Abstract This paper looks at the history of labor relations in the field of baseball from John Montgomery Ward's first attempt to form a players' union in 1885 to the 32-day lockout during spring training in 1990. The author points out that the 2002 collective bargaining agreement was successfully negotiated with significant compromises on both sides and without a work stoppage. The paper concludes that this agreement ensures the continued fiscal health of America's favorite pastime.
Table of Contents
Labor History
1994-1995
2002 Collective Bargaining Agreement
From the Paper "In addition to higher ticket sales, an estimated 40 percent of this revenue came from the sale of broadcasting rights. Each team received around $18.6 million from national broadcasting revenue. Local broadcasting rights generated additional earnings, although this figure differed widely between cities. The New York Yankees, for instance, received $52 million in local broadcasting revenue while other franchises got less than one-tenth of that figure (Verducci 2002). In any case, a strike and the subsequent loss of broadcasting revenue would represent a significant income loss for both the owners."
Abstract Discusses stress, anxiety and depression as negative characteristics of human behavior and how neurotransmitters are involved in the development of emotional disorders. Cites studies on exercise.
From the Paper "Stress, anxiety, and depression tend to be interactive and are often viewed as negative characteristics of human behavior. Though these emotions and responses have developed as a protective mechanism and originate from needed evolutionary characteristics..."
Abstract Focuses on professional baseball. Discusses the lack of a salary cap in major league baseball, the lack of parity among teams, the impact of TV rights, size of the market, management, and the idea of revenue sharing.
From the Paper "The past decade has witnessed a staggering increase in professional sports player salaries. Baseball appears to be the sport where these increases have come closest to ruining the game. Unlike the parity between teams..."
Abstract Examines athletes as problem gamblers. Provides a history of gambling. Discusses mob-connected, organized control of sports betting and the growing link between organized crime and college athletics.
From the Paper ""If there's competition involved, you can bet that you can bet on it" is a quote from Henry J. Hyde (R, Ill). Hyde is chairman of the United States House of Representatives and Chairman of the committee ..."
Abstract This paper, while acknowledging the positive side of and the need for athletic scholarships, focuses on the negative aspect of athletic scholarships. Some of the negative aspects highlighted in the paper are that athletic scholarships provide an advantage to student athletes that are unfair to non-athletic students. With such a great emphasis on sports, many students feel inferior to athletes, even though they may participate in some other type of extracurricular activity. Furthermore, the paper argues that it is unfair for athletic students to receive all the perks and credits even though they are often absent from the classroom due to practice or competition. At the conclusion of the paper, it is suggested that, while athletic scholarships should be available to athletes, schools should make a greater effort to provide equal opportunities for all other students as well.
From the Paper "As today's society focuses more and more on sports, the educational world is evolving to keep up with the pace. As a result, today's student athletes have even more opportunities and options available to them than they did just a decade ago. In addition to more scholarships in both high school and college education, student today are offered the opportunity to receive part of the credit required to graduate by actively participating in sports."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed examination of a legal issue in the sports field. The writer focuses on the issue of admitting drug tests for athletes at all levels of play and expertise. The writer explores various cases of drug testing and discusses the court decisions in regard to such cases.
From the Paper "The field of athletics is becoming increasingly competitive. The desire to succeed is driven by hopes of college scholarships, Olympic hope, huge professional contracts and other motivators. The need to succeed has caused athletes to do things that they may not otherwise consider doing, including the ingestion of drugs and steroids to boost their power and ability. Recently the use of drugs by athletes has come to the forefront of public attention and drug testing of athletes has become a controversial issue. Some people believe that athletes should be subjected to drug testing without suspicion, for the sole purpose of keeping the industry on its toes, while others believe that without suspicion, the drug testing of athletes is a direct invasion of privacy and should be banned. Across the nation and the world the topic has sparked heated debates in many circles and the legality of the issue is relatively new and undecided."
Abstract This paper argues that, while high school athletes may be some way off from professional sports, it is necessary to note that they, nevertheless, act as role models to their fellow students and juniors. It discusses the importance of awareness in high school athletes that they are role models for achievement through fair competition and physical ability achieved through personal striving. It looks at how the use of steroids not only violates the very ethical foundation of sports, but ends up setting the wrong reference standard for young sport admirers and aspirants.
From the Paper "For one, the use of steroids by athletes to build muscle and boost performance is unethical as it lends an unfair advantage over athletes who rely purely on inborn ability and training. Such external aids can be said to be a violation of "fair play" and ?personal striving spirit,? the very ethical foundation of sports. Victories earned by high school athletes using steroids, as such, end up setting a wrong example to both peer group members and juniors who look to sports as a role model of the spirit of achievement through personal striving. In fact, available research data already indicates that use of steroids among high school students has penetrated beyond the arena of sports (NIDA Web site)."
Abstract The international market offers various emerging markets, each offering the opportunity for sport shoe manufacturing company, Nike, to continue growing. One of the most significant markets is China. This paper proposes research that will investigate whether Chinese consumers view the Nike brand as high-quality and affluent and whether there are any public image issues. The paper presents possible outcomes of the research, as well as an outline of a business research process.
From the Paper "The question this raises is how the Chinese market views the brand. Answering this question is important for Nike to determine the most appropriate marketing strategy to enter the market. For example, do they need to convince consumers that the brand is affluent, or is this already assumed by most consumers? Do they need to deal with image problems related to the manufacture of products, or are most Chinese consumers unaware of any issues with Nike? Answering these questions will allow Nike to enter the market with the most appropriate marketing strategies."
Abstract This paper looks at the positive and negative aspects of athletes as role models for youths and adults. The paper looks at why athletes become role models, some of the misconceptions entertained by the general population regarding famous athletes, and the roles that the media and parents play in encouraging children to look up to athletes as role models.
From the Paper "Sports in today's world have a major role in American culture. They are used to escape daily routine, as entertainment, as a part of a healthy lifestyle, and as a tool to teach fundamental teamwork. More importantly, however, the people who play sports on a state, national, or international level, are seen as role models to the youth and adult populations. While the influence of those role models can be extremely positive, there are also negative effects that can be equally detrimental."
Tags: behavior, admire, expectations, trait, advertising, professional, image, talented, champions
Abstract This paper explains that gambling has always been part of the United States; even in the original colonies, lotteries were used to raise money, so that playing lotteries even became a civic responsibility. The author points out nine ways to manage money while gambling in a casino, such as using a progressive method of betting by setting a predetermined percentage increase for each winning bet and sticking stick to that. The paper relates that, in the past, casinos gave away rooms and served foods to attract new guests, especially the high rollers; today, non-gaming areas, including rooms, food, shows, retail space, and other aspects or features of their property, are increasingly a focus of potential profit opportunities.
From the Paper "Casino businesses know that they must put their guests first, otherwise, these businesses are behind and fumbling. They need not only to catch up with the trend but to make giant leaps in order to remain in competition. The lesson to learn is that the casino is in business for the loyalty of each guest; therefore, that guest is at the center of it. If the guest can be made to feel like a royalty, he or she will remember it when he or she leaves, and then come back.
This paper discusses the problems of American television in the 1980s, television's cultural history, the postmodern television consumer culture as explored in DeLillo's "White Noise" and Wallace's ?Girl with Curious Hair", and television sports.
Abstract This paper explains that the decade of the 1980s is seen as the explosion of television culture in terms of the proliferation of networks and the availability of programming through the cable. The author points out that Wallace and DeLillo are both concerned with postmodern characters that are absent internal selves, or rather, characters that seem to be informed of behavior primarily through the use of television. The author believes that sports on television now seems to be as dysfunctional as the nuclear family: a series of different schedules with a lot of hype, dreams or delusions of grandeur, with no meaningful connection to the simple love of the game.
Table of Contents
Cultural History of American Television
The Postmodern Television Consumer Culture: "White Noise" and "Girl with Curious Hair"
Television's Impact on Sports
From the Paper "The FCC continued to be the regulating body that determined what would be permissible for the American public to view. However, the Reagan administration that preached supply-side economics, believed that deregulation was the best method of growing the economy given the many slow-downs that dominated the 1970?s. "For FCC chairman (Reagan appointee) [Mark] Fowler, the only kind of regulation that was legitimate came from the market itself, and he made this clear to gleeful industry executives from his earliest days in office" (Steyer 137). Fowler also acknowledged that such regulation should be at the hands of media and broadcasting executives because they had first hand knowledge of what Americans really wanted to see. Ironically, it seemed that the Reagan administration passively promoted a liberal media that looked for alternative methods of programming even though the business executives would assess its effectiveness and its decency."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the manner in which Nike has chosen to promote its "Shox iD" shoe. The paper analyzes Nike's Internet marketing strategy for the shoe, the message Nike tries to convey about the shoe, and how Nike continues to capitalize on its image as a great shoe company.
From the Paper "However, in terms of promotions, Nike still is masterful in conveying a strong message to a targeted segment of the running shoe market as well as eking out, if not dominance, then a still secure area of the sports apparel industry. One recently promoted shoe of great importance to Nike is that of the new Nike Shox iD running shoe. The Nike Shox iD running shoe has not been marketed in a general fashion, however, on television, Internet, and the print media in the same diffuse manner as, for instance, the Air Jordans of the past. This was because many non-basketball players wore Air Jordans to convey their solidarity with the great basketball player and themselves as his great fans."
Abstract This paper explores the issues behind the 2004 NHL lockout. It is an unbiased essay providing viewpoints from both the owners and the players. It also looks at the effect the lockout will have on fans and the general sporting community.
From the Paper "The National Hockey League's players are locked out and it seems that the 2004-05 season is in real jeopardy. It is a battle between the players and the owners, and a controversial question is who is responsible for the lockout? The owners, lead by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, are concerned with the rapid increase of player salaries and the subsequent loss of revenue. The players are represented by Bob Goodenow, the executive director of the NHL's Player's Association, and feel that they are not responsible for the current situation. It is the owners that have set their salary expectations. The athletes are willing to compromise on issues such as revenue sharing and initiate a luxury tax model; however, they are refusing to negotiate with the owner's about a salary cap. These conflicting sides have both contributed to the dire state of the game, but the owners and the players must also consider the impact the lockout will have on their fans and the sporting community."
Abstract This paper presents an examination of sports leadership. The writer explores what it takes to be an effective leader in the world of sports. Terms are defined, and literature is examined to present the most important characteristics in the role of coach. The paper provides several examples of successful coaches.
From the Paper "Sports can be the foundation for building a successful life. Whether the participant plays childhood league sports, school sports, or goes on to become a professional player the skills and traits that are developed during that time help shape the total person. Because of the important impact that sports can have on a person's total development the way a team is handled becomes a key factor in the sports industry. Most people who have had children participate in sports leagues have either experienced or witnessed both good coaches and bad coaches."
Attempts to understand and come to a conclusion as to whether or not criminal offenders are in fact 'mad', having psychological issues, or are just acting out.
Abstract This paper looks at the normal/pathological debate about criminal offenders to try to conclude whether or not criminal offenders have underlying mental issues or just commit crimes based on their environment and lifestyles.
From the Paper "The question of whether offenders are mad or bad and the normal/pathological debate is one that runs rife throughout not only the psychological community, but also society as a whole. To understand and decide whether or not offenders are mad or just plain bad, the defining of the terms "normal" and "pathological" and the basic outline of the debate is imperative. The psychological definition of pathological is to relate to, or manifest behaviour/s that are habitual, maladaptive and compulsive and on the other hand normal is defined as functioning in a natural manner, with no observable abnormalities (The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary: 2002). The basics of this debate in relation to criminal offenders is that genetics influence criminal behaviour and therefore cause pathological behaviour (Lefton, L.A:1979), that crime is a result of a disfunctioning biological systems involving physiological, biochemical, neurological and environmental factors, (Vold, Bernard and Snipes: ) and the theory that mental illness played a huge part in why criminals offend (Lefton, L.A:1979). On the other hand, moral development theorists view crime as normal and that a person's moral development will determine what crime they will commit and what excuses they will use for the crime (Thornton, D: 1987). However with a strong debate towards the relationship between pathological behaviour and crime, there is no other possibility to consider than that individuals offend due to pathological influences and are in fact mad with deeper psychological roots, rather than just bad and a normal member of society."
Tags: mental, hospitals, compulsive, damaging, behaviour, multiple, murderers, developmental, years
