sport and society
A) Let's explore how commercialism changes sports. When sports become entertainment packages what types of events or gimmicks do we tend to see? Pick one of the main sports and let's start naming some of the entertainment events that coincide with sports.
After that think of the ways the actual games are altered to make sports more exciting, understandable, and profitable. Pick any of the sports and tick off some of the ways.
After this, let's explore how sports could be set up differently if the goal wasn't to create a "market" for the games (explore what sports do not receive much attention in the media and sponsorship). Which model do you prefer? Why?
B)Read the media articles. Take a little time to listen to some sports radio. Now relate what you heard to the themes in the two articles.
Do you buy Goldberg's argument that sports talk radio covers up power relations?
What do you think of the approach that Zirin takes to sports?
How does his approach run counter to the media fare on mainstream radio?
How might it add an important counterpoint?