Sports

9
Sports

How do the values of sports affect the way we see ourselves?

Love them or hate them, sports are a central part of our modern world. Athletes are cultural icons; sports dominate television, radio, even film. Once the purview of men and boys, the subject of sports—opinions on its ethics, its future, its place in society—is now open to everyone. And in some ways, the line separating the professional from the spectator has blurred. Weekend athletes train like professionals; even couch potatoes participate in fantasy leagues.

We speak the language of sports. We are asked to play to win, play by the rules, play fair, be team players, be good sports. We’re taught to be good losers; we’re reminded that the best defense is a good offense—and the other way around. We’re told that life is a game of chance, but that we can sometimes level the playing field. These exhortations are as at home in a grade school kickball game as they are in politics and business. Why are we so comfortable with this shorthand?

The questions raised by sports are out of proportion to the tiny number of people who play professional sports and are front and center in the news-earning salaries that top those of movie stars. At their best, sports pros are hailed as role models; at their worst, as scourges on society. Is our attraction to professional athletes healthy? Do we learn from their grit, from their strength and commitment to training, or do they encourage unhealthy narcissism and dangerous habits?

The selections in this chapter explore many of the questions raised by our interest in sports and the effect of that interest on everyday life. The readings look at the star power of our professional athletes and the thrill of tapping into our own potential for athletic achievement. They ask questions about ethics; they make us think about whether our passion for both following and participating in sports is a way for us to, at least temporarily, avoid the demands of real life. Finally, they ask whether the language of the playing field and the model of the professional athlete enliven communication and help us become better people.