Sports and Sociology.
Watching the videos, I am impressed by the way the truth about sports is spreading. For quite a long period, people have been ‘blind’ to see the many flaws in sports. In previous centuries, the flaws in sports were not common, but things have really changed. In the past, sports was a good recipe for socialization and character development, but it is no longer the case.
First, sports reflect inequality in society, as revealed by Colin Kaepernick’s video. Colin’s story is just a representation of many unheard cases where sports is a platform for inequality. For him, the US sports mistreated the blacks and the people of colour. In other spheres, inequality extends to races. Authorities heading sports are in the front line of the inequality, as evidenced by President Trump’s speech when he orders Colin to be chased away from the team.
While the function of sports in society was meant to be creating symbolic value for participants, promote youthful socializations and enhance character and educational development, sports have missed the mark. Instead, sports are a place for exclusion rather than inclusion; as the video notes, they care about money. Sports reflect inequalities in society in myriad ways. For example, gender inequality is undeniable in sports. Football is a male-dominated game. Football has been cultured to scare away women and promote males. Besides, sports fail when they overemphasize winning rather than what they are meant to promote. The participant who fails to win is considered a failure.
Additionally, sports are promoting negative values. As people interact with each other, there is a spread of immoral behaviour and the negatives of western culture. During the interactions in sporting activities, people learn smoking and drug abuse. Therefore, as a society, we really do not need sports, simply because it has failed. Instead of promoting positive values, sports are run politically by cartels that are driven by the profit agenda.