Sociogenesis of Wrestling

Growing up in a family where wrestling was the sport every male participated in and going to a high school where we sent about 8 wrestlers to the State Championships every year and a couple to the National Championships, I have always been a fan of the sport. Wrestling originated about 5000 years ago founded by the Sumerians. However, there were some historical tracings of the sport found in Ancient Egypt where drawings were discovered in the tombs of Beni-Hassan. Some of the drawings included over 400+ couples of wrestlers wrestling, wrestling rules and refereeing codes were documented. The sport of wrestling was first played by the Sumerians, Greeks and Romans. The sport nowadays has diffused all over the world. It's an event in the Olympic games. However, there was controversy the last Olympics surrounding whether the event should still be apart of the future Olympics to come and it was finalized wrestling will remain an event. Wrestling uniforms (when the sport first started out) were a piece of cloth wrapped around the lower half of the men's waist--initially just males participated in the sport. The men were barefoot as well. Today, male and female wrestlers wear singlets, flexible-high topped wrestling shoes, headgear and a mouthguard.

The biggest issue surrounding the sport concerns the weight loss aspect also known as "cutting weight." This is a concern for many because these athletes lose weight very rapidly and some athletes may not being doing it the most healthiest ways. Athletes won't eat for days and will continue to intensively train without the proper nutrition. I remember friends chewing starbusrts, wearing black plastic bags over their sweats, running all night to make weight. They would spit the excess saliva created from the starbursts because it was one more way to lose weight and they could "eat" or at least taste the starbursts without actually having to swallow it. I guess it filled some kind of rewarding sensation--taking the place of actually eating. Although this is a major downside to the sport, wrestling is great for all areas surrounding physical and mental strength. Another cool thing about the sport is there are 14 weight class in high school and 10 in the NCAA. All weight classes ranging from the low 00's all the way to the heavyweights being 285 pounds. It's inclusive for many individuals where they are matched up with an opponent who makes the same weight.

References:

http://www.fila-official.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=100246&lang=en

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sports/Pages/Cutting-Weight-A-Major-Problem-in-Wrestling.aspx

Sport in the Ancient World

Well, I'll start with Rome because I didn't know that gladiators fought until death and I was a little surprised. Gladiators were prisoners of wars, slaves and criminals. They participated in the games to regain their freedom that was once taken away from them. They were also known as "elite killers." Wow. However, although these men were slaves, criminals and prisoners-- they were used for entertainment and even admired by their audiences. Their games were nothing like the ancient games of Greece. These men literally fought to their death. On the other hand, the games of ancient Greece were much more like the sports athletes participate in today.

The Olympic games of ancient Greece started around the time Jesus was born to put the time period into perspective. This was the "Ultimate Athletic Event." The athletes who participated in these games were very different than those who fought in Rome. These athletes were "free born" Greeks, They symbolized masculinity, beauty, grace and pride. They played naked because their bodies were glorified and "perfect." Religion played a role in the Olympic games as well. The athletes evoked perfection of the Gods. Those who earned the championship title were favored by the Gods. In a sense the games were a form of entertainment for all the men and Zeus's sister. Champions swere rewarded with money, sponsors, glory and pride. There were over 12+ events in the Olympic games. Some of the events mentioned were sprinting, discus, triple jump, wrestling, boxing etc. The events tested their speed, strength and skill.

References:
youtube:  ancient Rome
youtube: ancient Greece

Sport, Society & Me

I remember first being exposed to sports as a little girl by my dad. He lives for sports until this day. Sports was and is one of the ways we bond. My mom and dad never missed one volleyball I played in. My mom was always the one who said the team played well no matter what the outcome of the game but my dad was real with me. He told me where I needed to improve and when I did a good job. He never sugar coated anything with me. I valued that kind of honesty when it comes to sports because it only made me better player. Although both my parents supported me throughout volleyball my dad and I bonded when it came to sports. We'd watch football, basketball and baseball together in the evenings or on the weekends whenever we had some down time or we'd listen to the AM radio station on the road to know what's going on with the games. It's what we did and to this day after a big game we'll talk on the phone about the most outstanding plays or questionable calls. So, sports for me built this bond between my dad and I.

When it comes to sports in the United States, I'd have to say they have a postive role for the most part. The Duality of Sport by Eitzen explains how US sports reflect many of our own human experiences. He said "American sport embodies American values-- striving for excellence, winning, individual and team competition, and materialism... Participation teaches them basic values of American society and it builds character" (4). Sports play a positive role because if kids can understand and be exposed losing, winning, sportsmanship and respect then I believe sports are playing a great role in society. On the other hand I can see where sports can cause setbacks. Some athletes, coaches, fans etc. can make great examples of who you don't want to mirror because of their inappropiate behavior or lack of respect and that's not the kind of behavior we want kids to see or experience.

Overall in society I believe professional athletes hold a higher valued position of respect. I mean, these athletes are being paid millions. Don't get me wrong, I love watching sports and feed into the industry but I do believe the US has something mixed up here. Educators, doctors, social workers etc. don't even get paid anywhere close to what athletes earn and they're educating our future and saving lives. That always trips me up..

The Sport Ethic

There are 4 dimensions that make up this sense of "sport ethic" often found within athletes. According to Hughes and Coakley sport ethic emphasizes "scarifice for The Game, seeking distinction, taking risks, and challenging limits" (307). It is believed that athletes conform to this sport ethic ideology because it is what classifies one as a "real athlete." Those who adapt this ideology are seen as a deviant individual of the larger society and in the sport as well. Personally, I think athletes conform to this ideology because it's embedded into the sport systems itself. It's just what the game has evolved into and if you want to be an elite athlete, you will accept these 4 dimensions.

 I myself have experienced these criteria's of what defines "sport ethic" at one point or another. I used to play on a competitive volleyball team for a number of years growing up where I travelled and participated in tournaments all the way from the east coast to the west. I practiced 3 days a week and had day long tournaments on Sunday's and if we were traveling to tournaments in other states those usually lasted 3-4 days. That alone displays sacrifice for the game. Also, when playing volleyball I wanted to be the setter who always started every game and played through majority of the game if not all of  it. I loved that I touched the ball every play and because of my sets/assists I could help win games and excel at key plays. Something about the energy of the game and my obsession with winning played a part with my experience.

Sports in the USA

Sports definitely play a huge role in American culture. You can go watch something live or turn on the TV and you will find something on. The reason why I like sports is because of the energy surrounding the game. I love experiencing all the excitement, cheering, tailgating and winning. People are full of pride and we all share one goal in common, winning. Fans also play their role in the game. They're the support. Everyone chanting, yelling and celebrating is motivating. As an entire society we love internal and external rewards-- it's what drives us. Although losing is a part of the game, we all want to win and if winning isn't everything then why play? There are a handful of sports in the United States that top the charts when it comes to those most watched by fans. Those sports include: NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA. If you knew nothing about the sports in the United States one would think only men play sports but that's false. Men sports are just more watched, advertised, sponsored and supported.  Since these are the most popular sports we will just focus on these four for the sake of the assignment. Sports are a significant part of the American culture because they bring people from different cities, states and coasts together. Professional sports keep thousands of fans entertained and the competition is what makes it exciting. Only the most elite, successful players make it into the league and on the big screen.

Without the athletes, we wouldn't have such sports. These individuals sacrifice their bodies, their time and relationships all for the love of the game. Athletes involved in a sport spend countless hours in the gym, weight room, on the road or on the field to get that W. They push themselves beyond what they think they can do. There's no such thing as limits for the best athletes. They're always improving, persevering and working to beat the latest record. Sports in American make our world go round.