Sports and Social Mobility: Myths vs Reality

1. Unit 2Chapter 15, Section 3 Social Issues in Sports Mr. Young Sociology

2. Sport and Social Mobility • Many people view sports as a way to increase their prestige, social mobility, or as a way out of their old life and into a life of fame and fortune • Tragically, for most people, this is not the case

3. Michael Oher • Drafted in first round of 2009 NFL draft by Baltimore Ravens • Went from being in foster care and homeless to the NFL, Blindside

4. Josh Hamilton • 1st overall pick in ’99 draft by Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays • Basically left baseball because of drugs, only to re-emerge in 2007 and is now one of the best outfielders in the game

5. Josh Hamilton Story • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIF3Ybx-S5Q • 5 minutes (play from beginning to 3:40)

6. Len Bias • 2nd overall pick in 1986 by Boston Celtics • 1st team All-American from Maryland • Died from Cocaine overdose two days after being drafted

7. Len Bias Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiXvNhXWHOc • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEOvpkf-7M8 • 6 minute short film

8. Jackie Robinson • First African American to play in Major League Baseball • Was also a great baseball player, elected to the Baseball HOF

9. Jackie Robinson Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLnP3fWh1tE

10. King Kelley Coleman • Considered greatest high school basketball player in state of Kentucky, maybe of all time • Never played college basketball

11. King Kelley Coleman Videos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl8mTOCyQm4&feature=related • Start at 2:03 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWeqT3p39_g

12. Social Mobility • Sports usually does promote an increase in social mobility • College athletes tend to be better educated, earn more money, and have higher occupational prestige than their fathers • College athletes as a whole are more successful than college students who do not participate in sports

13. Upward mobility for minorities • Most people point to famous minorities such as MJ, Tiger, and the Williams sisters • However, most do not focus on education or a second career if sports doesn’t work • Only a small, small, small percentage of athletes will ever make it to the professional level • Athletes need to focus on a second career just in case.

17. Fortunate 50 Players • http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2009/ • Based on 2008 salaries

18. That's A Lot Of Angel Cake • A breakdown of Albert Pujols' 10-year guaranteed contract with the Angels, with additional provisions: Salary2012: $12 million; 2013: $16 million2014: $23 million; 2015: $24 million2016: $25 million; 2017: $26 million2018: $27 million; 2019: $28 million2020: $29 million; 2021: $30 millionPersonal services agreementSides agree that after the expiration of the contract or Pujols' retirement as a player, they will enter into a 10-year personal services relationship and Pujols will be paid $1 million annually.Milestone accomplishmentsThe sides agree they will enter into a separate marketing agreement in which Pujols will be paid for the promotion and marketing of specified milestone accomplishments. Among them are a $3 million payment for 3,000 hits and a $7 million payment for 763 home runs.Award BonusesMost Valuable Player: $500,000MVP second or third place: $75,000Gold Glove: $75,000Silver Slugger: $75,000All-Star election or selection: $50,000World Series MVP: $100,000ALCS MVP: $75,000 Other perks include: • A hotel suite on road trips. • A luxury suite at the ballpark for the Pujols Foundation, his charitable group, for 10 home games a year. • The right to buy a luxury suite between first base and third base for all home games.

19. Sport and Racism • Stacking- assignment of players to less central positions on the basis of race or ethnicity • Central positions involve leadership and decision making • African Americans are paid either as much or more than others unless their level of performance is controlled

20. Discrimination Cont. • We see that African Americans have less likely chance of getting hired in a sports-related job after playing

21. Sexism in Sports

22. Sexism in Sport • Has been around since Ancient Greece • Women who were physically or intellectually superior to them were unfeminine • Playing sports were considered masculine, so may ladies did not play • Would harm a women’s health, especially her ability to bear kids

23. Sexism Cont. • 1972 changed the game Title 9 was enacted • Required high school and colleges to offer equal opportunity for females as it did males in sports • Originally did not worry about sports, was worried about hiring and employment services

25. Title 9 Videos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae61ASpO3qo • Too strong for a women: title 9 (10 min) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttC_d4nSq8s&feature=related • John Stossel view (5:08) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyokXf3gyM4&feature=related • Generation IX (10 min)

26. Sexism Cont. • Women are still denied equal access to the power structure of sport • Even though Title 9 has helped with equality for females in sports, it may have had a backlash in female coaching • More men are now being attracted to coaching female sports because of pay and national attention

27. Sexism Cont. • Very few women’s professional sports and even fewer women play in them • Women usually earn significantly less • Michelle Wie signed $10 million contract, Tiger woods signed $60 million • Jennie Finch around 500,000-1 million, Arod, 33 million