Answer all four questions. No outside sources.
1.
Racial issues have played an integral role in sports and our perceptions of athletes. What is race, ethnic groups, multiracial people, minority groups, dominant groups, prejudice, discrimination and racism and how are they all related to each other? How does the Symbolic Interactionist perspective and selective perception help us to understand racism in sports? What is the history of race with respect to sports, baseball, football and basketball in America.
Specifically, how do you think race is related to sports? Are some races better at certain types of sports or does sports erase the issue of race in your mind?
2.
What are performance enhancing drugs and what is the history and development of performance enhancing drugs in sports? What are some performance enhancing drugs and what are the effects and problems associated with performance enhancing drugs? Personally, do you think that using PED’s is cheating or will we come to a conclusion as a society that they are inevitable and impossible to eliminate from sports?
What is the effect of violence on sports? Explain how the perspectives of collective behavior help us to understand violence in sports. What are the factors that encourage fan violence? Personally, what do you think causes violence in sports and what can be done to prevent it?
3.
Sports media is an important part of our society and influences the way we view sports. Explain the development of sports media and sports journalism which led to the golden age of sports in America. Specifically, what role did technology play in the evolution of sports media culminating in the biggest technological advancement; television? What role did Roone Arledge and Pete Rozelle play in the history of sports and media? How did ESPN develop and become the “worldwide leader of sports?
Personally, what is your view of sports media and sports journalism? What are some of the positive and negative things that sports media and journalism bring to our society? How would you suggest we change sports media and journalism to improve it?
4.
What is the relationship between sports and the economy? Why is sports now seen as a very big business and integral part of our national economy? Why is money such a big part of sports in America and who benefits from this? What is the reserve clause and what role did it play with respect to money, the economy and baseball?
Personally, what are your opinions about money and sports? Explain whether you feel that there is too much money involved in sports (especially college sports) or money is a primary reason why sports has become such a big part of our American society.