Sports Entertainment: Pastime or Obsession?
From little leagues to professional, the industry of sports entertainment has made a tremendous impact on the American society. Ranging from parents postponing business meetings to major wagers being made on the Superbowl, sports drastically affect the lives of American citizens. The American sports industry promotes a fun, easy going culture to outsiders, giving American citizens a refuge from the stress of life by providing them with wholesome entertainment; however, while this was the initial intent, the industry of sports has transformed into quite the opposite.
Much like the modeling industry effects society’s view of women, the sports industry affects society’s perception of men in the same way. Due to the standard of athletes, society cripples men with expectations of big muscles, small brains, and intolerance of anything else. With these expectations, many future fathers anxiously await the birth of his boy to toss the pigskin around in the yard – undoubtedly the next NFL (National Football League) quarterback in the making.
In addition to the corruption of society’s view of men, the sports industry has also implemented an unjust view of importance into the American society. According to the official NFL website, Bill Parcells - head coach of the Dallas Cowboys whom just retired – was estimated at receiving over five million dollars per year in exchange for his coaching abilities. In the most recent poll (recorded in 2002), teachers in the state of California were recorded at being the most wealthy in their line of work, bringing in a little over fifty-three thousand dollars per year. This corruption becomes very apparent when men who play a game are paid nearly one hundred times more money than those that educate the future leaders of the country.
Despite the corruption on our nation, the sports industry provides positive situations for the youth of the country. With the drug usage and crime rate of America’s youth increasing, various sports offer children something to occupy their time, decreasing the chances of their activity in such things. However, at the same time, negative effects begin to materialize if one decides to pursue the career of an athlete. With the attempt of excelling in the sports career, the usage of illegal performance enhancers is very common, including more than 60% of all athletes having used steroids at one point or another - according to David L. Bever and David R. Lowry of Oxford University.
In addition to the steroid usage, outrageous payrolls, and corruption of society previously mentioned, the sports industry manages to entrance millions of Americans per year with nearly ninety million viewing the pinnacle of sports entertainment: the Superbowl. For every thirty seconds of advertising during this spectacle of sports, over 2.5 million dollars are collected for the National Football League. According to the Nielsen Media Research Center, on average, each broadcast of the Superbowl runs nearly fifty minutes of commercials or advertising – totaling the amount of money brought in, on advertising alone, to an outstanding 250 million dollars. To further prove the corruption of our nation, this atrocious amount of money is put forth into a football game while – according to the US Census Burea – over thirty-seven million Americans are stricken with poverty.
All in all, through statistics and research, it can be stated that the American society idolizes the industry of sports entertainment. Through undeniable surveys, it is concluded that the average American values the result of a football game more than he values the wellbeing of his neighbor. With over ninety million viewers tuning in for one single football game, it is clear that the sports industry has a major impact on our society. In essence, when weighing both the positive and the negative, it is evident that the sports industry affects our society and culture in an appalling fashion.
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