Abstract A number of ergogenic substances are used to augment performance in a given domain today. In sports, such substances are generally used to assist athletes in performing with more speed and strength and to endure more pain than normal. An example of an ergogenic aid is creatine. This innocuous chemical has also assumed some new relevance in amateur and professional sport settings, and its use in a training regimen has been called into question in recent months. To this end, this paper provides a review of the relevant literature to determine precisely what creatine is, how it is used, and what its implications for athletes might be. A summary of the research and recommendations for its use are provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "The competition is tough, certainly, but because sports programs are supposed to promote a healthier lifestyle, the social circumstances of adolescents and their athletic participation greatly influence their substance use behaviors; as a result, promoting a social climate among athletics that promotes a chemical supplementation regimen in place of more traditional exercise and healthy living factors smacks of hypocrisy, is contrary to logic, and makes no sense in an otherwise-zero tolerance drug enforcement setting."
Abstract This paper describes the role of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in making sure that the purpose of colleges is not corrupted by the high-dollar sports industry. The paper also describes some of the problems that arise from the NCAA's effort to fulfill that role.
From the Paper "It is important to understand the particulars of the crimes committed before one can properly begin assigning culpability. The University of Alabama has been involved with so many incidents of this nature in the past decade that it would be impractical to visit each one. Alabama is a good model to show the effects of greedy boosters and coaches, because they have an infraction for each category of misconduct under scrutiny. Logan Young of Memphis and two other boosters were involved in several acts of recruiting misconduct involving several Memphis area high school players. (Birmingham1) Young was a wealthy Memphis area booster who prided himself on being a "recruiting junkie", and was in the business of providing the University of Alabama football program with "blue chip" high school athletes. (NCAA)"
Tags: extracurricular, activity, amateur, sports, professional, ranks, leagues, lucrative, industry
Abstract The differences between American football and Canadian football differ in all areas almost making them completely different games. It explains that the CFL has been misinterpreted as not on the same level as the NFL. In Canada, the CFL is highly regarded and considered a much better game to watch than the NFL. The writer compares certain rules and formats which highlight these differences. It shows that with the differences in play and the rules highlighted, the NFL format seems to be the easier of the two to play.
From the Paper "If the offensive team loses a ball during play or fumbles the ball, the last team to posses the ball before going out of bounds gains possession in the NFL whereas the last team to touch the ball before it goes out of bounds gains possession in the CFL. A touchdown is scored when any player enters the end zone with the football. If the offensive team chooses, they can get close to the end zone and kick the ball for a field goal. A missed field goal in the CFL is considered live and if the ball is not returned out of the end zone the kicking team receives a point called "rouge" <http://www.football.com/rulesdiff/index.shtml>. The team coming out of the end zone with the missed field goal attempt can return the ball all the way for a touchdown or take possession where the player was downed."
Abstract Nike recently made international news when it announced the retirement of its long time CEO and co-founder, Phillip H. Knight. This paper examines how Nike overcame the potential trouble that a change in leadership might bring to a company and discusses its recent mergers, international labor scandals and its focus on women's sports and sponsorships.
From the Paper "The world of professional sports is changing as the title 9 generation matures and the athletes born of this collegiate market reach the age of professional sports involvement. The impact is significant, and can be seen all over the advertising world, as non-apparel companies like Gatorade have now built entire memorable campaigns around the fit and fantastic image of women athletes. Nike has been one of the first to realize the fundamental change within the market and capitalize on it. This is all part of its substantial ability to create and bolster change within the trends of professional sports and evolve as a company bent of growth and evolutionary change, in both market and global responsibility. (Washington and Karen 187)".
Abstract This essay shows that Nike's acquisition of Converse increases Nike's competitiveness as they increase their overall market share through entering the 'retro'-style sports fashion market segment with an established brand, Converse, without damaging the positioning of Nike as an ultramodern technology sports brand. The paper explains that compared to Adidas, Reebok and Puma which may weaken their core positioning by their brand extension strategy, Nike will keep leadership in sports without leaving the 'retro' shoe market to their competitors.
1. Introduction
2. Why Does Nike's Recent Acquisition of Converse Strengthens its Competition?
2.1 Market Segmentation
2.2 Brand Strategy
3. Risks
4. Conclusion
5. Reference List
From the Paper "Nike is the largest sports goods manufacturer in the world. For reason of simplification this essay concentrates on the sports shoe market only. The word "Nike" is used for both, the "Nike company" as well as for the "Nike brand".
Nike, as market leader, is especially known for its ultramodern, technology driven sports shoes serving under its corporate brand "Nike" the various sports categories: e.g. "Nike Basketball, Nike Running, Nike Tennis, Nike Golf" (Nike.com, 2003) with the 'best for athletes' image. This strategy is underlined by Nike's top sport star endorsements such as Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi, James LeBron etc.
The main competitors in sports shoes as well as in the other sports goods categories of Nike are Adidas, Reebok and Puma.
Converse, a relatively small sports shoe manufacturer, however with a long, 90 years' tradition is particularly famous for its 'Chuck Taylor Allstar', the first basketball shoe ever."
Abstract This paper explains that androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS), synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone, can exert strong effects on the human body, which may be beneficial for athletic performance; however, they also have many serious negative effects on the user's health. The author used a multiple choice questionnaire for participants in intramural sports teams questioning the athletes' knowledge and use of steroids and interviewed coaches regarding their knowledge of the prevalence of the use of AAS drugs in their particular population of student athletes. The paper concludes that (1) the level of knowledge of the coaches in this school was relatively low, (2) 36% of the students at this high school reported using AAS either currently or in the past and (3) a significant proportion of the athletes who took these drugs were unable to state correctly the side effects or the expectations for these drugs.
Table of Contents
The Problem
Problem Background
Literature Review
Historical Perspective
Performance Enhancing Drugs - the Real Problem
Problems Associated with AAS Use
Physiological Changes Associated with AAS Use
Purpose of the Study and Research Questions
Limitations
Definitions
Importance of the Study
Methodology
Research Design
Selection of Participants
Instrumentation
Ethical Issues
Dissemination
Restatement of the Purpose
Research Question One
Research Question Two
Research Question Three
Sub Question A
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
Summary
Conclusions
Implications for Practice/Research
Student Questionnaire
Informed Consent Form
Budget
Educational Course Outline
From the Paper "There are some sections of the sport world who believe that the risk of significant side effect from the use of anabolic steroids has been grossly overstated. It is probably more correct to state that studies in this area are really few and far between, and when studies have been carried out the data retrieval is difficult and there is very little in the way of side effect reporting. It therefore makes it difficult to predict the level of harm which may be related to the use of anabolic steroids, but some can be theorized and therefore monitored for. In females who use the drugs, the masculinizing effects can be damaging to features and fertility. It is also important to understand that many of these drugs are not adequately regulated, and as a result many athletes end up using counterfeit products, which carry no safety data or warning labels."
Abstract This paper contends that sports have graduated in the last half of the twentieth century from hobbies or pastimes into the pure, unadulterated pursuit of profit. The paper explains that sports have become a commodity to be exploited as far as the market will allow. The paper presents a brief history of American sports. The paper examines the latest changes in business that have allowed the sports industry to grow, globalization and communications technologies. The paper claims that these two clearly go hand in hand to some extent. The paper states that both have contributed to the acceleration of the commodification of sports.
From the Paper "If you were to ask the average American what they thought was wrong with professional sports today they would likely tell you that the amount of money athletes make is simply grotesque. After all, we live in an age where an eighteen year-old kid can rake in ten million dollars a year for putting a ball through a hole (and that's not to mention the endorsement deals). Meanwhile, a city garbage man counts himself lucky to earn ten dollars an hour for performing a task much more essential to the functioning of society. So, how did such a drastic disparity come about? Well, it is a funny consequence of the free market economy and the flashy spectacle we call sports. However, it's crucial to keep in mind that the athletes are not to blame. They are not, necessarily, greedy or overpaid but what actually caused their drastic pay increase over the past forty years was the realization of their true market value. The setting that professional sports are currently in, economically, means that these player salaries are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the commodification of these sports."
Abstract This paper discusses the issues of masculinity and femininity in sport. The paper contends that in order to understand the equation of sports and masculinity, one should initially examine sports and femininity. The paper explains that those sports that are labeled feminine and would detract from rather than support a man's masculinity are those (at least in western cultures) that allow the participant to conform to the stereotypes of femininity. The function of sport in society is examined in the paper.
Outline
Introduction
Considering the Masculine and the Feminine Principles
Societal Function of Sport
Boys Will Be Boys, If They Find Out How
The Most Powerful Form of Masculinity
Anecdotal Evidence
Not Playing, but Winning, Equals Masculinity
Sports Dominance Equals Dominance, Period
Conclusion
From the Paper "French, German, Spanish and a number of other languages ascribe gender-masculinity and femininity-to every noun in the language. Sometimes the reasoning is not accessible: Why should a German ornament--denoted by the word Schmuck--be masculine, for instance? And why should Schrift (writing) be feminine? While these are imponderables, understanding the masculine qualities of sports is less difficult. Indeed, understanding that, in modern society, sports are equated with masculinity is not difficult at all. Despite the labeling of various activities as masculine and feminine, sports "have generally been labeled as masculine, although some sports are considered to be feminine" (Koivula 2001 377+). Koivula believes that sport is a representation of the cultural milieu in which it occurs and that sports both reflect and reproduce the attitudes, beliefs, rituals and values of the society. "It is therefore argued that sport has been, and continues to be, a site for the construction, reconstruction, strengthening, and naturalization of perceived gender differences" (Koivula 2001 377+), and notably, it contributes to the ways in which each gender is valued by society."
Abstract This paper examines the rising problem of steroid use among professional athletes. The paper focuses on the professional baseball industry and the necessity of banning the use of performance enhancing drugs among professional baseball players. The paper contends that besides the devastating damage and effects they impose upon the human body, steroids should be banned because they diminish the glory of the real baseball heroes.
From the Paper "Steroids are a serious problem in the United States, especially in Professional Baseball. Baseball is a fan friendly sport known as "America's National Past Time." The reason baseball is so fan friendly is because most people know the rules and they know all of the statistics of the past and present baseball heroes. Anyone can go to a baseball game to eat a hot dog and some peanuts, watch their favorite baseball stars, and enjoy a simple game. Unfortunately, this all changed when big business overtook integrity and honesty. Performance-enhancing drugs, namely steroids, suddenly came into play forever changing the face of "America's National Past Time." Performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids, should be banned in professional baseball for many reasons. "
Abstract This paper describes the athletic and medicinal uses of creatine supplements. The paper further explains the many benefits of creatine supplements, as well as their potential negative side-effects. The paper concludes that, while creatine clearly has certain benefits, anyone considering a program of creatine supplementation should not make a decision without fully weighing both the advantages and disadvantages of such a program, and further, such a program should not be undertaken without the supervision of a physician.
From the Paper "Creatine is an amino acid that is bound to phosphate, to form phosphocreatine or creatine phosphate, and is stored in muscles as a form of energy. During high intensity exercise, the phosphocreatine is metabolized, and the energy released from the broken bond is used to regenerate adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which is the body's primary energy source. As the stored phosphocreatine is depleted during a bout of exercise, the body is no longer able to sustain the same intensity of activity. By supplementing the body's natural stores of phosphocreatine with creatine supplements then, theoretically the body should be able to sustain high intensity exercise for longer periods of time and therefore see more muscular gains."
Abstract This report focuses on how exercise relates to cancer in different settings and stages, in terms of preventive, treatment, and post-treatment options. While the report does not recommend that exercise therapy be used to replace accepted means of cancer treatment, it does recommend that exercise therapy be used to augment that treatment.
From the Paper "Another issue that is associated with cancer patients and exercise is assessing patient strength to undergo cancer therapy by doing tests based on physical fitness and exercise level. This is shown in screening measures in many different tests, including cardiovascular and pulmonary tests that are designed to get the patient's exercise level before more extensive cancer treatment is sought. "Although the relationship between the patient's performance status and pulmonary function is well documented, a stronger correlation has been found between dyspnoea and the results of exercise tests. (4) This indicates that exercise capacity is not dependent on pulmonary function alone. There are several other factors: cardiac function, hemodynamic performance, and peripheral tissue oxygen utilization" (Win et al., 2005). Therefore exercise levels are very important to testing and assessment as well, in terms of exercise in reference to different kinds of cancers and treatments."
Abstract This paper questions whether college sports players deserve to be paid for their contribution to the college or not. It looks at whether the athletes would benefit from the pay incentive or whether the entire nature of college sports would be altered by the monetary compensation being offered.
From the Paper "But there are ways to let the athletes in on the profits without involving the colleges. Simply allow the athletes to earn money off their talents from outside sources. That means nothing more than granting athletes the same financial rights all other students already posses. Other students can make money in their respective fields while in school, why can't athletes? If a school can receive a percentage of all apparel sold with the team logo on it, why can't players get a cut of T-shorts bearing their name, number or likeness? If a coach can appear as paid "expert analyst", why can't a player? If a coach can endorse a favorite restaurant, why can't a player? If a coach can strike a deal with a shoe company, why can't a player. After all, players, not coaches wear the shoes. So it stems to reason that players, not coaches, should receive the money."
Abstract Today, the list of performance enhancing drugs is vast. It spans from steroids to nutritional supplements, from synthetic drugs to natural ingredients, from prescription drugs to over-the-counter medicines. These drugs are criticized and analyzed for their safety, legality and morality. This paper argues against the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports. It mentions athletes in the history of sports who, knowingly or unknowingly, used drugs. It also shows how athletes can be discouraged from using drugs through the introduction of stricter penalties.
From the Paper "Not many athletes are standing up proudly and shouting about their steroid abuse. Mark McGuire and Raphael Palmeiro have denied their steroid use, even after testing positive. For many Olympic events, we have heard the rumors of whole teams using steroids. East German sports boss, Manfred Ewald, was convicted of doping his athletes. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sidney, China removed four of its swimmers for failing drug test. We have seen our beloved Olympic heroes follow the same path. Michelle Smith, gold medalist in the 400 freestyle, was banned for 4 years for steroid use."
Abstract The paper reviews the history of anabolic steroids and explains how they affect the body. It reviews potential dangers in steroid use and abuse, both physical and mental, and attempts to gauge the extent of abuse. The paper reviews players' attitudes to steroid use in professional sports and recounts several incidents where players were caught using steroids. In conclusion, the paper finds that only education of athletes and potential athletes - adolescents - will reduce the demand for, and eventually the abuse of, steroids in sports.
Table of Contents:
Statement of Controversy
Discussion
Implications
Recommendations
References
From the Paper "In addition to the physical side effects, the use of anabolic steroids also causes psychological side effects. The drugs become extremely addictive and damaging to the mind. They can cause violent episodes, and become so psychologically addicting that users are unable to recognize the negative side effects. Additionally, research has shown that steroids sometimes cause psychotic side effects, which have been nicknamed as "roid mania." The symptoms include wildly aggressive and combative behavior, depression, listlessness, and delusions during and after performance. For example, athletes who use steroids have been shown to attempt to continue the competition after the end of a game. Steroids mentally destroy the brain and the ability to reason. Overall the usage of steroids is extremely damaging to the human body."
Abstract Baseball is America's official past-time, and as such it is far more than a sport. It is an integral part of they country's culture, and in many ways represents the heart and soul of America itself. Baseball is about healthy competition, sportsmanship, teamwork and family entertainment. The paper shows that unfortunately, in recent years, the heroic legacy of Major League Baseball (MLB), and the sacred idol-status of MLB players has been compromised. Unlike the great eras of baseball history, the recent era is not named after joyous baseball events, but rather after an illegal drug. The 'Roid Era, named after steroid drug use, saw its height between 1998-2003 when home run numbers skyrocketed. The paper argues that steroid use in Major League Baseball is unacceptable, and all records which have been set by players using steroids should be stricken from the record books.
From the Paper "There remains a minority of Americans that believe records of the 'Roid Era should remain intact in baseball history. One defense made in favor of allowing these records to remain is that there have always been "flaws" in baseball, and throughout history the public has turned a blind eye. An example of this includes that Ty Cobb (a legendary baseball player who is in the Hall of Fame) was a racist and murderer; if a murderer can remain in the Hall of Fame, why not steroid users? However, this is a ridiculous defense, because murdering a Black man did not give Cobb an unfair advantage in the game, nor was his racism the reason that he was able to achieve such incredible physical feats."
