Andrew Karr
Casey Wagner
1.) We thought the findings would be about the same still today as they were in the first study. Not much has changed when it comes to broadcasting and covering women's sports when compared to men's sporting events.
2.) In order to gain more media coverage, women's sports may need to show even more sex appeal. Granted this will probably never happen, but it's an ugly truth. Also, possibly a woman's sports networking focusing directly on covering women's sports. Even an hour long show each day highlighting women's sports would be a sufficient steps forward in covering those sporting events.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Elizabeth Lambert
This is a story that has caught a lot of national attention recently. Elizabeth Lambert is a soccer player for the University of New Mexico who has caught a lot of criticism from her actions on the field in a game against Brigham Young University. She has since been suspended from the team for a year.
Just recently she responded to the criticism and the suspension on November 17th in a New York Times article by Jere Longman saying,
"I still deeply regret it and will always regret it. I think the way the video came out, it did make me look like a monster. I definitely feel because I am a female it did bring about a lot more attention than if a male were to do it. It's more expected for men to go out there and be rough. The female, we're still looked at as, Oh, we kick the ball around and score a goal. But it's not. We train very hard to reach the highest level we can get to. The physical aspect has maybe increased over the years. I'm not saying it's for the bad or it's been too overly aggressive. It's a game. Sports are physical."
I think her response directly correlates with what we have been discussing in class. That is that women may be held to a higher standard in sports and that there are expectations for women athletes to behave in a certain way on and off the field of play. She brings up good points in her response about how women aren't as expected to be as rough on the field as men are. While this may be true and they are held to a different standard I think what she did went far beyond what is acceptable of any athlete. The way she acted on the field is inexcusable and would not be seen as justified even if she were a male athlete. What she did was almost barbaric. If a male soccer player was to do the same things she did it would garner just as much criticism as she received. He would have received just as harsh of a punishment and it would gain a lot of attention from the media. It is true that sports are physical, but sports are not intended to be violent. She should be glad that no assault charges have been brought against her.
I think that Lambert has a point that women may be held to a higher standard on and off the playing field. But no matter who you are at what level this kind of behavior is not necessary nor is it justifiable.
Just recently she responded to the criticism and the suspension on November 17th in a New York Times article by Jere Longman saying,
"I still deeply regret it and will always regret it. I think the way the video came out, it did make me look like a monster. I definitely feel because I am a female it did bring about a lot more attention than if a male were to do it. It's more expected for men to go out there and be rough. The female, we're still looked at as, Oh, we kick the ball around and score a goal. But it's not. We train very hard to reach the highest level we can get to. The physical aspect has maybe increased over the years. I'm not saying it's for the bad or it's been too overly aggressive. It's a game. Sports are physical."
I think her response directly correlates with what we have been discussing in class. That is that women may be held to a higher standard in sports and that there are expectations for women athletes to behave in a certain way on and off the field of play. She brings up good points in her response about how women aren't as expected to be as rough on the field as men are. While this may be true and they are held to a different standard I think what she did went far beyond what is acceptable of any athlete. The way she acted on the field is inexcusable and would not be seen as justified even if she were a male athlete. What she did was almost barbaric. If a male soccer player was to do the same things she did it would garner just as much criticism as she received. He would have received just as harsh of a punishment and it would gain a lot of attention from the media. It is true that sports are physical, but sports are not intended to be violent. She should be glad that no assault charges have been brought against her.
I think that Lambert has a point that women may be held to a higher standard on and off the playing field. But no matter who you are at what level this kind of behavior is not necessary nor is it justifiable.
Those Soccer Plays, in Context
Disbilities and sport: Lincoln West Wrestlers
For this entry I decided to focus on athletes with disabilities. In particular I chose a couple high school wrestlers from Lincoln-West High School in Cleveland, Ohio who each has disabilities of their own but were able to overcome them and be successful on the mat as well as becoming close friends.
When Leroy Sutton was 11 he was in a horrific accident where he was pulled beneath a train and lost both of his legs as a result. Before his senior year of high school he transferred to Lincoln-West where he met Dartanyon Crockett who shared some of his struggles. He was legally blind. They became very good friends and trained and wrestled together. Crockett would also carry Sutton on his back into every match.
Dartanyon, while wrestling at 189 pounds went on to win the league championship with a record of 26-3. Leroy didn't achieve as much success on the mat but was a vital part of the team and his will alone inspired other wrestlers on the team.
Stories like these are what make people realize that their everyday struggles are nothing compared to the struggles these athletes face on and off the mat. It really puts things in perspective for me as far as when I say I am having a bad day. I couldn't imagine not having legs or being legally blind. So when people say they are having a bad day it pales in comparison to what these two go through on a daily basis. For these two young men to overcome everything they have to everyday and still be successful athletes is incredible to me and inspiring. So the next time you think you are having a bad day, just think about those who are so much less fortunate than you and don't even have the basic abilities of being able to walk or see. It really puts things in perspective for me and makes me realize how fortunate I am to have those abilities and the chance to get a college education. Both of these wrestlers, while graduating high school have dreams about going to college but they just don't have the finances. So the main point to take from this post is to be grateful for everything you have everyday; because Leroy Sutton and Dartanyon Crockett are more than grateful for what they have.
Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4371874
When Leroy Sutton was 11 he was in a horrific accident where he was pulled beneath a train and lost both of his legs as a result. Before his senior year of high school he transferred to Lincoln-West where he met Dartanyon Crockett who shared some of his struggles. He was legally blind. They became very good friends and trained and wrestled together. Crockett would also carry Sutton on his back into every match.
Dartanyon, while wrestling at 189 pounds went on to win the league championship with a record of 26-3. Leroy didn't achieve as much success on the mat but was a vital part of the team and his will alone inspired other wrestlers on the team.
Stories like these are what make people realize that their everyday struggles are nothing compared to the struggles these athletes face on and off the mat. It really puts things in perspective for me as far as when I say I am having a bad day. I couldn't imagine not having legs or being legally blind. So when people say they are having a bad day it pales in comparison to what these two go through on a daily basis. For these two young men to overcome everything they have to everyday and still be successful athletes is incredible to me and inspiring. So the next time you think you are having a bad day, just think about those who are so much less fortunate than you and don't even have the basic abilities of being able to walk or see. It really puts things in perspective for me and makes me realize how fortunate I am to have those abilities and the chance to get a college education. Both of these wrestlers, while graduating high school have dreams about going to college but they just don't have the finances. So the main point to take from this post is to be grateful for everything you have everyday; because Leroy Sutton and Dartanyon Crockett are more than grateful for what they have.
Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4371874
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
