My Final Thoughts

Wow, SM 4250 has changed the way I think about sports and has made me appreciate my life in a whole new way. The issues we discussed in class were, in a nutshell, crazy! I enjoyed the controversial topics (i.e. females in males sports, Title IX, discrimination) and listening to my classmates' opinions. I sometimes dread classes that attempt to break the mold and discuss certain topics but I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Spencer's enthusiasm to introduce us to new ways of thinking.

As students, we can learn alot from reading scholarly articles and watching documentaries on real-life situations. Because I want to have a career in sports, considering the various issues in racism, disabilities, transgender, etc. will make me a better employee because of my knowledge in a variety of topics I might face in the future. I enjoyed SM 4250 and creating this blog because it is unlike any other class I have taken here at BGSU. I was given a creative format to discuss my thoughts and many opportunities to voice my opinions in class. I did not feel embarrassed or disrespected when talking about my beliefs with others.

As I anticipate graduation in May, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be a healthy, happy and well educated human being. I have an incredible support system around me and I have distinct goals set for myself. I am blessed to live without any form of disability and I am not subjected to any extreme form of discrimination. I was given a positive athletic experience in high school and was able to fulfill my dreams on and off the court.

The topics we discussed in class were unique and at times, sad. The individuals we talked about had experienced major obstacles in their lives and for some, had lived through hell. The positive stories made up for all of the negative reflections. I was touched by the "Living with Disabilities" class and Holly Mangold's quest to play football. These individuals are so brave and show true courage. It is unfortunate that so many athletes have to deal with negative press and public judgement. After hearing all of Dr. Spencer's lectures, one thing is certain: life is not easy and sports can be very complicated. I appreciate her willingness to face the various topics and giving us a chance to react. I plan to keep this blog as a form of expression and an opportunity to stay connected to other opinions and blogs. I enjoy sharing my thoughts with those interested in reading them.

Finally, it's nearing the end of the semester and Christmas is just around the corner. I hope everyone has a wonderful break and to those graduating, congrats!

Magic Johnson & His Battle with AIDS

I never thought that Magic Johnson would have been a representative of the AIDS/HIV virus. He was a dominate basketball player and has gained worldwide respect based on his God-given ability to play the game. I think his story is a good example of how unwritten life can be and why we must never take anything for granted. The universal stereotype of AIDS is that only homosexuals contract the virus and a large percent of cases end up fatal. The article "The Politics of the Body and the Body Politic: Magic Johnson and the Idealogy of AIDS" goes in depth about the virus and Magic's struggle of being a living representative of it.

Because Magic Johnson is not a homosexual and still contracted the virus, the world was in utter shock and disbelief. King writes, "Knowing that his condition could not be kept a secret forever, he could choose to acknowledge it early and end his career or try to hide it until (or if) he developed AIDS." I think Magic made a very brave and wise decision to retire from the NBA in order to put all of his time and energy into getting healthier. I sympathize with him because of the public attention he had to endure. He faced the world like a man and made all of us believe that he was in total control of the situation.

I am too young to appreciate Magic Johnson for his athletic capabilities. However, I am old enough to appreciate his ability to overcome a truly horrifying and embarrassing situation. He had a choice: to dig a hole and hide or face the truth like a man and help others in the same condition. I know his life has been anything but normal. In fact, I think it has been very difficult and stressful despite all of the athletic success. Magic Johnson should be proud of himself and what he as accomplished thus far. As a teammate and friend, I would like to think I would have still played against him on the court. The chances of contracting the AIDS virus through playing basketball has to be very very slim. I do not disagree with those players who were quick to oppose playing against him. I understand their decisions and hopefully, so did Magic.

Stories like Magic Johnson's are inspiring and eye-opening. God truly has a sense of humor with the obstacles he places in our lives. Magic Johnson took a horrible and extremely personal situation and used it to help others. I think that is the lesson behind all of the pain. I liked discussing this topic in class because I am embarrassed to admit that I was unaware of Johnson's health history and reasoning behind his retirement from the NBA. I am better educated on the topic and I appreciate everyone's willingness to discuss this topic in class because I was very interested in it.

Double Fault: Renee Richards

The story of Renee Richards was surprising (to say the least). I was captivated in her interview as she explained her lifestyle and why she made the biggest decision of her life in her late 30's. Discussing this controversial topic is a first for me. Personally, I find it difficult to judge her because I have never been in her position before. When considering her tennis career, I think it was unfair that she was able to play with other females because I believe she had a competitive advantage over them.

SM 4250 has taught me that when we are born, there is not a distinct difference between males and females that clearly separates the two. In most cases, males and females are obviously different and can be identified without much deliberation. However, there are individuals (like the countless ones we have discussed in class) who are born with multiple genitalia and a mixture of different chromosomes and hormones. Because of this, gender terminology has shifted along with the public perception of the phrase "male" and "female."

In the article "Double Fault: Renee Richards and the Construction and Naturalization of Difference," Birrell and Cole describe transsexual as being "a passionate, lifelong, ineradicable conviction." Renee Richards' decision to have a sex change was not without much therapy and years of personal battles. She faced many hardships on the road to becoming a woman. Despite being married and having a son, her belief about her sex remained constant. I was shocked that at her age, she was so competitive in the world of tennis. Could this be a direct reflection of her genetic code? Possibly. Because she made a choice to change her lifestyle permanently does not make her new phase of life acceptable in the sports world. I give her an extreme amount of credit for facing the media and staying true to herself and who she wanted to be. I do not disrespect her as a person for what she has done, nor do I think she made a mistake by doing so. I believe that some worlds were never meant to coexist. One of those would be transsexuals and sports.

Renee Richards is a smart, talented and accomplished human being. Playing professional tennis and being a doctor are two very notable achievements. Birrell and Cole often refer to her as a his/her when writing about her past and present life. Richards paved the way for other transsexuals to face the world and discuss this lifestyle while being watched through a very large microscope called: the media. Her talent is obvious and her lifestyle is confusing. Although we may never fulling understand her beliefs and actions, Renee Richards has overcome more in her lifetime than most people have to face in three lifetimes.