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Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 1 Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 2 OTHER BOOKS OF RELATED INTEREST OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS SERIES Chemical Dependency Discrimination Drug Abuse Feminism Health and Fitness Male/Female Roles CURRENT CONTROVERSIES SERIES Illegal Drugs Minorities Racism Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 3 Laura K. Egendorf, Book Editor David L. Bender, Publisher Bruno Leone, Executive Editor Bonnie Szumski, Editorial Director David Haugen, Managing Editor Greenhaven Press, Inc., San Diego, California Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 4 Cover photo: Branbtner and Staedler Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sports and athletes : opposing viewpoints / Laura K. Egendorf, book editor. p. cm. — (Opposing viewpoints series) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7377-0057-2 (lib. : alk. paper). — ISBN 0-7377-0056-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Sports—Moral and ethical aspects. 2. Sports—Social aspects. I. Egendorf, Laura K., 1973– . II. Series: Opposing viewpoints series (Unnumbered) GV706.3.S668 1999 796—dc21 98-32022 CIP Copyright ©1999 by Greenhaven Press, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electrical, mechanical, or otherwise, including, but not limited to, photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher. Every effort has been made to trace the owners of copyrighted material. Greenhaven Press, Inc., P.O. Box 289009 San Diego, CA 92198-9009 Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 5 “CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW...ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS.” First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution The basic foundation of our democracy is the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of expression.The Opposing Viewpoints Series is dedicated to the concept of this basic freedom and the idea that it is more important to practice it than to enshrine it. Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 6 CONTENTS Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 9 Introduction 12 Chapter 1: Do Sports Benefit Children? Chapter Preface 16 1. Sports Can Benefit Children 17 Marty Ewing 2. Sports Can Harm Children 24 Patricia Dalton 3. A Preoccupation with Sports Is Detrimental to African-American Youth 30 Salim Muwakkil 4. A Preoccupation with Sports Is Not Detrimental to African-American Youth 36 William Raspberry 5. Professional Athletes Are Not Good Role Models 40 Armstrong Williams 6. Athletes Should Not Be Expected to Be Role Models 44 Stephen D. Mosher 7. Overdemanding Parents Can Mar Children’s Sports Experiences 51 Mike Beamish 8. Inappropriate Coaching Can Mar Children’s Sports Experiences 57 Joan Ryan Periodical Bibliography 62 Chapter 2: Should College Sports Be Reformed? Chapter Preface 64 1. College Entrance Requirements for Athletes Are Unfair 65 Russell Gough 2. College Entrance Requirements for Athletes Are Not Unfair 69 Tom Knott 3. College Athletes Should Be Paid 73 Dick DeVenzio Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 7 4. College Athletes Should Receive Scholarship Extensions 78 Gregg Easterbrook 5. College Athletes Should Be Encouraged to Make Education a Priority 82 Lisa Nehus Saxon 6. Athletes Should Not Be Obligated to Make Education a Priority 86 John Feinstein Periodical Bibliography 91 Chapter 3: Is Racial Discrimination a Problem in Sports? Chapter Preface 93 1. Racial Inequality in Sports Is a Serious Problem 94 Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society 2. Racial Inequality in Sports Is Not a Serious Problem 100 Wayne M. Barrett 3. Minority Coaches Face Discrimination in Hiring 104 New York Amsterdam News 4. Minority Coaches and Other Personnel Are Facing Less Discrimination in Hiring 108 Mark Whicker 5. African-American Athletes Should Speak Out Against Racism 112 Kenneth L. Shropshire 6. African-American Athletes Should Not Be Obligated to Speak Out Against Racism 118 Adolph Reed Jr. Periodical Bibliography 124 Chapter 4: Is There Sexual Equality in Sports? Chapter Preface 126 1. Title IX Is Unfair to Men’s Sports 127 Elizabeth Arens 2. Title IX Is Necessary for Women and Is Not Unfair to Men’s Sports 136 Lynette Labinger Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 8 3. Women Are Not as Athletically Gifted as Men 140 Steve Sailer and Stephen Seiler 4. Women Can Be as Athletically Gifted as Men 148 Mariah Burton Nelson Periodical Bibliography 157 Chapter 5: Is Drug Use a Problem in Sports? Chapter Preface 160 1. Banning Drugs from Sports Is Important 161 Christopher Clarey 2. Banning Drugs from Sports Is Pointless 165 Robert Lipsyte 3. China Ignores Athletic Drug Policies 169 Phillip Whitten 4. The United States Ignores Athletic Drug Policies 174 Asiaweek 5. Testing Student-Athletes for Drugs Is Appropriate 178 Nosson Scherman 6. Testing Student-Athletes for Drugs Is Inappropriate 182 Dave Kindred Periodical Bibliography 186 For Further Discussion 188 Organizations to Contact 191 Bibliography of Books 194 Index 197 Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 9 WHY CONSIDER OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS? “The only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this.” John Stuart Mill In our media-intensive culture it is not difficult to find differing opinions. Thousands of newspapers and magazines and dozens of radio and television talk shows resound with differing points of view.The difficulty lies in deciding which opinion to agree with and which “experts” seem the most credible. The more in- undated we become with differing opinions and claims, the more essential it is to hone critical reading and thinking skills to evaluate these ideas. Opposing Viewpoints books address this problem directly by presenting stimulating debates that can be used to enhance and teach these skills. The varied opinions con- tained in each book examine many different aspects of a single issue. While examining these conveniently edited opposing views, readers can develop critical thinking skills such as the ability to compare and contrast authors’ credibility, facts, argu- mentation styles, use of persuasive techniques, and other stylis- tic tools. In short, the Opposing Viewpoints Series is an ideal way to attain the higher-level thinking and reading skills so es- sential in a culture of diverse and contradictory opinions. In addition to providing a tool for critical thinking, Opposing Viewpoints books challenge readers to question their own strongly held opinions and assumptions. Most people form their opinions on the basis of upbringing, peer pressure, and per- sonal, cultural, or professional bias. By reading carefully bal- anced opposing views, readers must directly confront new ideas as well as the opinions of those with whom they disagree. This is not to simplistically argue that everyone who reads opposing views will—or should—change his or her opinion. Instead, the series enhances readers’ understanding of their own views by encouraging confrontation with opposing ideas. Careful exami- nation of others’ views can lead to the readers’ understanding of the logical inconsistencies in their own opinions, perspective on 9 Sports Frontmatter 3/1/04 11:03 AM Page 10 why they hold an opinion, and the consideration of the possi- bility that their opinion requires further evaluation. EVALUATING OTHER OPINIONS To ensure that this type of examination occurs, Opposing View- points books present all types of opinions. Prominent spokes- people on different sides of each issue as well as well-known professionals from many disciplines challenge the reader. An ad- ditional goal of the series is to provide a forum for other, less known, or even unpopular viewpoints. The opinion of an ordi- nary person who has had to make the decision to cut off life support from a terminally ill relative, for example, may be just as valuable and provide just as much insight as a medical ethi- cist’s professional opinion. The editors have two additional pur- poses in including these less known views. One, the editors en- courage readers to respect others’ opinions—even when not enhanced by professional credibility. It is only by reading or lis- tening to and objectively evaluating others’ ideas that one can determine whether they are worthy of consideration. Two, the inclusion of such viewpoints encourages the important critical thinking skill of objectively evaluating an author’s credentials and bias. This evaluation will illuminate an author’s reasons for taking a particular stance on an issue and will aid in readers’ evaluation of the author’s ideas. As series editors of the Opposing Viewpoints Series, it is our hope that these books will give readers a deeper understanding of the issues debated and an appreciation of the complexity of even seemingly simple issues when good and honest people disagree. This awareness is particularly important in a demo- cratic society such as ours in which people enter into public debate to determine the common good. Those with whom one disagrees should not be regarded as enemies but rather as people whose views deserve careful examination and may shed light on one’s own. Thomas Jefferson once said that “difference of opinion leads to inquiry, and inquiry to truth.” Jefferson, a broadly educated man, argued that “if a nation expects to be ignorant and free . it expects what never was and never will be.” As individuals and as a nation, it is imperative that we consider the opinions of oth- ers and examine them with skill and discernment.