topic that caught my interest was how the LPGA is forcing Korean player who can't speak English to speak English. There are two sides to this debate. I agree with the decision because if Korean players are earning money and playing the sport in America they should be able to speak English. The other side to this is American players who speak English should be able to speak other languages when necessary as well. Either way their is great Asian influence not only in our society but in sports.

Playing Rough

After recently watching this sports clip at home and in my sports classes, I simply have never seen anything like it. New Mexico Women's Soccer player Elizabeth Lambert looked more like Mike Tyson during her teams 1-0 loss to BYU University. Lambert repeatedly throughout the game for no reason exerted unnecessary physical violence to opposing players on the BYU Women's team. Lambert was seen kicking, tripping, elbowing, and even throwing her opponents down by their hair. Lambert has since been suspended for the season. I believe that this incident should have prompted further discipline. I think Lambert should be permanently banned from NCAA sports and kicked out of her University. Lambert has apologized for her actions but how can one apology make up for so many mistakes made by Lambert during one game. The question I want to know is how long has this been going on? There is no way Elizabeth Lambert just displayed this kind of behavior in only one game. A similar incident happened with Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount when he punched a Boise State player after their loss during the opening week of the season. Blount was suspended the entire season, but recently was reinstated. Blount was provoked by the player he punched and committed far less violence than Lambert. The media gave the Oregon running backs incident much more attention. I believe Lambert's act was far more vicious but since she is a girl in an irrelevant sport the media didn't care as much. Lamberts acts definitely deserve more punishment.

What was Bud Adams thinking?

I know this is a little off topic, but I wanted to address Sundays incident with Bud Adams. Bud Adams is the 86 year old owner of the Tennessee Titans. After the game Bud Adams was seen giving the Buffalo Bills fans the middle finger repeatedly. The Titans won the game in a blowout fashion. I think Adams behavior was completely unnecessary. If you are an owner in the NFL, that behavior is unacceptable because you must be a good role model and show a sense of professionalism. The funny part about the incident is NFL commissioner Roger Godell was present at the game and in Mr. Adams suite the first half of the game. The NFL has since charged Adams $250,000.00. I'm happy about the fine but I am wondering if this were a different owner if the media attention would be different. The media (ESPN) has given this topic attention, but I believe if an owner such as Jerry Jones or Marc Cuban would have committed these same actions the media would have been much more harsh. I think because of Bud Adams age the media treated this as a comedic story. I think it shouldn't matter how old you are, if you own a professional sports team you should have a sense of professionalism, respect the game, and have the same consequences as any other owner.

Will Womens Sports Ever Be Popular?

In Class we learned about the Profeminist Men's Movement. Dr. Spencer says Profeminist men believe men and women should have equal access to sports. Some examples of Profeminist men are athletes that support women by showing up to events such as WNBA games, NCAA Women's college basketball games, and even tennis matches Serena and Venus Williams play in. In my mind there a few Profeminist men that stand out. Geno Auriemma, in my mind is one of the biggest Profeminist men around. Auriemma has made the University of Connecticut's Women's Basketball Team a power house and one of the most respected teams in all of College Basketball, for all the National Championships they have won. Another Profeminist would be Bill Laimbeer. Laimbeer, now an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Laimbeer coached and the led the WNBA's Detroit Shock to multiple championships. Another example of a Profeminist would be Tennesse's Men's Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl. Pearl is an avid supporter of The University of Tennesse Women's Basketball Team, routinely attending the women's game shirtless with a painted chest. Many say society would improve when gains are made by women in sports. The question looms will women sports ever be popular? Rarely are women's sports such as the WNBA televised and if they are they usually can only be seen on ESPN 2. There simply isn't a market or enough interest for women's sports to become relevant. If society wants gains in women's sports then there needs to be more coverage of Women's sports on ESPN and ABC. Until more coverage is dedicated to women sports, it's popularity will keep declining and men's sports will always dominate.

Give Gill A Chance

Recently in class we have been discussing the fact that in college sports, especially college football there is a scarcity of African American Head Football Coaches. I believe there around around 120 Division 1-A teams and under 10 black head coaches. That number is astounding and unfair. If you look at the NFL many African American coaches have had success and Super Bowl appearances including Tony Dungy, Mike Tomlin, Lovey Smith, and Marvin Lewis as a coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens. You would think this would help translate more opportunities for head coaching jobs for African Americans in the college ranks but it hasn't. Today there was a segment on ESPN's Outside The Lines regarding the recent head coaching search of The University of Auburn Tigers. The Auburn Tigers hired Gene Chizik, a white male to be their new head coach. Despite having major success as a defensive coordinator with the Auburn Tigers in the past, and the Texas Longhorns, Gene has been a poor head coach. Chizik recently coached two seasons at the University of Iowa State, recording an overall record of 5-19, including ten losses in a row and no road wins. Chiziks competition for the Auburn job was Turner Gill. Gill was a coordinator at Nebraska for 13 seasons assisting them with three national championships. In 2005, Gill was hired at the University of Buffalo. When Gill was hired, Buffalo was considered one of the worst programs in all of Division 1-A football. Gill turned the team around and they won the MAC last year in football. Comparing the two resumes, the question of race comes into play. Clearly Turner Gill has a better coaching resume but he was turned down in favor of a white coach with a poor coaching resume. There is no proof of race being a factor but you have to think it may. According to the Outside The Lines episode sources from coaches within the SEC conference said because Turner Gill is in an interracial marriage he wouldn't get hired. The issue of race will always be brought up, and college football needs to institute a similar rule to the "Rooney Rule" in the NFL, where during a coaching search, colleges must interview at least one African American candidate.

WWE

Being a wrestling fan when I was younger the topic of the WWE a form of masculinty was very interessting to me. When I used to watch wrestling when I was younger I was addicted. I loved the story lines and I would order all the pay-per-views so I wouldn't miss any of the big matches. As I grew older I started to realize that what I was watching was a big joke. I always knew wrestling was fake but the entertainment and drama sucked me in. When I became older though I realized, why am I watching oiled up men wrestle around and yell at each other in their underwear. I believe sports such as NFL Football and NBA Basketball truly represent masculinity. The WWE is a form of entertainment and NOT a sport. The WWE is scrpited and has a pre-determined outcome. It is essentially like watching a movie. The WWE does feature strong muscular men but I don't believe they represent masculine ways. Since when has it been masculine to roll around with other guys in your underwear? I believe the WWE falsely portrays manhood and shows us everything not to be. Wrestlers Chris Benoit and Eddie Gureero died because of steroid abuse. Does taking steroids to become a musucalr wrestler really reprsent masculinity. Before I would consider the WWE to represnet hegemonic maculinity I would take a closer look. The WWE even features story lines where the men wrestlers fight the women wrestlers (divas). It is definitely not masculine or socially accepted for a man to wrestle a girl. In my opinion wrestling is a form of entertainment similar to that of a movie, it is pretend and nothing else. The real form of manhood and masculinity lies withinin professional sports.

The Curious Case of Caster Semenya

As one of the biggest sports fans you will ever find I hate to say that I don't enjoy following the Olympics, especially running. I'm just like any other college guy who loves watching football, baseball, or some basketball. But this is one of those rare occasions where the Olympics and a woman athlete has caught my attention. After reading and talking about South African runner Caster Semenya in class I have become interested in her story. We now all now her controversial story that many of her opponents and people believe her gender should be tested because of her success. I believe that if Caster wouldn't have been so dominate and broken records her gender would not have come into question but that is part of life when you win big and get yourself into the spotlight. Usually I believe a woman could portray many qualities of a man and just be super athletic but after seeing pictures of Caster Semenya I thought otherwise. Looking at pictures of Caster makes me feel lazy and want to hit the gym. This girl is ripped and could pass for being male. She is very strong and masculine looking. I don't think its right for people to discriminate her just because of her success and the way she looks but if she has nothing to hide then why not take a gender test. If I were in Caster's shoes I would laugh at the critics take a gender test and prove to the world that I'm that dominate and to take a hike. Just like everything in life and especially in professional sports, the more successful and dominate you're the more you put yourself into the spotlight and in the mouths of critics. I also don't agree with her family being so upset. I know it is disrespectful for critics to call your alleged "daughter" a male, but if theres nothing to hide then why not take a gender test. The IAAF should test every single athelete to ensure this problem goes away and not to single out Caster and make her feel discriminated against. Its unfortunate but in the society we live in today if a female looks like Caster and is that dominant it is going to raise question marks just because the stereotype of a female shouldn't be that masculine or dominate at a sport.

Introduction

Hey everyone my name is Nick Malkin and this is my first blog for sports gender class. I am one of the biggest sports fans and followers you will find on the campus of Bowling Green. My career goal is to work in the offices for the Cleveland Cavaliers. I actually plan to intern with the Cavaliers next summer. I tried to get a head start with my career so I have been trying to work for sports teams to bolster my resume. I have worked as a Premium Seat Attendant with the Cleveland Indians and I worked as a Night Sales Representative for the Lake Erie Monsters. Both of these jobs have helped prepare me for my career aspirations. I didn't play any sports in high school a decision I now highly regret. I have played recreation sports throughout my life and play intramural football here at Bowling Green. One of my favorite hobbies is to play basketball and football with my friends in my spare time. One accomplishment I have is I was named the 2007 Avon Lake High School Physical Education Department Student of the Year for my hard work getting myself into shape which was noticed by our head football coach who taught my wellness class. My favorite sports teams are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Browns, and Indians. I also follow the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Bowling Green Falcons. I am looking forward to this class and hope to learn more about sports and gender to help further my knowledge in the area of my career.