Reading the Muscular Body (10/20/09 Class)

White and Gillett's article "Reading the Muscular Body: A Critical Decoding of Advertisements in Flex Magazine"gives an incredible perspective of a form of popular press regarding bodybuilding. The authors discuss various identities males take on when deciding to become body builders and how their insanely toned bodies are a representation of hegemonic masculinity. White and Gillett studied the advertisements in Flex Magazine based on two characteristics: descriptive (what products were promoted) and textual (the themes represented).

In bodybuilding magazines, the pages are filled with supplements, training equipment and sometimes clothing. The men/women promoting these products are ripped, abnormal human beings that "supposedly" used the specific products to increase their muscle mass. However, what is inferred is that many of these "athletes" used anabolic steroids to look the way they do. To a naive reader, these body builders went through blood, sweat and tears to create the image they portray. To a realistic consumer, the reality is much less inspirational.

My group had Shape magazine and we found the articles and advertisements to be very feminine and conservative. Shape was trying to influence a healthy lifestyle to middle-aged active women (possibly mothers). The themes represented throughout the pages were inspiring and enlightening. I felt very calm and peaceful when browsing the pages of Shape. Everyone has their own opinion about the human body and how body builders should present themselves. Without passing judgement, Flex magazine has a very dominant, bold and cut-throat way of directing the themes of their advertisements. Clearly, the targeted consumers and subscribers have different lifestyles and that is the beauty of a target market. Brands can be specific and create material that is appealing to certain persons.

Body builders have a unique lifestyle and have, what seems to be, 0% body fat. They are fierce competitors and attempt to make a living off of their bodies. Magazines have a special role in popular culture. They educate the reader on various topics and subject them to material they have an interest in.

A Life Without Disabilities

Fortunately, I have never had to experience any form of mental or physical disability. I was blessed with "normal" features and am able to participate in any activity I wish without too much complication. Our class discussion about various disabled persons in sport made me appreciate my life in a way I typically do not think about.

Adam Bender's success story touched me. The article "Kid can do it on one leg" was inspiring but it wasn't until I watched the video that I was truly inspired. The amount of pain and heartache that young boy has had to endure thus far is staggering. He has had to face challenges I cannot begin to imagine and I am twice his age! I was very impressed with his enthusiasm and will to achieve. He was a tough player and did not let his disability get in the way of having a normal childhood experience.

Some of the most famous people in the world have had some form of disability. The same is true of athletes. Helen Keller was blind and deaf and yet everyone knows her name and her story. The Special Olympics is known worldwide and has gotten increasingly popular each year since it's existence. The word "disabled" is often a false assumption of a human being because many disabled persons do not consider themselves as being unable to do something! Their spirit is incredible and cannot be matched.

If I had a disability, it is hard to imagine how I might participate in athletics. Because I have grown up playing sports and passionately follow several teams, I would like to believe that I would not let anything get in the way of that. I would hope that my spirits would remain as high as my support systems and that God would give me the strength to start each day with a bright smile and positive attitude. I think I would continue playing sports because it defines me and who I am. I am making a career in athletics and I want to be around sports for the rest of my life. I don't think anything can stop me from achieving that dream :)

An Athletic Directors' Dilemma (10/6/09 Class)

An athletic director has a very difficult job. He/she has to be on top of his/her game at all times. After reading this article written by Charles Kennedy, I grasped a better understanding of the seasonal conflicts that a person in an athletic directors position has to deal with. It's safe to say that I would never want to be responsible for either male or female athletes in an intercollegiate conference.

In the 2005-2006 academic year, major college spending was expected to exceed estimates of $4 billion (Kennedy, 2007). This extremely large sum of money is a direct result of the "arms race" colleges and universities have amongst each other. Because athletics are so competitive, spending large chunks of a budget is inevitable. College sports have become cult-like in nature. Faithful fans expect their beloved teams to be the best in the conference and throughout the nation each season, despite the sport. Since the passing of Title IX, athletics have arguably become more proportional, giving females more opportunities than previous years. An athletic directors job is to oversee the coaching staff to maintain compliance with Title IX, hire successful coaches that will, in return, create successful programs. An athletic director is responsible for the technical details within intercollegiate athletics that often go unnoticed without any thought.

To comply with Title IX, athletic directors have to pay attention to the following key areas of their respective schools: participation, scholarship, operating expenses, recruitment budget and coaching salaries. Obviously, it is no easy task! Each year, athletic directors have administrators working underneath them to aide in the process of the daily tasks. An athletic department runs on team effort and precise, effective work. In many cases, the reputation of a program lies in the hands of the athletic department and it's various pieces of the puzzle.

Kennedy writes about each of the previously listed key areas of Title IX compliance and breaks down the top ten conferences in the nation based on the "Kennedy Index" (taken from The Chronicle of Higher Education). The index lists the conferences and how they comply with the 5 criterion of Title IX. Based on the index, the MAC was the #1 conference with a score of -21.34. The MAC has the highest mid-major teams with 16 (7M-9F). The WAC is the lowest with 14 teams (6M-8F) (Kennedy, 2007 p.38, 42).

An athletic director has an enormous amount of responsibility to both the school and the athletic program. Luckily, the athletic department hires experts who know how to follow the rules on paper and be successful on the court. Title IX has no doubt made an athletic director's job more tedious and particular.

2009 Homecoming Symposium

I had an amazing experience during today's homecoming symposium. The BGSU graduates were terrific speakers and I learned a lot from their personal experiences. I appreciate the men taking the time to visit their Alma mater and give us (college students) a taste of a reality that is different from our daily class routines. I had the opportunity to interview with two different gentleman: Dan Jones, VP of Events for Intersport and Bob Gearhart, Sales Consultant for the Lake Erie Monsters. These interviews made my passion for the sport industry even more intense. I hope to intern with one of these organizations next semester. Although my interviews seemed to be successful, the biggest lesson I am taking from today came from Mr. Jones's speech during the 1:30 session titled "4 Questions You Can't Live Without."

These questions are as follows:

1. Are you passionate about it?
2. Can you be absolutely great at it?
3. Will it achieve your financial goals?
4. Can you be proud of it?

Mr. Jones explained that in every aspect of our lives, we should ask ourselves these questions prior to taking on a task or job. He persuaded us to compare these questions to daily life and unless all 4 questions are answered "YES!" then DO NOT partake in the activity or job! Life is too short and many opportunities will pass by if we do not ask ourselves these questions. Time is too precious to be wasted on something that cannot fulfill these 4 duties.

As I ponder these questions, I can relate them to my major: Sports Marketing. 1. I am VERY passionate about my field and I am very anxious to graduate and gain real world experience. 2. I will be great at my job because of my passion and because of the knowledge and experience I have accumulated over the 4 years at BGSU. 3. Sports Marketing will achieve my financial goals in one form or another. Student loans will quickly arrive, as will a rent or mortgage payment. However, I will sacrifice my personal wants in order to work in an industry I love so dearly. 4. I can be proud of my career focus and personal goal to be a Sports Marketer because consumers of sport are cult-like and live and breathe for athletics. People need sports as an outlet or hobby. My job will be important because it affects a large chunk of the population. I am already proud of myself thus far and I know I am just beginning this journey called life.

Most of today's speeches dealt with gaining experience and networking. I was already aware of these two crucial ways to help get a job but having the concepts pounded into my head was exactly what I needed to get motivated prior to graduation. Today was so fun and I am grateful to have been a part of it and learn from my peers.

Girls in Contact Sports (9/24/09 class)

The controversial issue of girls participating in contact sports has existed before the legislation of Title IX. The video shown in class regarding Holly Mangold's position on a men's high school football team has undoubtedly raised a few eyebrows. Being a female, I think females should be given the opportunity to participate in a male contact sport if there is not a female team for that sport (i.e. football, hockey). However, I doubt I would take advantage of Title IX's regulation because I would not want the negative attention that results from these behaviors. Throughout high school, I was the football teams stat and water girl. I loved being on the sideline and I still consider myself to be "one of the guys." Although I feel like I fit in amazingly with my male friends, I would never want to be on the same team as them. Personally, it isn't worth the public ridicule. For determined athletes like Holly Mangold, the desire to play football made her decision to play on a the men's team a necessary one. I do not share the same desires as her so I will gladly stick to the sports I know how to play best.

The bystanders between males and females is very disappointing. In 2009, we still do not live in an equalized society. I am offended by the notion that girls cannot "handle" a contact sport meant for males. We (females) are counted out before we even get a chance to participate! What does that do to our self esteem and confidence? Nothing. It actually cripples us as human beings because those stereotypes go beyond the athletic field and into our daily lives both professionally and personally. Males are very dominate and athletic. In many cases, they can do more physically than a female can. Is this a result of being socialized since birth? It's quite possible. Once we have the idea in our heads that males and females are very different people, that perception stays with us throughout our childhood and into our adulthood.

The YouTube video of Holly Mangold was refreshing because the typical stereotypes did not seem to affect her. She is a strong young woman that takes alot of slack from the general public. Because of that, I have a great deal of respect for her. The perception that money is the root of the problem regarding males/females in athletics is a reasonable argument. After all, many issues are a result of money. Because the NCAA is emphasized on a more competitive model (males), the governing bodies tend to lean in their favor. I am not a feminist. I am a fan of more male sports teams than female sports teams. I want to work for the NFL after graduation. However, I believe in equality for EVERYONE...not just the female race. I hope that Title IX can change and focus more on equal opportunities for both males and females because when I am a mother, I want my children to be given equal rights because it's the right thing to do, not because it's what the law states.

Masculinism and the Men's Movement (9/22/09)

Tuesday's class discussion revolved around an article by Clatterbaugh (1997) titled "Introduction to the Men's Movement." This article focused on 8 different perspectives of the men's movement and what it means to be masculine in each of the eight ways. I'd like to further discuss the role of masculinity and review some of the main points in the article. Clatterbaugh defines the masculine gender role as "a set of behaviors, attitudes and conditions that are generally found in men of an identifiable group" (p.3).

Growing up, I rated a males masculinity based on his athletic ability and hobbies. To me, sports like football, baseball and hockey were manly in high school and playing guitar, PlayStation 2 and poker were acceptable activities. As I matured, I realized that masculinity lies in the eye of the beholder. Being a college senior, I view masculinity as being able to hold a job and hold your own during a fist fight. It's funny how perceptions change as a person gets older and learns what life is really about.

"Introduction to the Men's Movement" was an enlightening read because of Clatterbaugh's views on masculinity. Some of the 8 perceptions still seem over my head, but I am able to grasp the majority of the concepts. The article relates aggression to masculinism and states that men who are aggressive may value different kinds of work in their professional lives. A man's personal belief of his "gender role" can define his behaviors, clothing styles, habits and living style. For example, a simple walk through a dorm hall on campus (MacDonald Hall) will prove the point Clatterbaugh and I are trying to defend. One might discover posters of half-naked females, empty beer cans, over flowing trash cans, unmade beds, Nintendo systems, athletic equipment and dirty laundry. These "masculine" objects are socially acceptable and honestly, quite expected at the college age. Students might be surprised to see anything but the above list of items in a boy's dorm room.

Despite our personal beliefs, masculinism exists and is portrayed in everyday life. If a man is seen in a shirt and tie with a suit, he resembles a masculine male and demands respect without knowing anything about his past, present or future. Men want to be respected and will use their outer appearance to do so. Masculinism is a huge part of everyday society and since the birth of humankind, men have displayed masculine roles.

What Happened to Civility in Sport? (Thurs. 9/17/09)

We have all heard about the incidents. During the U.S. Open, Serena lost a match due to penalty points and Roger Federer was criticized after he had an altercation with an official. The same week, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame and gave, what some consider, to be to a rather conceded acceptance speech. Everyone has a different opinion of how athletes (male or female) should act during certain situations. When the game or match is one the line, who's to say how they themselves would react to an unfortunate line call? When did aggression and passion become a negative quality in professional athletics? Dictionary.com defines civility as "courtesy, politeness." Competitive activity can get quite intense and being polite is often not the first instinct athletes possess in the heat of the moment.

The Serena Williams play call has been disputed for several days. I believe much of the criticism is because of her gender. After all, she is a female and she wears dresses during tournament play and has shown (somewhat) her softer, feminine side. However, her behavior was very aggressive and threatening. I think the way she acted on her emotions could have been handled differently. As a professional, Serena should know better and remind herself of the millions of viewers that were watching her every move. However, I disagree with those that want her suspended. I think the remarks and criticism that came after her behavior was punishment enough. I doubt that we will see that side of Serena on the court again. Also, I doubt that line judge will appear in another tournament while Serena Williams is competing.

Roger Federer displayed his emotions in a much calmer manner. Although we could hear the conversation he had with the official, Roger remained seated, facing a different direction and was non-threatening. Sometimes people forget that athletes are real people like everyone else. Just because they have celebrity status does not mean they are inhumane and can act perfectly in the lime light. These tennis examples are perfect real-world situations where athletes should be taken off of their pedal stools and treated as regular people. Civility does remain in sports but the general public needs to be more understanding.

To me, Michael Jordan can do no wrong. Yes, he might be somewhat arrogant at times-but he is the most talented player to ever step on the court! Let him have his shining moments until someone else takes his place. Although he may have lacked some sense of civility in his speech, we got to see a personal side of Michael that was not representing the brand name. He was given his 15 minutes of fame and he chose to read a speech he felt was worthy of his induction. He is a grown man and who are we to tell him what is good and what sounds bad? He put in the blood, sweat and tears in order to be successful. We (the critics) did not and what makes our opinion worthy of going against his? The general public, sports writers, bloggers and many other critics need to look at their own civility before coming down on infamous professional athletes for playing the game they love so much.

Civility does exsist in sports. We may have to look harder to find it in people, but athletes continue to display positive messages and healthy competition. Until we walk a mile in their shoes, we cannot judge their actions through a television screen.