The Game or the Green?

English > Persuasive Writing
Sport > Players

This paper refutes the contention that professional athletes are motivated only by money and not by the love of the sport.

975 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper argues that professional athletes are not involved in sports just for the money; there are also psychological factors at work, such as self-esteem and self-satisfaction. The paper explains that while it is commonplace to dismiss professional athletes as greedy and spoiled, they are deserving of the money they are offered for doing something better than anyone else.

From the Paper:

"To begin with, many athletes do what they do because they want to prove something to themselves. For example, when Canada's Billy "The Kid" Irwin fought his last fight in February of 2005 against world lightweight boxing champion, Juan Diaz, he was motivated to do so largely because he wanted to prove Diaz's handlers wrong; that he was not some mere stepping-stone for the young champion from Texas. In fact, Irwin quickly made it clear to at least one Canadian writer who had gone to Houston to cover the fight that this fight would really be his last fight - even though a victory would obviously mean huge sums of money (Maich, 40-43). For this athlete, earning respect at age 36 was more important than earning money."

Sample of Sources Used:

"Caught Yapping." Sports Illustrated 23 Oct. 2006: 39.
Lindeman, A.K. "Self-Esteem: Its Application to Eating Disorders and Athletes." International Journal of Sport Nutrition, 4.3 (1994): 237-252.
Maich, Steve. "The Kid's Last Stand." Maclean's 7 Feb. 2005: 40-43.
Robertson, Linda. ""Olympic Spirit still Triumphs." The Miami Herald 14 Sept. 2000. Newspaper Source. EBSCOhost Research Databases. University of Calgary Lib., Calgary, AB. 27 Apr. 2007 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=113&sid=14df5d49-43e9-433f-b7a8-3624bc2233cb%40sessionmgr7>
Skordilis, E.K. "Comparison of Sport Achievement Orientation of Male Professional, Amateur, and Wheelchair Basketball Athletes." Perceptual and Motor Skills, 97.2 (2003): 483-490.