Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Sport, Politics and the Olympics
1968- Mexico City, Black Power Salute
During the 1968 Mexico Olympics , two African American male, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, silently protested against racial discrimination after their 200 meters run. For the time of their victory ceremony, as the American National Anthem started playing they bowed their heads and while wearing black gloves, they raised one of their hands over their head creating a fist to symbolize black power and unity. Smith raised his right fist and Carlos raised his left and they both wore black socks with no shoes on to show poverty in America. They were booed by the crowed after the ceremony and later that day kicked of their teams and sent back home. some people praised them for their courageous and heroic act but some were mad because they viewed their act as creating trouble for them.
Connecting this event to one of Sage & Eitzen's 5 political uses of sport, this event connects with the use of Olympics as a site of political demonstration and violence. Smith and Carlos exemplifies the use of sport and politics being related. They showed resistance against racism with the help of the Olympics. Therefore, I am in disagreement with the following statement "Sport is pure and devoid of political interference" because there's always some kind of political connections to sport; with this event being a prime example.
Refrences:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/30/black-power-salute-1968-olympics
Eitzen & Sage, Sport and Politics chapter 9
During the 1968 Mexico Olympics , two African American male, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, silently protested against racial discrimination after their 200 meters run. For the time of their victory ceremony, as the American National Anthem started playing they bowed their heads and while wearing black gloves, they raised one of their hands over their head creating a fist to symbolize black power and unity. Smith raised his right fist and Carlos raised his left and they both wore black socks with no shoes on to show poverty in America. They were booed by the crowed after the ceremony and later that day kicked of their teams and sent back home. some people praised them for their courageous and heroic act but some were mad because they viewed their act as creating trouble for them.
Connecting this event to one of Sage & Eitzen's 5 political uses of sport, this event connects with the use of Olympics as a site of political demonstration and violence. Smith and Carlos exemplifies the use of sport and politics being related. They showed resistance against racism with the help of the Olympics. Therefore, I am in disagreement with the following statement "Sport is pure and devoid of political interference" because there's always some kind of political connections to sport; with this event being a prime example.
Refrences:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/30/black-power-salute-1968-olympics
Eitzen & Sage, Sport and Politics chapter 9
"London Calling: The Globalization of the NFL"
When it comes to increasing revenue for its organization, the NFL is all for it. Therefore, the idea of possibly expanding their operations outside the US isn't shocking at all. According to Bill Barnwell's article, London Calling, the owner of the Jaguars has bought a soccer team that's London-based only increasing its occupation internationally. In addition, with teams already playing football games in London only enhances this idea of actually having a team out there. Not only would it create a new element of revenue, it'll create "both a local community of dedicated fans and a European market..." (London Calling 1). The NFL fan base, and market would increase internationally.
If the NFL did pursue a professional team in London, I would totally disagree with that decision because the consequences that the NFL would face could outweigh its rewards. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar industry and I'm sure it could get around some of possible problems like the long amount of hours the players would spend traveling to and from London and setting up an American base for that team. However, other special regulations would have to be established for this team and it would create problems with the rest of the teams in the league. I don't think that would be fare because other organizations have their problems as well so giving special attention to this team could spark some complaining. These are just a few problems the NFL would face which they shouldn't go in that direction. Maybe they should think about setting up a team in Los Angeles to create more revenue and limit the possible problems they would face.
Refrences:
London Calling, by Bill Barnwell
If the NFL did pursue a professional team in London, I would totally disagree with that decision because the consequences that the NFL would face could outweigh its rewards. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar industry and I'm sure it could get around some of possible problems like the long amount of hours the players would spend traveling to and from London and setting up an American base for that team. However, other special regulations would have to be established for this team and it would create problems with the rest of the teams in the league. I don't think that would be fare because other organizations have their problems as well so giving special attention to this team could spark some complaining. These are just a few problems the NFL would face which they shouldn't go in that direction. Maybe they should think about setting up a team in Los Angeles to create more revenue and limit the possible problems they would face.
Refrences:
London Calling, by Bill Barnwell
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)