Monthly Archives: January 2014

Jordan Adams PCQ 7

Stages of the global: Media, sport, racialization and the last temptation of Zinedine Zidane PCQ

 

This article discusses the presence of racism within the sporting world and how sport and competition can lead to racism playing an unnecessary role in sporting matches. It is true that as sports continue to grow and reach a global audience certain preconceived notions or beliefs about players of different races will become a bigger issue. An example I can think of that relates back to a class I took last semester is when we discussed the career of boxer Jack Johnson who for a certain point in his career wasn’t allowed to fight against white boxers. In reality there had been a black boxing champion before Jack Johnson but his efforts remained unnoticed due to his inability to secure a fight against a white opponent. Continue reading

Cole PCQ 1/16/2014 Problems with 21st Century Football

Racism, Sexism, and International Migration in 21st Century Football

The football academies in the United Kingdom are an excellent example of how commercialized and global all aspects of the game have become.  These youth football academies were originally formed to propagate talented football players from an early age.  By having Premier League clubs sponsor these schools, these clubs got were able to keep the talent for themselves and in the UK.  Recently, other countries have followed the UK’s example, but with one key difference; from the start, they actively sought out young players from around the world for their academies.  These academies are also responsible for teaching the youth players workforce skills to fall back on in case their football dreams fall short.

By actively looking for and recruiting youth players from around the world, European football academies are embodying some of the founding ideas of the European Union.  Even if the extranational youth players do not make it in the big leagues, they become a part of that country’s workforce and contribute to its global image.   Continue reading

TIFO

From the age of six until my freshman year of high school i was into the game of soccer and played for my town along with a local club. One of my many accomplishments during this time was being chosen to try out for the Olympic Development Program. This relates to the reading because i went up against players from the northeast in tryouts for a position on this team.

http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/

Style and Identity PCQ 6

Lechner’s article focuses on the Dutch national team and their development of a “Dutch National Style” of football throughout the late 20th century. Lechner bases some of the Dutch resurgence in the late 20th century on the collective memory of earlier Dutch victories.  It can be drawn from our discussion about national myths that the Dutch victories of ’74 and ’78 are part of the foundation of Dutch soccer. The Dutch as a team know they are capable of this greatness, therefore blocking one of the first hurdles of attaining a championship, the preconceived notions of a teams limitations. Tying this back to the article of American exceptionalism, I feel that it is this preconceived notion of limitations that is hindering America in adopting the sport of soccer. Continue reading

Stages of the global: Media sport, racialization and the last temptation of Zinedine Zidan

Stages of the global: Media sport, racialization and the last temptation of Zinedine Zidane

 The institution of the media is an enormously powerful force in shaping knowledge and understanding of increasingly dynamic, complex societies. This is not to argue, of course, that the media are all-powerful, creating new ideologies and values out of thin air.

Reaction: This statement is so true because from an early age one can learn their alphabet, numbers along with other vital things which are important to human development. Media also shapes our understanding of what is going on around the world and helps us to broaden our knowledge.

Without media I don’t think that sports would be as big as it is today. Media helps people to follow teams from all over the world in real time. However, if you missed the game you will get all the important highlights that shaped the final outcome. Media brings people who share a certain commonality together.

A Short not on ‘race’

The meanings of ‘race’ generated through such processes both draw on and re-draw those located at their points of origin, and are diffused through global commodification into new zones of cultural interpretation.

 In the case of Zidane you can see that race causes you to do things that you will end up regretting for the rest of you life. His actions showed that you have to be strong willed and put your pride away in cases like he was in.

 Global boys: Exploring experiences of acculturation amongst migrant youth footballers in Premier League academies

 The rule of recruiting youths from abroad has been around for centuries. European countries realized that they needed new talent back in the late nineteen hundreds so they started looking at countries they once occupied. These academic schools are very rigorous for these youths but it is molding them into players the club will hopefully use.

Players are not the only people who migrate to these school also coaches and future majors.

Acculturation as an experiential facet of globalization

‘acculturating strategies’ through which migrants make decisions as to what extent they wish to maintain their indigenous cultural heritage and/or embrace their culture of settlement. These strategies include: assimilation, in which the migrant actively interacts with the host culture whilst showing little or no desire for indigenous cultural maintenance; separation, where indigenous cultural norms are maintained with no desire to embrace the host culture; marginalization, when neither cultural maintenance nor interaction with the host culture are desired; and integration, when both the maintenance of one’s cultural behaviors and involvement in the host society are sought (Berry, 1997).

Acculturation is the movement from a norm that you know to the adaption of new customs and traditions.

The four things that these individuals might encounter in the new environment are transformation, relativization, accommodation and hybridization.

 

Mac Daly TIFO: NBA Allstar Jerseys

This article talks about the new NBA all-star jerseys which are designed by Adidas and have sleeves. The jerseys look like European soccer jerseys and shows the globalization of sports as basketball takes ideas from soccer. Also, the reason for adding sleeves and bringing in Adidas is to have sponsors for the jerseys much like the lucrative deals in Europe. Maybe in 2 years the Celtics will play with the Samuel Adams Brewery label on the front.

Cole TIFO 1/16/2014 Addition to Yesterday’s TIFO

Continuation of Yesterday’s TIFO

I found this article today and lists some more great examples of how Bayern Munich is using the player transfer market to dominate not just the German league, but all of Europe.  By signing on any player from any other team in Europe, Bayern has effectively consolidated many of the best players in the game into their team.  While this is a key element of Bayern’s success, other teams are left picking of the pieces after losing some of their best players year after year.

Carter TIFO: Lilian Thuram

Lilian Thuram, a retired French soccer player, has traveled the world discussing matters of racism in football. Through his teachings he delivers the notion that defeating racism in soccer is quite simple. As he states “If you are not doing something, then you are doing less than nothing”, which notes the obvious fact that while many do not verbally support certain racist acts during matches, the fact that they stay silent is just as bad as being a party to those who are shouting such intolerant remarks. In order to overcome racism one must openly support and accept players of all races and ethnicities.

http://www.silive.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/11/lilian_thuram_racism_in_soccer.html