There is talk of the field of 64 (now 65 officially) expanding to 128 teams for the Men’s NCAA Basketball tournament. There is also something along the lines of 90 hours straight of Bracketology and analysis and the like leading up to the first game of the Men’s Tournament. At what point does this become too much? How many games or replays or plays or analysis or predictions do we need to go through until we have reached a breaking point? I think that point is just about here and is dangerously close to turning some fans away.
A 96- or 128-team bracket is too much for “The Dance”. March Madness is crazy enough to begin with. We do not need to add to the insane happenings that go on throughout the month. Now, many of the teams who make it to their conference finals would have a shot at making the tournament because of the expanded field. This takes away from the excitement of the conference finals and puts the focus on the semifinals. There also becomes a great deal of uncertainty and debate over who should get those newly-added bids. The current format works- it fits easily into a 3 week tournament with plenty of excitement to go around. There are the shots that sends teams into the championship game with a shot at making the dance, and then that back-and-forth finals game that comes down to free throws to determine who gets the automatic bid. As a sports fan, there are few, if any, more thrilling times during the year. I think an expansion of the field would take a little bit away from this. Leave the field at 65 teams.
Led by sports giant ESPN, there is now more analysis of the games and teams and scenarios than you ever hope to keep track of. ESPN is touting its marathon of NCAA basketball coverage leading up to the first round games. It has nearly 90 straight hours planned of continuous college basketball games, information, and analysis. I am sure that the national champion and Final Four teams will be predicted a few dozen times. There will be talk of who just missed the tournament, which region has a favorable draw for the top seeds, who needs to watch out for first-round upsets, who could be a dark horse and make a run, and many more topics. I enjoy watching general highlights of that and seeing a few predictions, but this had gotten out of hand. Digger Phelps will exhaust the small numbers he pulled away from team stats and will be using as an indicator or how a particular team will do. Again, this is interesting to watch in limited exposure. However, this had gone too far. Give us quality, not quantity. I want to see a few good things to look for or potential dangers teams could face, not a laundry list. Keep the excitement level high with and do not ruin it with all of these expert opinions- too much of any thing can be bad, and we are reaching that level now with the coverage and analysis.
March Madness. This is the most exciting time of the year. There is constant jubilation and triumph juxtaposed to heartbreak. The thrill of watching kids who love to play the game makes for a very distracting 3 weeks, a distraction I am more than happy to have. Do not ruin it with expansion or over-analysis. Let the kids do all the talking on the court; they have been doing a pretty good so far.
Sean Stefancin ND ‘12
Social Foundations of Coaching Course
University of Notre Dame
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tiger Woods: Sincere or Staged?
If you have watched any news program over the past three months, you may have heard the name “Tiger Woods” mentioned more than once. It is no secret that the life of Tiger Woods has changed over the past several months, particularly following his car crash on the evening of Thanksgiving. Tiger has always lived under a spotlight when it comes to his actions on the golf course, but following his car crash and after admitting his “transgressions”, Tiger will now live in a world of scrutiny that has recently been unsurpassed for any athlete. Many anxiously waited for answers to questions or a public apology in the weeks following the incident that took place in November, yet the only actions of the sort came as an apology via his website. In addition, Woods seemed to vanish into thin air as he was not seen in public for nearly three months following his Thanksgiving accident.
For some, the day of February 19th would be a chance to find some answers after Woods announced that he would have a press conference at the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. However, after the details of the “press conference” were revealed, many realized that they might not get the answers to the questions that they hoped. Tiger, being the superstar that he is, planned to read a personal statement to a select group of media. In addition, he announced that he would not be taking questions.
The statement by Tiger Woods on the 19th proved to be a media field day. A number of networks, including those with no relation to sports, carried his 13 minute statement. As Woods read his statement, the mood of the room was rather gloomy. He read the statement to a group of friends and supporters, of which included his mother. As Tiger read his statement, he made the obvious admissions and apologies. However, as he finished his statement and as the media began to analyze his work, the real question became whether Tiger Woods was being sincere in his apologetic statement, or whether his entire statement was a planned and staged media event.
Arguments can be made for both sides of Tiger’s statement made on February 19th. Some feel that he was reading from his heart, while others still feel that he was insincere. In a recent poll conducted by ABC and ESPN, only 54 percent of voters responded that they felt Tiger was being sincere. No matter the view, there is no question that the game of golf will sorely miss the playing of Tiger Woods in his leave of absence. As a golf enthusiast, I am still not quite sure of my opinion on Tiger’s “transgressions” and other actions of the past several months; however I do know that the PGA Tour will not be the same until he returns to the game of golf.
John Lytle
Notre Dame ‘10
Social Foundations of Coaching
For some, the day of February 19th would be a chance to find some answers after Woods announced that he would have a press conference at the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. However, after the details of the “press conference” were revealed, many realized that they might not get the answers to the questions that they hoped. Tiger, being the superstar that he is, planned to read a personal statement to a select group of media. In addition, he announced that he would not be taking questions.
The statement by Tiger Woods on the 19th proved to be a media field day. A number of networks, including those with no relation to sports, carried his 13 minute statement. As Woods read his statement, the mood of the room was rather gloomy. He read the statement to a group of friends and supporters, of which included his mother. As Tiger read his statement, he made the obvious admissions and apologies. However, as he finished his statement and as the media began to analyze his work, the real question became whether Tiger Woods was being sincere in his apologetic statement, or whether his entire statement was a planned and staged media event.
Arguments can be made for both sides of Tiger’s statement made on February 19th. Some feel that he was reading from his heart, while others still feel that he was insincere. In a recent poll conducted by ABC and ESPN, only 54 percent of voters responded that they felt Tiger was being sincere. No matter the view, there is no question that the game of golf will sorely miss the playing of Tiger Woods in his leave of absence. As a golf enthusiast, I am still not quite sure of my opinion on Tiger’s “transgressions” and other actions of the past several months; however I do know that the PGA Tour will not be the same until he returns to the game of golf.
John Lytle
Notre Dame ‘10
Social Foundations of Coaching
Tiger Woods’ Scandal Coming to a Close?
Beginning on November 27, 2009, a series of events took place that would have Tiger Woods’ image changed forever. No longer the squeaky clean, role-model athlete he once was, Tiger now looks to make a return to golf, possibly eyeing the April 8th Masters at Augusta, or perhaps the Arnold Palmer Invitation in hometown Orlando, which takes place at the end of the month. The question remains however, how will he deal with the inevitable questions that he will face upon his return? Guaranteed whichever date he chooses will be well thought out and strategized to no end. On one hand, the Arnold Palmer Invitational would be much smaller, less media and overall crowds due to the magnitude of the event, and the competition would be softer. The event would be a tune-up for the Masters, which, as a major, will get much more attention, regardless of Tiger’s attendance. However, the Masters is able to protect Tiger like the API wouldn’t be able. Media and crowd control is a hallmark of the event, and Tiger would even be able to sneak in practice rounds because he is a member of the club. There are much stricter rules for media, who have allotted time and location for interaction with golfers, and fans, and are typically less rowdy than the run of the mill tournament-goer.
This decision is not nearly as arbitrary as it may seem, as the way in which Tiger will face questions about all of what has taken place over the past five plus months could greatly very between these two events. Because Tiger has sort of put his paw in his mouth, so to speak, he will eventually hear questions which he has yet to answer. The level of outrageousness is likely to vary from tasteful to the most personal, inappropriate, non-golf related questions, perhaps even involving his family. If Tiger doesn’t want to hear these in press conference question form, he can try his luck at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he is likely to hear them, and other flat out mean spirited remarks, shouted from the gallery just as he is midway through his backstroke; except no snapping back at the fans this time, those days are over. Despite smaller, typically less media covered event that is the API, he would be much better off within the safety nets of the Masters, where the PGAs most prized possession can be cradled and protected from hecklers and unruly TV and internet media hounds (I wasn’t pointing any fingers at you TMZ, take a seat). However, he better hope he still has his flare for the dramatics and ability to succeed in trying circumstances, or else there will be little golf to talk about to steer away from the questions he is sure to field about his personal life.
Raymond Lieu
ESS 33606, Social Foundations of Coaching
Clark Power/ Kristin Sheehan
This decision is not nearly as arbitrary as it may seem, as the way in which Tiger will face questions about all of what has taken place over the past five plus months could greatly very between these two events. Because Tiger has sort of put his paw in his mouth, so to speak, he will eventually hear questions which he has yet to answer. The level of outrageousness is likely to vary from tasteful to the most personal, inappropriate, non-golf related questions, perhaps even involving his family. If Tiger doesn’t want to hear these in press conference question form, he can try his luck at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he is likely to hear them, and other flat out mean spirited remarks, shouted from the gallery just as he is midway through his backstroke; except no snapping back at the fans this time, those days are over. Despite smaller, typically less media covered event that is the API, he would be much better off within the safety nets of the Masters, where the PGAs most prized possession can be cradled and protected from hecklers and unruly TV and internet media hounds (I wasn’t pointing any fingers at you TMZ, take a seat). However, he better hope he still has his flare for the dramatics and ability to succeed in trying circumstances, or else there will be little golf to talk about to steer away from the questions he is sure to field about his personal life.
Raymond Lieu
ESS 33606, Social Foundations of Coaching
Clark Power/ Kristin Sheehan
Monday, March 8, 2010
Everybody's a Critic
Celebrity culture in the United States has spiraled out of control. Focusing more closely on athletics, Americans worship and idolize athletes in the arena, on the field, on the racecourse, or in the Stadium. American society makes these competitors into role models by adoring their physical talents and scrutinizing their decisions both on and off the field. They feel the need to pry into the personal lives of these athletes. Americans want to know what athletes wear, who they date, what they drink, etc. But the worst part of this idolatry is that society loves to see the heroes fall. Whenever one of these athletes make a poor decision or makes a mistake, every newspaper, tabloid, and magazine has a feature on that competitor the next day. In addition, there is a profession in which people get paid based on taking compromising pictures of these athletes.
One example of this ridiculous athletes scrutiny is highlighted by the large amount of publicity that follows poor decisions made on the field. For instance, at the end of 2009, after the Patriots played the Bills, Tom Brady faced criticism for his poor decision. Although his team won the game, Brady still faced censure for over a week following the game. Articles stated that he was uncreative with his play calls, made poor decisions, choked under pressure, etc. Apparently, “everybody’s a critic.” Obviously, there is something to playing professional sports that makes it challenging. When playing a game, a match, a race, etc. everything occurs so quickly that mistakes can easily occur whether its making a poor call during a football game, starting a sprint to fast in a race, etc. A competitor makes such a large amount of decisions in the matter of a split second that it’s easy to sit on the sidelines and criticize.
Another highly publicized example is Tiger Woods and his recent scandal in November 2009. This is not defending his choices, but merely stating that who is anyone to judge how Tiger Woods lives his life. At first glance, Tiger Woods crashed his car and rumors of an argument with his wife circulated the web. A few days later, rumors of infidelity spread though the internet, and then finally it was confirmed. Every newspaper, magazine, and tabloid had articles featuring Tiger Woods’ infidelity with lists of the women he had sex with, interviews with his sex partners, and details of how Woods would commit his acts of disloyalty. Despite Woods’ efforts to conceal his mistakes, the media continued to press him until the story finally came out. After this story came about people began to scrutinize his behavior on the golf course. The poor decisions he made in his personal life did not affect his vulgar language on the golf course. He had poor sportsmanship before his infidelities became public, but his vulgar language only became an issue once his loyalty came into question. In any case, it has been two months and new stories about Woods’ scandal are still in the newspapers.
It’s remarkable how quickly rumors spread, how penetrating the media can be, and how quickly people are to judge. These athletes are only human. It is human nature to make mistakes. A human cannot grow and mature without mistakes. Why else would we always create a delete button or an eraser? Mistakes are inevitable, so who is anyone to judge someone else? In the Bible, didn’t Jesus say, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?” I think the questions that America needs to ask itself are, “When is enough, enough? When should someone’s private life remain private?” There should be a line somewhere, shouldn’t there?
Rachael Louie
Social Foundations of Coaching
ND 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Olympic Mania
Watching the Olympics can be an eye-opening experience for the viewer; everything from the opening ceremonies (I hope everyone caught the simulation of whales swimming in the floor), to watching the bobsleds speed down the course in excess of 90 mph, to watching the figure skaters spin in circles so quickly that their faces become mere blurs (without the end result being them skating off like a contestant in a bat spin race). We are introduced to the best athletes in the world and get to see them perform at levels that quite frankly I will never be able to achieve in anything.
Not only do we get to see the incredible results of their dedication to their sports, but often times NBC provides us with segments that allow us a glimpse at what their training regiment is like, and interestingly for me, how they interact with their coaches, both in training and during the competition.
Given my love of snowboarding, it is no surprise that I was thrilled at the amount of coverage given to the U.S. snowboarding team, especially my personal favorite Shaun White. In fact, the coverage was so extensive that NBC was intent on catching his every move during the final event, leading to the now infamous exchange between Shaun White and his coach right before his final halfpipe run.
White had already clinched the gold medal with his first run, however he wanted to soak up the experience by using his second run to perform for the crowd. NBC captured White and his coach deciding what tricks he should perform, however instead of telling him what to do, his coach asked him instead “What do you want to do?” (to which White jokingly replied he wanted to ride down the middle). This simple question has the potential to be overlooked because of the coach’s use of a few swear words in the surrounding conversation, however I think it is important to remember because of what it implies about the relationship with White and his coach, as well as the coach’s coaching technique.
The coach allowed White complete ownership over his routine in the most important competition of his life. This shows that even in the highest level of competition that a person could ever be in, allowing the player Ownership is still essential. It seemed to be very much a relationship of equals at least, and at best (and probably more likely) a relationship of friends. I think this is important to see that even Olympians need the kind of coach that will work with them, as a team, and allow them to set their own goals.
If it’s any indicator of what giving an athlete a share in Ownership can do, White proceeded to land a trick never before attempted in Olympic competition, the infamous Double McTwist. Oh yeah, and he scored a 48.4 out of 50, too.
Allie Castro, ND 2010
Social Foundations of Coaching
Not only do we get to see the incredible results of their dedication to their sports, but often times NBC provides us with segments that allow us a glimpse at what their training regiment is like, and interestingly for me, how they interact with their coaches, both in training and during the competition.
Given my love of snowboarding, it is no surprise that I was thrilled at the amount of coverage given to the U.S. snowboarding team, especially my personal favorite Shaun White. In fact, the coverage was so extensive that NBC was intent on catching his every move during the final event, leading to the now infamous exchange between Shaun White and his coach right before his final halfpipe run.
White had already clinched the gold medal with his first run, however he wanted to soak up the experience by using his second run to perform for the crowd. NBC captured White and his coach deciding what tricks he should perform, however instead of telling him what to do, his coach asked him instead “What do you want to do?” (to which White jokingly replied he wanted to ride down the middle). This simple question has the potential to be overlooked because of the coach’s use of a few swear words in the surrounding conversation, however I think it is important to remember because of what it implies about the relationship with White and his coach, as well as the coach’s coaching technique.
The coach allowed White complete ownership over his routine in the most important competition of his life. This shows that even in the highest level of competition that a person could ever be in, allowing the player Ownership is still essential. It seemed to be very much a relationship of equals at least, and at best (and probably more likely) a relationship of friends. I think this is important to see that even Olympians need the kind of coach that will work with them, as a team, and allow them to set their own goals.
If it’s any indicator of what giving an athlete a share in Ownership can do, White proceeded to land a trick never before attempted in Olympic competition, the infamous Double McTwist. Oh yeah, and he scored a 48.4 out of 50, too.
Allie Castro, ND 2010
Social Foundations of Coaching
Monday, February 22, 2010
Is humility a virtue in athletics?
The Winter Olympics in Vancouver have brought us many thrilling events, but none more exciting than the accomplishments of Apolo Anton Ohno. Ohno has become the most decorated US Winter Olympian in history. In order to win the bronze medal Saturday night in the short track 1,000-meter final, Ohno had to come from last place on the final lap of the race. He knew the gold and silver were out of the question based on his positioning. Ohno said, “I really had to fight. I can’t wait to watch the tape and see how I came back from last place to win bronze.”
However successful Ohno may be he wasn’t quick to brand himself as the most decorated American in Winter Games history. “In my mind, that’s a hard question. How do you answer that? I don’t put labels on myself,” he said. “I consider myself an athlete on my third Olympic Games, working my heart out. My goal was to come out and put my heart and soul into the Olympic Games and I’ve done that.” More impressive than the accomplishments of the athlete is his modesty towards those accomplishments. Many athletes train in order to win the gold, but Ohno races for the love of the sport and because of that love he has been able to become the most decorated US Winter Olympian in history.
Phillip Tuttle
Social Foundations of Coaching
ND 2010
Olympic Hockey: A Dangerous Diversion?
Now, I do not claim to be anyone remotely resembling an expert in the field of hockey, the NHL, or the Olympics, but I really wanted to bring something up for discussion. Perhaps, it may be that I am biased towards my team (the Chicago Blackhawks) because they are leading their division, are second in their conference, and are third in the league (and I hope that I do not jinx them for bragging like this); and that I miss watching Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews play side-by-side instead of head-to-head, but I believe that having Men’s Hockey as an Olympic event is unhealthy for team dynamics in the NHL.
Many players jump at the chance to play in the Olympics to honor their country and at the chance to play with enemies and against teammates. Yes, the Olympics are fun and exciting to watch. They certainly give people like me the chance to shamelessly cheer for players that I despise (but respect) during the regular NHL season, like Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks, because they are now playing for a team that I can get behind, Team USA. At the same time, however, there are players from my Blackhawks that are not playing for USA. How can I cheer for Jonathan Toews, who is by far my favorite Hawk and a member of Team Canada, during the USA-Canada game? It is really not as difficult as I may make it seem. I am cheering for Team USA regardless, but feel like I am being disloyal to the other Hawks players who are a part of other countries’ Olympic teams. As a fan, the Olympics are nothing short of frustrating.
All self-pity and tangents aside, I disapprove of Olympic Men’s Hockey mainly because of its timing. At this time of year, NHL teams have more or less played in over three-quarters of their regular season games, having had 4.5 months to create a solid team. With a month and a half left in the regular season after the Olympics are over, will this two week vacation have an effect on team unity? Certainly each NHL team has its own dynamic and unique relationships between players and coaches, as does each Olympic team. In order for a team to do well in the Olympics, players have to adapt and to basically let go of any quirk or loyalty that was present within their NHL team. What worries me, and many other critics of having Men’s Hockey as an Olympic sport, is the amount of time that it will take for NHL teams to return to normal and to restore the relationships and habits that had made their team strong before. Will teams that were “hot” going into the Olympic break still have that fire come March when the NHL season starts up again? Though problems may only be temporary and a team might be able to bounce back within a week or so, having the Olympics so late in the season makes the pressure to return to normalcy that much greater. Slip-ups near the end of the season can have huge implications in regards to play-off bids and final standings, so why place oneself and ones team in such a situation by competing in the Olympics?
Besides having a potential to harm team dynamics, the fact that international hockey and NHL rules are different can have impacts on players’ styles and performance during the shifts. Probably having the most risk is the difference between what is being called for obstruction in NHL and international games. International games have been more lenient regarding what is being called for penalties than NHL games, especially since the NHL cracked down on the rules after its one year hiatus a couple years back. After two weeks of being able to play harder, and maybe more recklessly, considering retaliation is more difficult since a fight in an international game will get a player kicked out, I can imagine that it may be difficult to get back into the swing of things upon return to the NHL. Perhaps, I am being a bit melodramatic on this point, but it is really hard for me to discount the power that one game can have on a player and even on a team. Stupid penalties can make or break a game and a single game can be all that it takes to keep a team from advancing.
So although I will support Team USA in the Olympics and did cheer for them during their 5-3 victory Sunday over Canada, I truly hope that there will be no Team USA, or Canada, or Slovakia taking the ice in Sochi in 2014, for my sanity, as well as for the well-being and cohesiveness of all NHL teams, so that they may have their best shot at the Cup.
Kelly Marszalek
ND 2010
Social Foundations of Coaching
Many players jump at the chance to play in the Olympics to honor their country and at the chance to play with enemies and against teammates. Yes, the Olympics are fun and exciting to watch. They certainly give people like me the chance to shamelessly cheer for players that I despise (but respect) during the regular NHL season, like Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks, because they are now playing for a team that I can get behind, Team USA. At the same time, however, there are players from my Blackhawks that are not playing for USA. How can I cheer for Jonathan Toews, who is by far my favorite Hawk and a member of Team Canada, during the USA-Canada game? It is really not as difficult as I may make it seem. I am cheering for Team USA regardless, but feel like I am being disloyal to the other Hawks players who are a part of other countries’ Olympic teams. As a fan, the Olympics are nothing short of frustrating.
All self-pity and tangents aside, I disapprove of Olympic Men’s Hockey mainly because of its timing. At this time of year, NHL teams have more or less played in over three-quarters of their regular season games, having had 4.5 months to create a solid team. With a month and a half left in the regular season after the Olympics are over, will this two week vacation have an effect on team unity? Certainly each NHL team has its own dynamic and unique relationships between players and coaches, as does each Olympic team. In order for a team to do well in the Olympics, players have to adapt and to basically let go of any quirk or loyalty that was present within their NHL team. What worries me, and many other critics of having Men’s Hockey as an Olympic sport, is the amount of time that it will take for NHL teams to return to normal and to restore the relationships and habits that had made their team strong before. Will teams that were “hot” going into the Olympic break still have that fire come March when the NHL season starts up again? Though problems may only be temporary and a team might be able to bounce back within a week or so, having the Olympics so late in the season makes the pressure to return to normalcy that much greater. Slip-ups near the end of the season can have huge implications in regards to play-off bids and final standings, so why place oneself and ones team in such a situation by competing in the Olympics?
Besides having a potential to harm team dynamics, the fact that international hockey and NHL rules are different can have impacts on players’ styles and performance during the shifts. Probably having the most risk is the difference between what is being called for obstruction in NHL and international games. International games have been more lenient regarding what is being called for penalties than NHL games, especially since the NHL cracked down on the rules after its one year hiatus a couple years back. After two weeks of being able to play harder, and maybe more recklessly, considering retaliation is more difficult since a fight in an international game will get a player kicked out, I can imagine that it may be difficult to get back into the swing of things upon return to the NHL. Perhaps, I am being a bit melodramatic on this point, but it is really hard for me to discount the power that one game can have on a player and even on a team. Stupid penalties can make or break a game and a single game can be all that it takes to keep a team from advancing.
So although I will support Team USA in the Olympics and did cheer for them during their 5-3 victory Sunday over Canada, I truly hope that there will be no Team USA, or Canada, or Slovakia taking the ice in Sochi in 2014, for my sanity, as well as for the well-being and cohesiveness of all NHL teams, so that they may have their best shot at the Cup.
Kelly Marszalek
ND 2010
Social Foundations of Coaching
Friday, February 19, 2010
What do the Oylmpics Symbolize?
What do the Olympics symbolize? What all do they encapsulate? It depends on who you ask. For the athletes who have trained their whole lives for this opportunity, the Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of performance, membership into an exclusive club reserved only for the most accomplished of society. For most of us the Olympics represent a break from every day life, a chance to sit back and be amazed at the truly extraordinary feats of the human body, share in the stories of hard work and perseverance, and revel in a spirit of nationalism second only to the fourth of July. Once every two years, the world puts down its wars, its woes and financial ruin and we join together to celebrate the human spirit. Or at least that’s what this year’s motto, “With Glowing Hearts,” would suggest.
It cannot be denied that the games bring out some of the best in humans. Indeed, the first Olympics of ancient Greece held not only pride at stake, but also a religious significance. Between the games offered, sacrifices would be given to Zeus and the other gods as signs of devotion and praise. The victors of these games were immortalized forever, placed as gods before the people, carved as statues, and eternalized in stories. Could the same be said for the athletes of today? One must look no further than the Michael Phelps craze of two years ago for the answer. While he may not quite be etched in marble, the Wheaties box is a start.
In my mind, I can still vividly remember the 2006 Atlanta Games and the U.S. women’s gymnastic team. The story had all the makings of a fairy tale: a grandfather like coach, a come from behind victory at the hands of the injured damsel, and of course the glittery costumes to make it all the more glamorous. After watching those games, everything I did involved gymnastics. My friends and I must have replayed the final vault in our basements at least a dozen times. In one week I had found the new purpose of my life and the gods, the girls with the shining medals, to light my way.
We often get so caught up in the fervor of the games that we forget that the 16 year old Chinese gold figure skater is really deep down a 16 year old. We forget that these invincible models of strength and perfections do have flaws, even if they aren’t covered by the 24 hour NBC footage. So when our track goddess Marion Jones is accused of steroid usage, we are flabbergasted. When the golden boy, Michael Phelps, fesses up to using pot, we look the other way. We keep on living in the glow of the opening ceremonies, under the tossed bouquets and the national anthems, because admitting the fact that the images we have built up in our mind may be rose colored is just too disappointing.
This shortsightedness has the potential to be extremely harmful. While the Olympics have the potential to bring people together, to highlight the strength and beauty of the human nature, we must not overlook the other side it exposes. Throughout the years since its inception the Olympics has been a stage for the triumph as well as the shame of humanity, exposing bigotry, racism, exploitation, and selfishness alongside the camaraderie, grandeur, and finesse exhibited by the world’s finest. Take the example of Beijing. The city, in an attempt to put its best face to the world, displaced thousands of people and used unfair labor practices to feverishly build sparkly new facilities. Out of sight out of mind they thought. And by and large their plan worked. Amidst the enchanting melody of the Olympic tune and the excitement that filled the bird’s nest, the smog that choked the city was almost overlooked, the millions of orphaned girls forgotten, and the Chinese still suffering the ravages of a devastating earthquake placed on the back burner. After all, we had more important things to focus on.
As we begin a new Olympics, I propose we take this opportunity to examine all that the grand stage has to offer, both that which is sequined and spotlighted, showcased and headlined, as well as those things that may be pushed to the side, swept under the rug, and conveniently forgotten about for the time being. Human nature always has two sides. Yes, there is a little bit of those illusive gods in all of us, but let us be careful that we do not let this image taint our vision of the world as it actually is. Make sure that children see both the positive and negative aspects of their sporting heroes so that they are not crushed if (when?) these superhumans come tumbling down from their heavenly pedestals. Yes, our hearts should glow at the beauty and wonder of humanity displayed in these ceremonies, but not at the cost of our vision and thought.
Laura Cassel
Social Foundations of Coaching
ND 2010
It cannot be denied that the games bring out some of the best in humans. Indeed, the first Olympics of ancient Greece held not only pride at stake, but also a religious significance. Between the games offered, sacrifices would be given to Zeus and the other gods as signs of devotion and praise. The victors of these games were immortalized forever, placed as gods before the people, carved as statues, and eternalized in stories. Could the same be said for the athletes of today? One must look no further than the Michael Phelps craze of two years ago for the answer. While he may not quite be etched in marble, the Wheaties box is a start.
In my mind, I can still vividly remember the 2006 Atlanta Games and the U.S. women’s gymnastic team. The story had all the makings of a fairy tale: a grandfather like coach, a come from behind victory at the hands of the injured damsel, and of course the glittery costumes to make it all the more glamorous. After watching those games, everything I did involved gymnastics. My friends and I must have replayed the final vault in our basements at least a dozen times. In one week I had found the new purpose of my life and the gods, the girls with the shining medals, to light my way.
We often get so caught up in the fervor of the games that we forget that the 16 year old Chinese gold figure skater is really deep down a 16 year old. We forget that these invincible models of strength and perfections do have flaws, even if they aren’t covered by the 24 hour NBC footage. So when our track goddess Marion Jones is accused of steroid usage, we are flabbergasted. When the golden boy, Michael Phelps, fesses up to using pot, we look the other way. We keep on living in the glow of the opening ceremonies, under the tossed bouquets and the national anthems, because admitting the fact that the images we have built up in our mind may be rose colored is just too disappointing.
This shortsightedness has the potential to be extremely harmful. While the Olympics have the potential to bring people together, to highlight the strength and beauty of the human nature, we must not overlook the other side it exposes. Throughout the years since its inception the Olympics has been a stage for the triumph as well as the shame of humanity, exposing bigotry, racism, exploitation, and selfishness alongside the camaraderie, grandeur, and finesse exhibited by the world’s finest. Take the example of Beijing. The city, in an attempt to put its best face to the world, displaced thousands of people and used unfair labor practices to feverishly build sparkly new facilities. Out of sight out of mind they thought. And by and large their plan worked. Amidst the enchanting melody of the Olympic tune and the excitement that filled the bird’s nest, the smog that choked the city was almost overlooked, the millions of orphaned girls forgotten, and the Chinese still suffering the ravages of a devastating earthquake placed on the back burner. After all, we had more important things to focus on.
As we begin a new Olympics, I propose we take this opportunity to examine all that the grand stage has to offer, both that which is sequined and spotlighted, showcased and headlined, as well as those things that may be pushed to the side, swept under the rug, and conveniently forgotten about for the time being. Human nature always has two sides. Yes, there is a little bit of those illusive gods in all of us, but let us be careful that we do not let this image taint our vision of the world as it actually is. Make sure that children see both the positive and negative aspects of their sporting heroes so that they are not crushed if (when?) these superhumans come tumbling down from their heavenly pedestals. Yes, our hearts should glow at the beauty and wonder of humanity displayed in these ceremonies, but not at the cost of our vision and thought.
Laura Cassel
Social Foundations of Coaching
ND 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Olympics: The Most Wonderful Time - Every Couple of Years
Da! Da! Da-dum-dum-dum-dum, da da da da da da da da dum dum da da dum!
For those who want the better version of one of the greatest songs in the world, you can follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diXUz0DrGG0
The best sports event in the world is upon us. Anyone that knows me or is simply around me every two years knows that there are few things in life I love more than the Olympics. Some have heard the phrase, "God, Family, Notre Dame." My life has tended to hold to "God, Family, Olympics." I honestly don't have any true connection to the Olympics besides simply the love of the event and the games. Although some would disagree for some outlandish reason such as revenue, the Olympic games are the greatest of all sporting events. Period. And if there is anyone who doesn't agree with me, I will argue with them until they do. Believe me, it's happened. In what other sport are you able to bring together thousands of athletes from around the entire globe to compete not only for circular pieces of metal but more importantly self and national pride and the feeling of truly being one of the best at your sport IN THE WORLD.
The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics are upon us. My remote is primed and ready to flip between every channel owned by NBC at all hours of the day, and my laptop is ready to be logged on to various websites constantly, just trying to catch a glimpse of these athletes performing feats I can only imagine. Friday night, we will watch the opening ceremonies, and from that moment onward for the next 2 and a half weeks, televisions will be on at all hours of the day, people will rediscover their love of curling and men's eyes will be glued to hockey while the women find themselves unable to tear themselves away from figure skating.
It isn't the medals and the competition that has me coming back every couple years though. It isn't the wild hope that the US Hockey team will have another "miracle" and win. It is the stories that bring us all back each and every two years for the winter or summer Olympics. Everyone knows the story of the "Miracle on Ice." It even got a movie. In the midst of a time full of uncertainty and turmoil, a little bit of hope was shown for America when the USA hockey team came back from a 3-2 deficit to upset Russia in the 1980 Olympics. The story that still defines the Olympics, particularly the Winter Games in my eyes, however, is the story of Dan Jansen. It is a story that never fails to bring tears to my eyes and truly exemplifies not only the American and Olympic spirit but also the human spirit in a way few other stories do. VISA recently used it in an advertisement, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWYRH5jnQBo To be honest, I could write an entire second article just on Dan's story, but in the interest of brevity, I will simply include a link to a great article written on it by Mike Morrison: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/winter-olympics-jansen.html
In the world we live in today, it's great to see even just a small ray of hope that maybe, just maybe everyone can come together in peace. That is what's great about the Olympics. Even if it is for only a small amount of time, we all see that at least for two and a half weeks, we can all really live in harmony and join together not as hundreds of separate countries all with their own plans, but as hundreds of separate countries coming together to show the human form in its ultimate perfection. It isn't about one country, it's about the world. As Morgan Freeman so wonderfully says in the VISA commercials, "Go World." Let the games begin!
Sean McCullough
Social Foundations of Coaching
ND 2011
For those who want the better version of one of the greatest songs in the world, you can follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diXUz0DrGG0
The best sports event in the world is upon us. Anyone that knows me or is simply around me every two years knows that there are few things in life I love more than the Olympics. Some have heard the phrase, "God, Family, Notre Dame." My life has tended to hold to "God, Family, Olympics." I honestly don't have any true connection to the Olympics besides simply the love of the event and the games. Although some would disagree for some outlandish reason such as revenue, the Olympic games are the greatest of all sporting events. Period. And if there is anyone who doesn't agree with me, I will argue with them until they do. Believe me, it's happened. In what other sport are you able to bring together thousands of athletes from around the entire globe to compete not only for circular pieces of metal but more importantly self and national pride and the feeling of truly being one of the best at your sport IN THE WORLD.
The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics are upon us. My remote is primed and ready to flip between every channel owned by NBC at all hours of the day, and my laptop is ready to be logged on to various websites constantly, just trying to catch a glimpse of these athletes performing feats I can only imagine. Friday night, we will watch the opening ceremonies, and from that moment onward for the next 2 and a half weeks, televisions will be on at all hours of the day, people will rediscover their love of curling and men's eyes will be glued to hockey while the women find themselves unable to tear themselves away from figure skating.
It isn't the medals and the competition that has me coming back every couple years though. It isn't the wild hope that the US Hockey team will have another "miracle" and win. It is the stories that bring us all back each and every two years for the winter or summer Olympics. Everyone knows the story of the "Miracle on Ice." It even got a movie. In the midst of a time full of uncertainty and turmoil, a little bit of hope was shown for America when the USA hockey team came back from a 3-2 deficit to upset Russia in the 1980 Olympics. The story that still defines the Olympics, particularly the Winter Games in my eyes, however, is the story of Dan Jansen. It is a story that never fails to bring tears to my eyes and truly exemplifies not only the American and Olympic spirit but also the human spirit in a way few other stories do. VISA recently used it in an advertisement, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWYRH5jnQBo To be honest, I could write an entire second article just on Dan's story, but in the interest of brevity, I will simply include a link to a great article written on it by Mike Morrison: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/winter-olympics-jansen.html
In the world we live in today, it's great to see even just a small ray of hope that maybe, just maybe everyone can come together in peace. That is what's great about the Olympics. Even if it is for only a small amount of time, we all see that at least for two and a half weeks, we can all really live in harmony and join together not as hundreds of separate countries all with their own plans, but as hundreds of separate countries coming together to show the human form in its ultimate perfection. It isn't about one country, it's about the world. As Morgan Freeman so wonderfully says in the VISA commercials, "Go World." Let the games begin!
Sean McCullough
Social Foundations of Coaching
ND 2011
Monday, February 8, 2010
Super Bowl-Uniting a People
The Super Bowl is the perfect storm of American culture—a winner-take-all football game, a frenzy of media coverage, and an excuse to eat junk food for hours on end. Whether you are an avid football fan who has actually watched the absurd number of hours of pre-game analysis, a casual fan of the game, or simply interested in the chips, dip, and commercials, the Super Bowl holds a certain fascination for a large majority of the people in this country. Baseball may, in fact, be America’s pastime, but football defines American culture in a unique way. For many sports fans, the Super Bowl is one of the greatest days of the year. It has become a holiday of sorts. For example, Super Bowl Sunday is the only week of the year in which Mass in my dorm is moved from 10 pm to earlier in the day. Since freshman year, I have been annually amazed that the dorm moves Mass once a year—for a sporting event. Not that I think this is necessarily a bad move. It is practical—many people who would otherwise skip Mass in order to watch the Super Bowl can now do both. But I think it’s pretty funny to see what importance our culture places on the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl has evolved into much more than just a football game—it is a multi-million dollar industry in and of itself. According to an article on espn.com, this year’s Super Bowl has a projected value of $420 million. As if that figure is not phenomenal in its own right, compare it to the fact that the entire 2008 Summer Olympic Games were valued at $230 million. The one day, 5 hour long Super Bowl is valued at almost twice as much as the entirety of the Olympic Games. The value of the advertisement time alone is ridiculous due to the fact that more people watch the Super Bowl every year than watch any other television event.
The hype leading up to and surrounding the Super Bowl has reached incredible levels. I am not necessarily complaining. I am a self-proclaimed ESPN addict, so I spend unfortunate amount of hours watching Sportscenter. However, not even I can believe how much every possible angle of the game is analyzed and dissected, and how many different experts are brought in to make their predictions. At some point, I feel like enough is really enough. How many different times can Dwight Freeney’s ankle injury really be discussed? But all the hype does its job—every year a huge percentage of the population watches the Super Bowl. The media coverage may seem excessive at times, but by the time Super Bowl Sunday finally rolls around, everyone can’t wait for the game to start.
The Super Bowl is unique in American sports—it is the only one of the 4 mainstream, professional sports where a single game decides a championship. The outcome is decided right here, right now. All in all, the Super Bowl achieves something that politics, religion, or even other sports can’t do—it brings the American people together in a united desire to watch grown men practically kill each other. We may not all agree on which team to root for, but for a period of about 5 hours once a year, a lot of issues in the world fall away, and we can just watch the game.
Sara Romano, ND 2011
Social Foundations of Coaching Course
The Super Bowl has evolved into much more than just a football game—it is a multi-million dollar industry in and of itself. According to an article on espn.com, this year’s Super Bowl has a projected value of $420 million. As if that figure is not phenomenal in its own right, compare it to the fact that the entire 2008 Summer Olympic Games were valued at $230 million. The one day, 5 hour long Super Bowl is valued at almost twice as much as the entirety of the Olympic Games. The value of the advertisement time alone is ridiculous due to the fact that more people watch the Super Bowl every year than watch any other television event.
The hype leading up to and surrounding the Super Bowl has reached incredible levels. I am not necessarily complaining. I am a self-proclaimed ESPN addict, so I spend unfortunate amount of hours watching Sportscenter. However, not even I can believe how much every possible angle of the game is analyzed and dissected, and how many different experts are brought in to make their predictions. At some point, I feel like enough is really enough. How many different times can Dwight Freeney’s ankle injury really be discussed? But all the hype does its job—every year a huge percentage of the population watches the Super Bowl. The media coverage may seem excessive at times, but by the time Super Bowl Sunday finally rolls around, everyone can’t wait for the game to start.
The Super Bowl is unique in American sports—it is the only one of the 4 mainstream, professional sports where a single game decides a championship. The outcome is decided right here, right now. All in all, the Super Bowl achieves something that politics, religion, or even other sports can’t do—it brings the American people together in a united desire to watch grown men practically kill each other. We may not all agree on which team to root for, but for a period of about 5 hours once a year, a lot of issues in the world fall away, and we can just watch the game.
Sara Romano, ND 2011
Social Foundations of Coaching Course
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