DOCUMENT RESUME ED 366 517 SO 023 358 TITLE [Sportsmanship.] INSTITUTION Constitutional Rights Foundation, Los Angeles, Calif. PUB DATE 93 NOTE 10p. AVAILABLE FROMConstitutional Rights Foundation, 601 South Kingsley Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90005. PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT CRF Sports and the Law; v7 n2 p1-8 Spr 1993 EDRS PRICE MFOI/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Athletes; *Athletics; Citizenship Education; Elementary Secondary Education; *Law Related Education; Self Control; Social Studies; Sport Psychology; *Sportsmanship; *Values IDENTIFIERS Ashe (Arthur); McSorley (Marty) ABSTRACT This publication is part of the Sports and the Law program sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. The program draws on young people's natural interest in sports to stimulate their involvement in education, and provides teacher training, lesson plans, a textbook and accompanying videotape, an annual conference, and classroom visits by sports and legal professionals. This issue contains four articles examining problems that athletes and others involved in sports are having fcllowing the laws and rules governing sports. The first article, "A Dangerous Game," discusses the positive and negative aspects of sports. The article suggests that it is difficult to identify at what point sports norms like "a quest for excellence" and "go for it" stop encouraging individual achievement and self esteem, and begin motivating athletes to act selfishly and take whatever measuresare necessary to excel, regardless of the costs. The second article is an interview with Los Angeles Kings hockey player Marty McSorley. In the interview, teamwork, sportsmanship, and the spirit of competitionare discussed. The third section is a collection of five photographs taken at the 1993 Sports and the Law Conference. The fourth article, "Coach's Column" (Andy Schwich), discusses Arthur Ashe and his contributions to sports oriented civic participation, the basis of sports and the law. Ashe represented equal opportunity for participation and fair competition, following the rules of thegame, and dignity. He exemplified what the positive aspects of sports in life should be. The issue also contains questions for discussion and announcements of a series of lesson plans and an essay contest devoted to sports and the law. aw *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** [Sportsmanship] U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office ol Educatc,,a1 Researchand Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCESINFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproducedas received from the Person or organization originating it 0 {Amor changes have been madeto Improve reproducl ion qualotY Points ol view or opinions statedin this doctr ment do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL H BEEN GRANTED BY 'T_Ooo)' buo TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." r() BEST COPYAWL' 2 '1- "1 THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION Spring 1993 volume I number 2 'Aro 111111111__ *If id Cosponsoced br =FL INS 3 _17ST COPY 0 A Dangerous GameWhat Do You Think? S&L ConferenceCoach's CornerEssay Contest In addition, an increasing number of college and A Dangerous Game university programs have been found guilty of If you ask ten different people to give you their numerous rule violations ranging from improper definition of "family," you are likely to get ten recruiting to point-shaving. For instance, in 1989, different answers. The same might be said for almost twenty-two schools were on NCAA probation for any topic or issuethe importance of education, the rules violations. Sd tools such as the University of San role of government, the value of money, and so on. Francisco and Tula ne had to drop their basketball In everything, there is always more than one programs because of serious rule infractions. perspective. Southern Methodist University's football program Even something like the importance of sports is was given the "death penalty" (a prolonged subject to varying opinions. From one perspective, suspension) for repeated recruiting violations. At sports are beneficial to youth because they provide a North Carolina State University, school investigations good foundation for character development. Through in 1989 revealed that a shocking 10 out of 12 sports, according to this view, youngpeople can learn basketball players were under academic warning. the fundamentals of effort, Bettmann Archive Throughout Coach Jim Valvano's 9 years there, 29 of determination, concentration, and his 43 players had been on teamwork. These fundamentals such warning. which are necessary to sports, are Yet, despite this negative also important inlife. Those who information, college advocate sports also claim that they administrators and athletic provideaconstructive way foi directors insist that sports young people to spend their time programs are beneficial. They and energy, and that sports argue that sports promote programs help teach discipline and school spirit and raise money keep kids out of trouble. for school programs. Said Dick Others strongly disagree with Schultz, executive director of these views, however. Criticsof the NCAA, "There is a firm sports argue that they can promote feeling that we have turned the violence and set kids up for failure. corner when it comes to major Putting too much emphasis on violations. We are getting on "winning" and the development of top of this integrity issue... the"totalathlete"gives young Ninety-nine percent of people a distorted perspective of everything that is going on in life, argue the critics.Itfillstheir intercollegiate athletics today is heads with dreams of exceptionally positive." super-stardom and creates a social structure based That statement was made in 1989. Have things solely upon athletic ability. Critics worry that those improved? If news headlines are any indication, who excelinsportsoftenreceiveprefeialtial Schultz's statement seems to be overly optimistic. treatment and can be subject to a different set of Since that time, big-name programs like the rule University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Arizona State's The arguments for and against the value of sports basketball programs have continued to be penalized in the lives of youth are endless. It's safe to say, for breaking the rules. however, that both sides raise valid points. Even more troublesome is the increasing number Before the mid-1970's, no one really thought that of individual athletes who get into trouble with the sports had negative consequences. Since then sports law. The news seems filled with reports of athletes have becoine MOM conftversial. WrongJoing by being arrested for everything from drunk driving to athlete's, coaches, mariasinent,, agents, and drugs, from assault and battery to attempted murder spectators have been"widely publicized. Some of or rape or weapons charges. Numerous professional these stories have caused shock and disappointment athletes and role models have ruined their careers in the institution of sports. For instance, in 1988, the and shattered the dreams of fans because of serious news of track star Ben Johnson's use of anabolic rule violations. For instance, football star Dexter steroids in preparing for the Seoul Olympics made Manley's career was ruined because of serious drug headlines worldwide. It cast a shadow over the use, and baseball great Pete Rose was banned for life traditional glory and integrity of the games. from baseball because of gambling problems. 4 A bleak two-week period in January, 1989, saw some people credit coaches who take chances on five Oklahoma Sooners' football players arrested and people with not-so-solid backgrounds, praising them charged with felonies. Three players were accused of for changing lives and providing second-chance gang-raping a female student, one player shot opportunities. another during a late-night argument, and one player, Fans need to understand their role in the the team's quarterback, was arrested for selling problems as well In a sense, fans can send mixed cocaine. The arrest of Oklahoma quarterback Charles messageson the one hand, they encourage Thompson was especially troubling to players, fans, aggressive and tough players, big hits, and a lot of and Coach Barry Switzer. Thompson had been "action" during a game. They pay big money and considered the team leader. Many people looked up show their approval through their cheers. But when to hima week before his arrest, he had lectured any of this behavior carries over off the field or court, students at a nearby elementary school about the they are quick to criticize and place blame. The exact evils of using drugs. Said one of Thompson's behaviors they encourage in sports are condemned teammates, "We bestowed trust in him because he when displayed elsewhere. This situation can be very hci demonstrated difficult for athletes, himself to be a leader. especially young This knocks my feet Some argue that players, organizers, ones, who have to out from under me. I administrators, coaches, fans, and thedecide what is mean, who can you appropriate behavior have confidence in?" media all contribute to the situation. amidst conflicting Fans, too, are pressures. From the affected by fans' perspective, it is scandab and negative attributes of sports. Last year, important to support a "winning" team. But this kind the conviction