Von Miller: Role Model?

Deviance in Sports

Von Miller: Role Model?

By: Emily Forloines & Alex Wenrich

In class we discussed the topic of athletes as role models in a positive and negative way. Most of the time a naïve sports fan classifies an athlete as a role model because of stardom, perfect statistics, and extrovert personality. During the lecture we conversed about what truly makes an athlete a role model. Role models for our youth should be based off of honesty, commitment, good sportsmanship, sense of humor, fairness, determination, good self-image, and high moral values.  In 2011 the Denver Broncos drafted Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller. Like any other high first round draft pick that individual is expected to become the face of the franchise during their tenure with that team. Miller

did not disappoint the fans of the Broncos after his rookie season. He accomplished many honorable awards such as a trip to the Pro Bowl, Second-team All-Pro, AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and recorded a total of 11.5 sacks. Surprisingly the rookie superstar did not have the famous sophomore slump like most impact athletes do. Miller earned a second trip to the Pro Bowl, named First-team All-Pro, and named number nine on the NFL’s top 100 list. He finished his sophomore season with 18.5 sacks. Minus a few fines for roughing during his early years, everything seemed perfect for the 24 year old.

In July, 2013, Von Miller was suspended four games for violating league policy, depending if he was willing to appeal. Miller used his social media account, twitting, “nothing wrong.” In August, 2013, Von Miller’s suspension was raised from four games to six, failing to win his appeal. In that same month he was arrested by warrant for driving related charges from October 2012. In September 2013, Miller was cited for driving with a suspended license. During the end of September, he was caught unsuccessfully attempting to corrupt his drug test with the help from a urine collector. Miller will also be tested in the future for the use of Performance Enhancement Drugs (PEDs) due to the suspicion of the tampering of the urine sample. Von Miller’s six game suspension will be over October 20,2013 when the Denver Broncos take on the Indianapolis Colts.  Even though Miller is a superstar in the NFL, his locker room will be divided over the mixed feeling over his immature decisions in the past year.

          According to Coakley’s text, page 172-173 talks about deviance in sport, connecting to cheating to receive the upper hand. Coakley classifies the deviance into six main categories cheating, gambling, shaving points, engaging in unfair play, fighting, and taking illegal PEDs. Once the youth realizes that the professional athletes are performing these acts it will filter down into the grass root organizations. Youth athletes idolize a group or a single athlete and attempt to mimic their playing style. The next generation of youth athletes may begin to start injecting themselves with PEDs to become the top high school athlete in their sport just to have a chance to earn a full scholarship at the intercollegiate level. PEDs were are currently being used at a professional level to earn larger contracts and receiving minor fines opposed to receiving lifetime bans. Players that use other illegal substances such as marijuana need to face the same legal consequences as the PEDs users because of the image it portrays on todays youth society. The best way to make sure this does not reach the interscholastic level is to enforce lifetime bans from that sport. Is it right to pay millions of dollars to a star athlete for cheating their way to stardom or using other illegal substances such as marijuana? 

Rolling out a Rookie Orientation

Sports & Socialization

NHL, Union Joins Other Sports By Rolling Out Rookie Orientation

By: Emily Forloines & Alex Wenrich

In class, we discussed how socialization was an essential part of class. Our focus in class was really focused on how to socialize kids into sport, but rookie orientation programs are also socialization processes. The NHL announced that they has a rookie orientation program where about 90 players were scheduled to come out for their benefit to learn the ropes of the NHL. The NFL, MLB and NBA already have established rookie programs. The rookie program is meant to teach incoming players about training, media techniques, and presentations of health and safety issues with a section about how to manage personal details and finances. Rookies face a huge dose of reality when they step into the spotlight and many just do not know how to manage it all. Alex Dagg, NHLPA (National Hockey League Players Assocication) director of operations said, "They are about to be coming into a fishbowl where they will be analyzed all the time". 

Coakley explains a study done by sport sociologist, Chris Stevenson, where he wanted to learn more about what makes an elite athlete. Stevenson concluded that it is an in-depth, interactive process that the players of their respected sport socialize and become committed to that activity. Coakley explains that the way athletes are introduced and maintained in sport determines whether they will succeed or ultimately drop that sport. The rookie programs that are available for the big league sports are important because these top athletes obviously have the talent for the team; however, they most likely do not have the skills that are need as star athletes. Socialization is a continuous process for people who participate in sports since they are going through different levels and new teams, they have to get used to the new expectations and roles they will hold.

Biogenesis in the MLB

Deviance in Sport

Biogenesis

By: Emily Forloines & Alex Wenrich

In class we discussed the topic of the values of sport in of all levels from little league to the majors.  During the lecture we learned that a value is anything that is desirable and important (personal, societal, and organizational). Values are like a coin they have two sides; with every bit of positive there are negatives to follow. An amoral society or graying of right and wrong, cheating, lying, deceiving, rule breaking, and lack of respect for authority.   When someone asks the question, what is the most amoral event you could think of in professional sport, what do you think of? Some may say the “Black Sox Scandal”,  “Pete Rose Gambling Problem”,  “Michael Vick Dog Fighting”, or even the “Shapiro Scandal?”

Anthony Bosch

Most recently during the year of 2013 a document was leaked out of Coral Gables, Florida from a practice named Biogenesis that specialized in anti-aging. A gentleman named Anthony Bosch ran the practice. He was supplying anabolic steroids to Major League Baseball players. A list of 13 names was listed in the documents that were attached to the practice. The largest names attached to the Biogenesis Clinic were New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun, and Washington National Gio Gonzalez. Rumors have been flying around since the 2012 season. Due to the rumors Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, and Yasmani Grandal served their 50 game suspensions that season. Gio Gonzalez and Danny Valencia had their names cleared from the list because they ended up doing nothing wrong. Other players that received suspensions were Nelson Cruz, Everth Cabrera, Jhonny Peralta, Antonio Bastardo, Francisco Cervelli, Jordany Valdespin, Jesus Montero, Cesar Puello, Sergio Escalona, Fernando Martinez, Fautino de los Santos, Jordan Norberto. They all received 50 game suspensions. Ryan Braun received a 65 game suspension and  Alexander Rodriguez received a 211 game suspension. Players all had their own rights to appeal the case. Anthony Bosch originally would not speak up about the leaked document and was sued by the MLB. After time has pasted, Bosch came clean with the media and the MLB and said that the document was true and that he had personally injected some of the athletes himself.

According to Coakley’s text, page 180-89 talks about the substance abuse in sport and the consequences that occur to someone. He argues that steroid users do not deserve to keep their league-recognized records such as Barry Bonds’ homerun record, and Roger Clemens not being admitted to the hall of fame in Cooperstown. Coakley also believes that drug testing needed in all professional and colligate level sports. I could not agree with this statement anymore, their needs to be an agreement with the leagues and the players’ association stating that each athlete will be tested once every six months. Even thought this process will be expensive the drug usage in sport is higher then ever, and we need to clean up our business before we can take another step forward towards the future of the games. 

Concussions

Violence in Sports
Concussions

By: Emily Forloines & Alex Wenrich

               In class we discussed the topic of sport having unhealthy risks such as concussions, Alzheimer’s, and early death. Consequently, concussions are a trend on the rise and show no sign of stopping. On February 23^rd 2013 a total of 23 players in the NHL had concussions (cbssports). That happens to be 4% of the players in the NHL. Even though that doesn’t seem like very much, but that is almost one player per team. Concussions that are being sustained are not from the fist fighting aspect of ice hockey, they are from checking from behind, having poor icing rules, and players not keeping their heads up while skating. 

               Some players are still signed long term to teams and have not stepped on the ice in uniform for years, because the team cannot afford to buyout contracts due the agreements the NHL has with the NHLPA. On December 1^st 2009, Boston Burins forward Marc Savard was extended to a 7 year $28.05 million dollar deal. One year later on January 23^rd, Savard received a body check that changed his career. He has yet to step on the ice since. 

              Philadelphia Flyer Eric Lindros had the talent to do anything imaginable on the ice during his young playing career. Many writers and scouts compared Lindros to Wayne Gretzky. During the 1999-2000 playoffs, the flyers were facing their rival the Devils from New Jersey. Scott Stevens was the hammer of the New Jersey Devils defense. Rules were very loose and did not defend players very well. Lindros skated through the neutral zone with his head not up, and skated into Stevens. Stevens left his feet and through his elbow into the passing Lindros. In the modern rules Stevens would have been ejected, fined, and suspended. Lindros was forced to take the whole next season off due to Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS). 

As the years pass new players enter the league and try to make names for them selves. Raffi Torres was never a lean player in the NHL. He was a repeated offender for illegal hits to the head. Brendan Shanahan, league disciplinarian, is in charge of handing out suspensions and fines in the league. His philosophy is like an inverted pyramid; the more you repeat the same act the higher the fine and the longer the suspension. The highest suspension that Torres was dealt was a 25 game suspension after lunging at Chicago Blackhawk Marian Hossa. 

According to Coakley’s text, page 202-203 talks about violence and masculinity in sport. Coakley states, “if we want to understand violence in sports, we must understand gender ideology and issues of masculinity in culture.” Players can still have the mentality to be physical if the NHL sets new rules, higher fines, and longer suspensions.  If you reflect on these past cases the league made improvements. During the 2013 season the goal is to reduce the amount of concussions sustained in the NHL. Commissioner Gray Bettman met with the NHLPA and disused that all new player must wear a case or visor around their helmets. Current players were grandfathered into the rule if they chose not to follow this safety trend. Secondly, the NHL and NHLPA adapted to a hybrid icing to minimize the number of blindsided hits into the board. Thirdly, in the grass root programs youth player have stop signs sewed to their backs reminding the opposing players that it is illegal to hit from behind. Finally the league is trying to ban fighting in the NHL just like they have in the Olympic games. They believe that this will be the most important rule ever to be passed through the sport.