There is a lot of violence shown on television, by some of our biggest role models, professional athletes, who have some of the poorest displays of sportsmanship, and get into some of the most widely promoted violence on television. Could this cause children who look up to these professional athletes to act violently in their own sporting events?
The image to the right, is a picture of the Detroit Piston's and the Indiana Pacers brawl back in November 2004.
http://img79.exs.cx/img79/3953/brawl.jpg
These two teams made national headlines when the pacer's Ron Artest was hit with a cup of beer charged the stands, with numerous other Pacer's, who then began attacking numbers of the fan's. Many of the people involved where treated with minor injuries. Only, one week later, several other sporting brawls happened. A brawl between Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, arose and was found difficult to control by the police officers. Then, a pitcher, Frank Francisco threw a chair into the stands and broke a woman's nose, after being hassled by the fans.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/nov2004/bask-n23.shtml
In my opinion, this shows children and other athletes that violence is a proper way to deal with their problems, and emotions during sporting events. It may even influence spectators to be violent due to the possibility of publicity. People may just be tempted to get on the T.V. The only thing that happens to these athletes when they fight, is they lose a little bit of money, they have to pay a fine or two, they get suspended for a few games, and then have to apologize. A very small price to pay, when they are influencing generations of kids and athletes. To watch the video of the Piston/Pacer's brawl here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZmfeU9rSDs
How many kids are going to get into fights because "well, they do it on t.v."? By watching things on television and seeing it in the media, it eventually becomes socially acceptable.
Children do look up to these athletes and want to be just like them. Children want to look like them, wear the same clothes, and act the same way the professional athletes do. Professional athletes that do cause fights and say foul language does cause problems to people that are watching. Children think that since the athletes act that way than they can act that way, but that isn’t how it should be. I know no body is perfect, but professional athletes do need to try their best and act like well behaved adults. When players do get in trouble and have to pay fines, I don’t think that is a big deal to them. Do you think they act out more because money isn’t that big of a deal to them?
ReplyDeleteI have to agree on with you on this topic. It is a real shame that these Big name athletes think they are allowed to act this way. They are getting paid to play a sport that they love and given anything they want. The big problem comes when after they are done with these fights they get a little slap on the wrist.
ReplyDeleteMy major concern comes with the kids that look up to them. They see this behavior being allowed on the court and in the field by the professionals. Then it gives them the idea that they can acted they way. What ever happened to the true meaning of having sportsmanship and being respectful to your opponent?
Once one fight is televised, the scene is in many fan's and player's minds. I think it does cause some players to overreact when they are in a similar situation. I usually don't see much baseball on TV, but when I do, someone is hit by a pitch and runs at the pitcher for revenge. I think fining the players isn't enough for behavior like that. I think suspension without pay is a better discipline because it takes away from their wages and takes some attention away from them on the field. The players are certainly not good role models when they start fights. They can't be a negative role model if they don't play.
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