Websites Lead Ins and Commentary

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Aaron Rodriguez

Calver

American Literature: Period 5

April 14, 2014

Websites Lead In and Commentary

"Cheating is as old as the Olympics." http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/29/opinion/
     potter-olympics-cheating/. David Potter, 29 July 2012. Web. 26 Mar.
     2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/29/opinion/
     potter-olympics-cheating/>.

Lead In: David Potter a writer for the CNN website talks about the history of cheating in the Olympics. Potter states that the earliest form of cheating was performance suppression.

“Some forms of performance suppression were more effective than others. The most colorful was to place a curse on an athlete so he would not do his best (or the gods of the underworld would drive him mad). This often involved the burial of a lead tablet containing the curse in some place that mattered -- ancient racing venues have produced a fair number of these items” (Potter).

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Commentary: David Potter states how cheating was done in the ancient times. Athletes during the time use suppression tactics to effect performance of athletes. He then gives an example of the most interesting way that athletes were subjected to performance suppression. His example shows the earliest forms of cheating which has escalated to the cheating of today of performance enhancing drugs.

     .

Dan DeIuliis & David DeIuliis, Mar. 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
     <http://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jsas/6776111.0004.102/
     --under-mounting-pressure-a-history-of-media-influence?rgn=main;view=fulltext>.

Lead in: Dan and David DeIuliss writers for Journal of Sports Administration and Supervision a sports website who covers all aspects of sports.  

“Congress has repeatedly targeted adolescents, citing a link between use by professional athletes and subsequent abuse among teenage populations. Investigations by Congress have raised questions regarding the legality of government intervention with MLB, a private enterprise. This research analyzes whether Congress was indeed within its legal means to investigate baseball. It then outlines patterns of media coverage, legislation, and adoption of tougher penalties, and examines an example of

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proposed legislation in attempt to identify its specific goals and target populations.” (Dan DeIuliis & David DeIuliis)

Commentary: The quote made by Dan and David DeIuiis shows readers that congress is involved in sports. The writing also demonstrates how important sports are to society. The cheating in sports is very serious. This issue is such a big problem that breaking rules in sports is basically breaking laws. This puts a whole new aspect to cheating when it becomes part of the law.

"Eating Disorders in Athletics: Pressure from Parents, Coaches and Appearance
     Expectations Play Role Read more: http://www.momsteam.com/nutrition/
     eating-disorders-in-athletics-external-pressures-and-societal-expectations-play-l
     arge-role#ixzz2x6d4TN3p." http://www.momsteam.com/nutrition/
     eating-disorders-in-athletics-external-pressures-and-societal-expectations-play-l
     arge-role. BEVERLY L. STILES, 1 Nov. 2008. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
     <http://www.biomedsearch.com/article/
     Relationships-Among-Body-Satisfaction-Social/77384743.html>.

Lead in: The pressures of sports have led to many mental disorders to the athletes. Beverly L. Stiles highlights the effects when she says,

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“Sports participation emphasizes competitive success.  There are often social expectations and pressure to achieve and to win.  Likewise, those with eating disorders and body image disturbances are often subject to external pressures to achieve as well as pressures to appear a certain way” (Stiles).

Commentary: Sitles statement uncovers the effects of emphasis on competitive success. She states how these pressures lead to eating disorders and body image issues. Athletes with external disorders are subject to the pressures to be a certain way. This may lead to drugs in order to meet the expectations of others around them.

Failure’ and ‘Disappointment’: have we lost perspective? Grace May,
     1 Aug. 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. <http://www.mamamia.com.au/news/
     media-pressure-olympic-athletes/>.

Lead in: Grace May a writer for Mammia, a website which reports the popular topics in America gives an insight into the mind of the athlete.

“I know I haven’t let anyone down but I let a little bit of myself down and it was really tough last night, I’m sorry… The emotions are really high and there is so much pressure on the Olympics, and you put so much pressure on yourself. All you want to do is just go out there and represent your country and do a good job, and I was just trying to do that” (May).

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Commentary: In her quote Grace reveals the mindset of athletes. The athletes emotions run high when the competition is stiff. When athletes surmount to the pressure given by outside persons they submit to using PED’s in order to fulfill the expectations. The athletes want to always do their best and sometimes it is not good enough so the subjugation to drugs is normal. The pressure on athletes is so high and the media always makes stories seem bigger than they really are in order to sell papers. This business tactic for news reporters may affect the self-esteem of athletes. Which may lead to the use of PED’s to perform at the highest level and please the media’s expectations.

"Point-Counterpoint: Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Banned in Sport?"
     http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih9/bioethics/guide/teacher/
     Mod1_drug-sport-ethics.pdf. Thomas H. Murray, 16 Feb. 2009. Web. 26 Mar.
     2014. <http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih9/bioethics/guide/
     teacher/Mod1_drug-sport-ethics.pdf>.

Lead In:  Thomas H. Murray a writer for scienceeducation.gov, a federal website who provides information on federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

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enlightens us to seeing that the use of performance enhancing drugs take away the meaning of sports  

“What gives sport its meaning? We expect the winning athlete to combine extraordinary natural talents with exemplary effort, training and technique. These are all forms of human excellence” (Murray).

Commentary: Murray’s view is useful because it questions the meaning of sports if athletic organizations allow performance enhancing drugs. If they allow PED’s in the sports the “human excellence” is taken away from the game. Athletes will rely on the drugs instead of hard work and abilities. The use of performance enhancing drugs is

degrading to the sport because it takes all of the aspects of talent, hard work, training and technique away and puts a reliance on a drug to do all of the work.

Pressure and the pro: Why do so many of our top athletes suffer from stress?
     N.p., 19 Nov. 2006. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. <http://www.independent.co.uk/
     life-style/health-and-families/health-news/
     pressure-and-the-pro-why-do-so-many-of-our-top-athletes-suffer-from-stress-424937
     .html>.

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Lead In: Dr. Cripps reported to the Independent company which reports news in the UK and around the world that athletes are under a lot of stress. 

"Stress-related illnesses are extremely common in professional sports, and they are becoming more so as the pressures on athletes increase. The expectations are enormous and sometimes people cannot handle it" (Cripps).

Commentary: Cripps analysis on the athlete’s minds illustrates that athletes are under a lot of stress. This stress is caused from the enormous expectations by others. When athletes submit to the pressure this may cause them to take drastic measures to reach the expectations. These pressures can lead to the use of PED’s to perform at the highest level and meet expectations.

Lead In: ESPN.com which is the worldwide leader in sports reports the top 10 biggest cheaters in baseball. The top spot went to the “Black Sox” World Series.

Corked bats -- hey, the batter still has to make contact. Loaded balls -- the pitcher still has to get the ball in the strike zone or get the batter to swing. There is a certain amount of skill involved in all those cheating practices.

But the 1919 mob buyoff -- that is just reprehensible in every way shape and form. None of the cheaters you mentioned are banned forever from baseball -- the 1919 Black Sox

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have several people who will forever be remembered as just what they were ... cheaters. (Biggest Cheaters in Baseball)

Commentary: In baseball history ESPN.com reports that the 1919 World Series was the pronominal in baseball history. The game was this way for 3 reasons loaded balls, corked bats and the mob buyoff. The changing of the equipment changed how the players skills were used while using the rigged equipment. This gives the players a boost on their skills. The mob buyoff effected the games drastically because the players would throw away plays that they would have made if they rally tried. The teams were caught; however cheating has not gone away. Cheating has only changed it is now a change in ones biological make up with the use of PED’s.

Lead In: Leary who wrote for biomed search.com, a comprehensive medical search engine states how women are self conscious on their physique.

“Self-presentation appears to be significant in sport and exercise environments. In both settings, women may perceive that others are evaluating their physique and skill level. This compels self-presentational concerns. Women often engage in exercise to acquire the ideal female body (or one as close to the ideal as possible) suggesting self-presentation concerns as a motive for exercise” (Leary).

Commentary: Leary states that women are conscious of how others perceive them. Women feel that they are being constantly evaluated on their physique and skill level.  They use exercise to achieve the ideal body type. However, if they can not achieve their goal through hard work they may turn to PED’s. The use of PED’s has become a

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scapegoat from hard work. All the work will become easier and one will get the same result. People looking for the ideal body turn to these drugs because it is easy however, it can cause drastic effects to their bodies in the future.

The Wide World of Sports Cheating. Jeffrey Katz, 15 Jan. 2008. Web. 26 Mar.
     2014. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/
     story.php?storyId=14428316>.

Lead In: Jeffery Katz a writer for the National Public Radio, a station who reports various topics all over the world shows how early in peoples lives cheating begins

“A native of the Dominican Republic, Almonte threw the first no-hitter in Little League World Series history in 2001. His feat was erased from the record books after it was discovered that he was 14 at the time, two years older than what rules allowed” (Katz).

Commentary: Katz reveals how in 2001 the Dominican Republic team used an older player to get the edge on the other team. Almonte a 14 year old was competing against a team with players 10-12 years old. This was an unfair advantage because the pitcher had more experience and more growth. This was not only unfair to the other team but someone could have been severely injured. This is a sad instance in sports history. To think that as early as 14 children are convinced that cheating is okay. This is a gateway to cheatings in different forms and to continue cheating. 

UNDER PRESSURE. N.p., 11 June 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
     <http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/50291646/>.

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Lead In: Matthew Kory a writer for Sports on Earth, a group of sportswriters who report the news in the sports industry.

“It seems the Blue Jays themselves don't know. On April 21, Jays manager John Gibbons was asked whether the pressure was getting to his team. He said, "They know what's at stake. They're all giving it their best, we just haven't performed the way we hoped. That doesn't mean we're going to, and to be honest, we've run into some good pitching along the way, too." Later in the same interview he admitted, "There have been times when we've been over-aggressive." The first quote sounds like Gibbons is saying the pressure wasn't a problem, they've started slowly, they've faced better-than-average pitching, and it's early things will get better and on and on. The second sounds like, weeeeeell just maaaaaaaaybe the pressure is getting to us a little bit” (Kory).

Commentary: Kory’s investigation shows how the media is pushing so hard for answers. Kids are always told always do your best and everything will be ok. John Gibbons managers for the Jays said their team is trying their hardest to win games things just did not happen for them. The pressure is getting to his team. Sports have become way more than just playing a game. There is billions of dollars put into this industry and athletes are expected to perform at a very high level. If athletes do not perform at this level they will be scrutinized for their performance. This causes a lot of pressure on athletes. This causes them to strive enhance their performance and when they still can not reach the expected level they turn to PED’s for help.