Ancient Greece and Rome

The Ancient Greeks were the originators of the Olympic Games. On the other hand, Ancient Rome partook in gladiator games. The Greeks mixed religion and sports, frequently praising the Greek Gods. The Olympics were extremely structured in organization that governed the rules and regulations. Gladiator games were quite the opposite with barbaric rules created by the elites. Both Greece and Rome used these games as a form of entertainment, but differed in that the Olympic games were centered around their Gods. Rome used this as a vehicle of political power and the division of masses. Surprisingly, participants in the Olympic Games were peasants due to their availability of time to dedicate to training. The only participants were men. A gladiator may be a warrior hero, slave, prisoner of war, but once he enters the stadium he is fighting for his freedom. Women were left out of participation as well.

Sports, Society, & Me

Sports are highly valued in my life. Throughout childhood my parents always kept me in season, whether it was baseball, basketball, soccer, or golf. ESPN is pretty much the only channel watched at my house other than Duck Dynasty(who doesn’t love Si). Throughout college I have loved playing pick up basketball, participating in intramurals, or getting a round of 18 with some buds. The connection to sports started as a young one for myself. My parents said I loved kicking and throwing things since I could walk. There’s a good chance they put me in every possible sport just to get some away time from me.

            I believe that sports have a possitive effect on society. They create a sense of competitiveness, in addition to integrity and respect. American society would have a complete make over without sports. A lot of people identify themselves with the sports teams they follow. The amount of money, time, and coverage of sports has led to the conclusion that sports are an integral sport of society. Athletes are some of most prominent figures in America, but the emotions associated with each of them vary.

Sport Ethic

The sport ethic has been a guideline for any athlete throughout history. It was created and enforced through coaches, teammates, and the public. Robert Hughes defines the four dimensions of sport ethic as making sacrifices for the game, taking risks, pushing the limits, and seeking distinction(Hughes 307) Athletes conform to this set of beliefs because it’s almost the only way to success. The world has accepted these beliefs and any diversion from them is a setback. I’ve experienced all of these dimensions. I’ve put in countless hours of practice when playing lacrosse and soccer throughout my life. I’ve found myself taking risks when skiing, because the only way to get better is to put yourself into situations you’re not entirely comfortable with and push your limits.

Sports in the US

America prides itself over the prominent sports of baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, NASCAR, and hockey to name a few. Most of these sports involve superhuman players of evolved characteristics in the categories of strength, height, and hand-eye coordination. Football is the pride and glory of Murica’ and comprises of huge players trying to advance a ball down the field, where injures are as common as touchdowns.

The best way to describe a typical game day in America is glorious. There’s nothing like firing up the grill, playing games like cornhole, and slamming some coldies with your fellow comrades. The main value conveyed is to rally around your team for support. This is reinforced through tailgates, watching the game at your local bar, or simply throwing on your jersey and watching the game at home.

The best way to have success in sports in America is through winning and being the best at what you do. Tiger Woods cheated on his wife with countless women, yet after 6 months the majority of America was pulling for him to return to his state of unparalleled dominance. Michael Jordan was notorious for gambling his wallet off and talking smack like no other, but it’s hard to hate a man with six championship rings and two Gold medals. Not all successful athletics need to be poster boys like Tim Tebow, many are quite the opposite. Characteristics of successful athletes include hard work and the continuous attitude of being a student of the game. The importance of sports in America is everything. Who wants to watch CNN when the Top 10 is on Sportscenter?