The Ugliness of Fans

In tandem with my most recent post about the fans of sports dictating the magnitude of future athletes coming out as gay, I anticipate some questions arising. In my last post, I stated how I believe fans can sway an athletes decision to declare sexual orientation if negative. Where I believe some might disagree with me, is the common "they would never do that." In fact, some fans do. Which is why there is reason to worry.

On the account of race, some fans around the world have been outspokenly racist. The worst part, is that it is during the games in which they are racist. During the game is when a player should be worrying about the game itself and not feel threatened due to the color of his skin, or in this more recent case, his sexual orientation. Nevertheless, fans continue to defy acceptance, instead comparing black players to monkeys.

This was a banner displayed at a Russian soccer game in response to the acquisition of a black player. Clearly displayed in the middle of the banner is a banana, relating the newly acquired black player to a monkey. 

Even in this image, a fan is striking a monkey pose, directed at the black player in the image. These hate crimes cannot keep occurring. Not only does it make black players feel, without a question of a doubt, unsafe, but it deters players from playing in those leagues all together due to fear. 

This is the fear that may decide whether or not many athletes declare as gay in major professional American sports. Given, these images were from overseas. Hopefully Americans are more tolerant when an active major professional athlete comes into their stadium. If they are treated like any other athlete should be while playing the game, the successes could be outstanding. If not though, it would be a true shame and a significant blemish on the tolerance and acceptance of America. 

Are American fans different from those overseas? What do you think will happen when a rostered player comes out as gay and plays in front of opposing fans?

Lying in the Hands of the Fans

An NBA player announced he was gay today. In fact, this marks the first time that an active American major professional sports figure has announced his affinity for the same sex. Jason Collins, an NBA veteran Center declared it today. For more on his decision click here. 

Jason Collins

His decision is truly monumental. Not only will it provide comfort for other athletes to come out, but also many other people around the country. Because professional athletes have such a widespread influence on fans, seeing that an idolized figure, especially in something so masculine as sports, can come out and still lead a successful, professional career, will undoubtedly provide comfort. 

In fact, there is a current NFL player considering coming out, but, according to CBS reporter Mike Freeman, is "holding back out of fear of homophobic fan reaction." This fear is a very valid concern. Jason Collins is a free agent right now, meaning he isn't on an NBA roster at the moment, but is still considered an active player. Because he doesn't play for a team, he won't need to endure possible denigratory insults hurled his way. This is a whole different story for the NFL player. The NFL is currently rostered and would need to play amongst fans (especially when playing at another teams stadium with their fans) who may not be in approval of such a decision. Fan reaction may in fact decide the breadth of athletes coming out. If the unknown NFL player were to come out and receive intense hostility over his sexual orientation, then other players would, with reason, hesitate to come out. If greeted with acceptance, the perennial flood gates would certainly open. 

I hope for the sake of hesitant athletes and fans around the country, questioning whether to come out as gay, that fans accept outspoken athletes identified as gay. For that reception may have more significance than imaginable. 

What do you think the fans reaction to an active, gay athlete would be? What would subsequently occur in either case? Let me know with your comments!

The College Student: A Lopsided Treatment

In continuation of my last post over the Auburn football team getting illegal grade changes to comply with NCAA regulations of maintaining a 2.3 Grade Point Average to be eligible to compete in college football games, I couldn't help but think about the students of universities. I'm talking about the students, not the student-athletes. In my opinion, one of the most glaring reasons to not pay student-athletes for playing, are the students of various universities.

Most athletes of universities receive some form of scholarship to play sports at the university they attend. Even if they don't, they still have incredible benefits normal students could only dream about. As Paul Daugherty, a former professor at the University of Cincinnati noted in one of his courses he taught, "[his students] were not people who asked to be paid to attend college. These were folks who paid for the privilege" (Daugherty). 

Cheesman-Day & Newberger Study

Daugherty mentions some really important points in this passage. The most glaring in my opinion though, is stating how college is a "privilege". College is a privilege. I'm sure tons of people across the country would love to attend college, but simply cannot afford it. I will be able to go to college, which I feel is a huge privilege. In fact,  I could never imagine demanding money to receive a college education in the process. Receiving a free or discounted education is more than enough reciprocity for playing a sport. A sport in which the athlete most likely loves to do. 

To further bolster the point about a college education being a fine mode of reciprocity, a Cheesman-Day & Newberger study showed that individuals who received a degree from a university averaged over $1 million more over their lifetimes versus those who didn't. That's more than enough in my opinion. And to receive such an opportunity at a discounted price (what most athletes get) is incredible. Daugherty also stated that a lot of students leave school with a "five-figure yoke around [their] necks" (Daugherty). 

The students of universities are paying top-dollar for the privilege of attending a university. In hopes, they can receive a degree and better themselves for their lives ahead. College athletes are getting the same education, the majority of which are receiving it at a discounted price, and are now asking to be paid on top of such a privilege. Through the research I have conducted, I render it ridiculous. 

What do you think about this? Do you think a college education is an effective enough mode of reciprocity for student-athletes? Please let me know your thoughts!

Do Academics Matter?

Almost directly on cue with my research over collegiate athletes getting paid, the Auburn football program has recently come under fire about violating NCAA policies. The most glaring violation was changing grades of players to maintain their eligibility. For a more detailed report on the allegations, follow this link. Once hearing this, I immediately related it to the research I have been conducting for my junior theme.

The term "student-athlete" is heard everywhere, but it's starting to seem to me that coaches, fans and universities alike care more about the "athlete" part of that term a whole lot more. Bruce K. Johnson, an economics of sports professor wisely stated, "If a player reads like a fifth-grader but leads his team to the Rose Bowl, neither coaches nor fans will object. But at most athletic-powerhouses, if a coach bragged that his losing squad enjoyed a 100% graduation rate, fans would call for -- and likely get -- his head" (Johnson). 

NCAA Ad-Campaign for a 2.3 GPA

I found this to be right on par with Auburn's ideals. Fans truly would care if Auburn "enjoyed a 100% graduation rate". They only care about winning championships. In order to win championships, the Auburn players needed to be eligible to compete, and NCAA rules call for a 2.3 Grade Point Average to be eligible to participate in athletics. Based on the Auburn allegations, grades were altered to comply with such NCAA requirements. 

Such actions really made me think about the ideals of large American universities such as Auburn. Does academic integrity really matter to them? Or is it all about pleasing their fans, illegally putting an ineligible team on the football field?

Do you think athletic-powerhouse universities really care about academic integrity if it's at the cost of the team they put on the field? Please share your thoughts!