Abstract
The paper discusses how the sports entertainment industry has transformed many athletes into stars. The paper examines how Michael Jordan was rated more popular than then-President George Bush. The paper further examines how star athletes are household names and advertising powerhouses. The paper explores how many children idolize these athletes and aspire to their achievements. The writer proposes that this raises the question of whether or not professional athletes are appropriate role models for today's youth.

From the Paper
"While these arguments have merit, they ignore the fact that professional athletes are already role models, at least in the eyes of millions of young people. Moreover, this adulation accorded to athletes is far from new. History is replete with examples of the hero worship that has been shown to professional athletes - from the gladiators of ancient Rome to the American Gridiron. This willing hero worship renders the question of whether "professional athletes are role modes as moot. They already are role models for millions."

Tags:character, salary, greed, social, moral, responsibility, media

Abstract
This paper focuses on an article written by Arianna Huffington. The paper explains that according to Arianna Huffington's article, "Road Outrage: How Corporate Greed and Political Corruption Paved the Way for the SUV Explosion," the government is responsible for the increase in SUVs (sports utility vehicle) on the road and the fact that more hybrid vehicles are not on the road.

From the Paper
"Is the government responsible for the number of SUVs on the road? According to Arianna Huffington's article, "Road Outrage: How Corporate Greed and Political Corruption Paved the Way for the SUV Explosion," the government is responsible for the increase in SUVs (sports utility vehicle) on the road and the fact that more hybrid vehicles are not on the road. The rhetoric used by Arianna Huffington uses logical, emotional, and her credibility to convince her audience that the government has used political corruption in supporting the auto industry and that corporate greed has focused more on making profit than supporting the use of hybrid..."

Tags:suvs, hybrid, government

Abstract
This five page undergraduate paper examines sports medicine, which has been an increasingly popular field of study in recent years due to the major role that sports plays in American culture. The writer discusses that millions of people are drawn to the drama and intensely competitive nature of sports, and tens of thousands of them choose to combine their interest in sports with their interests in health and medicine by pursuing careers in sports medicine.

From the Paper
"Sports medicine has been an increasingly popular field of study in recent years, due to the major role that sports play in American culture. Millions of people are drawn to the drama and intensely competitive nature of sports, and tens of thousands of them choose to combine their interest in sports with their interests in health and medicine by pursuing careers in sports medicine. Sports medicine as a profession can be expected to keep expanding in the foreseeable future, so job prospects and opportunities are bright for graduates with degrees in sports medicine."

Tags:sports, medicine, issues

Abstract
The first section of the paper creates a log of violent incidents in sports, detailing the level of sport in which the incident took place, the specific sport, and details of the incident. Then, the paper addresses drug abuse in sports and details three sports fans' attitudes towards owners, players, unions, salaries, etc. The final section responds to the following statement: "Although many positive changes have occurred, sports remain racist in many respects."

From the Paper
"This paper shall fulfill three writing assignments for the Sociology of Sports. The first section of the paper will be two pages long. It will first create a log of violent incidents in sports, detailing the level of sport in which the incident took place, the specific sport, and details of the incident. Then, drug abuse in sports will be handled in the same manner. The second section will be three pages long and will detail three sports fans' attitudes toward: owners, players, unions, salaries, etc. This will be done while integrating the topics of mass media and American values. The final section will be one page long and will respond to the..."

Tags:sports, sociology, players

Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between violence and sports. The paper first asserts that violence in sports is culturally agreeable and goal oriented. The paper then explores recreational violence, including hunting. Next the paper studies how sports legitimize violence and the relationship between sports, violence and masculinity. The paper concludes by studying the effect on male-female relationships of violence in sports.

From the Paper
"This research paper addresses the topic of how violence in sports affects our lives. The following relevant areas are presented..."

Tags:sports, violence, male-female, masculinity

Abstract
This paper deals with psychology in sports training. The author asserts that performance in sports is significantly influenced by a variety of psychological factors, such as poor associations with memories of failure or self-confidence. As a result, the paper explains, many sports trainers now employ a variety of psychological aspects of sports training, such as visualizations, relaxation techniques, motivational strategies, and substance abuse management. The paper discusses at length the idea of self-talk and visualization and how these techniques can help athletes achieve better results in their given sport.

From the Paper
"Mental imagery has to be practiced by individuals in their own way and depends on individual preferences and the circumstances under which it is adopted. The imagery can be practiced either on or off the field. These can be for a short duration, or a long duration; while sitting up or lying down; in complete silence or with a background of music; and with the eyes closed or open. It is the choice of the individual. For games like tennis which go on for some time, this may be done by the player even while the game is on but the ball is not in play. The player can visualize where he or she wanted to hit the ball, or even practice it, without the ball. When a player is in a quiet room before an important game, he should engage himself or herself in an exercise of visualization for the game ahead. To be able to do this, the players should be relaxed and receptive as that will also help the images to penetrate deep inside their minds. It is important that visualization is repeated - about two or three times a week. (The Effects of Mental Imagery on Athletic Performance)"

Tags:mental, imagery, self-talk, mind, training, psychology, sports, race, athlete

Abstract
In this article, the writer maintains that participation in sports is beneficial for both children and adults. However, the writer discusses that there are questions about organized sports involving children and youth. By addressing these problems a good sports management program can eliminate many of these issues. The writer discusses that participation in sports can begin with children so that they also receive its benefits.

From the Paper
"Organized adult and youth sports programs can be traced back at least to ancient Greece. The philosopher Plato saw organized sports as part of the necessary emotional, physical and mental development of a student. The ancient Olympics symbolized the value Ancient Greece placed on organized sports. Modern organized sports emerged with the Industrial Revolution as earlier societies were generally too busy for leisure activities. In cities, clubs were organized to play games like soccer or football. These were often ..."

Tags:sports, exercise, fitness

Abstract
This paper explores the issue of steroid use in sports which is not only a problem in the professional circuit, but has crept its way into high schools and colleges across the nation. The writer of this paper focuses on the use of steroids in these areas while examining the various solutions to this growing problem. This writer details the current professional sports climate which does little to help this situation. Kids see athletes as role models and when they see them using steroids, they perceive it as an endorsement. This paper defines steroids as a medicine synthesized to perform like human hormones, mostly testosterone and to a lesser extent human growth hormone. The writer discusses the current punishments for steroid use, which are lenient by expert standards. This paper examines the various efforts to stop the use of steroids in sports. The writer contends that the underlying path to stopping the use of steroids in sports will come when the young athletes are stopped and held accountable for their actions.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Why it is Happening
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"Currently the punishments for steroid use are lenient by expert standards. A professional baseball player has to be caught four times before anything serious happens to him. The first infraction can get a 10 day suspension, while subsequent uses can get up to a quarter of as season on the bench. This sends the message to young sports enthusiasts that the use of illegal steroids is not that big of an issue.
One of the first things that needs to be done to stop the use of steroids is to change the public perception of winning and the importance of doing so. As long as children and adults are being conditioned that winning at all costs is acceptable steroid use is going to be an issue in sports."

Tags:law, drugs, athlete, crime, sports, youth, education

Abstract
This paper explores various themes of controversy surrounding the Olympic Games, including commercialization, technological performance enhancers, and doping. In the case of commercialization, the paper explains that since modern revival of the Olympics, organizers have found difficulty in collecting necessary funds, making commercialization into one of the most enduring controversies in Olympic history. The paper asserts that the Olympics will never be able to live up to the ideal of its creator, judging from its past record of controversy; it seems as though the possibility of a peaceful, fair and cooperative sporting event has been eclipsed by motivations of money, political agendas, and personal greed. The paper concludes that only if drastic changes are made by the International Olympic Committee, governments, and individuals, will the Olympics ever succeed in one of their primary goals to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.

From the Paper
"Performance enhancement has also tainted the purity of the Olympic Games. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Ben Johnson won the gold medal in world-record time of 9.79 seconds. Two days later, Canadian Olympic officials received a letter from the IOC stating that Johnson had failed his urine test. Later that day, a second test confirmed traces of the banned steroid stanozolol (CBC). According to Richard Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, "Antidoping is now the most important issue we face" (Saporito). WADA identified record 25 athletes using performance enhancing drugs at the Athens Olympics (Saporito). New substances are being introduced that attempt to give athletes the same edge without being detected."

Tags:commercialization, steroids, doping, sports, performance, enhancer

Abstract
The paper asserts that athletes' salaries are not driven by talent as much as they are driven by advertising. The paper disregards the bodily sacrifice that an athlete makes and instead highlights athletes' alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. The paper talks about the unrealistic dreams of youngsters who have become less focused on the competition of sport, and more on the amenities associated with high incomes. The paper fiercely contends that with the sports industry's and athletes' focus on revenue, the competition of natural human endurance has taken a back seat to financial greed.

From the Paper
"The early Greeks and Romans gave us the image of the heroic gladiator, a tall, muscular and physically fit man who towers in height above the average man; a man who, in as few as three moves, can break the neck of man and ferocious beast alike. They are the heroes of Virgil and Homer, and they are they are the men endowed with superhuman powers that mesmerized and entertained thousands during the Olympic Games of old (Garland, Robert, 2005, p. 24). They were the ancient day celebrity (Garland, Robert, 2005, p. 24). They evolved into the modern day athlete; boxers, football players, baseball players, and other athletes who stand as overpaid, overrated, modern day gladiators. Today's "gladiators" are overrated, overpaid athletes who lack the heroic heart of the heroes Achilles or Odysseus, and men who won't acknowledge their fan base without a financial incentive. Today's athletes are takers, giving very little in return for their celebrity, and the industry salaries are not driven by talent as much as they are driven by advertising."

Tags:advertising, salaries, revenue, drugs