In your text book, Coakley (2007) states the following:
Experiences and traditions vary from one racial and ethnic group to another. What happens when people from various groups bring their experiences and traditions to sports and use them to guide how they play or how they celebrate on-the-field success? If white players from the University of Texas did a line dance after scoring a touchdown, would the NCAA make a rule prohibiting it (p.268)
View the cartoon and read Coakley’s statement. How would you answer his questions regarding the various experiences one racial or ethnic group brings to sports?
I would say as long as the celebration is non offensive than it could be acceptable (NFL only). various ethnic and racial groups bring cultural backgrounds to the game, which influences how they play in the venue. Most of the views are stereotypical saying that African Americans are more athletic than Caucasians, and Caucasians are more cerebral than African Americans are just those stereotypes. Their are many athletic white guys who would put to shame some African Americans. Being Cerebral in games can escape a lot of Caucasians, many African Americans can demonstrate the ability to run teams like point guards on the basketball court. If I was in the NFL and scored a touchdown i would Dance
ReplyDeleteI do not think that the NFL would punish or make any rules against players prohibiting white men from dancing in the endzone. Obviously, if this "dance" is excessive, then there will more than likely be a penalty flag and a fine. I think that the same thing goes for the NCAA, but there would simply be an unsportsmanlike conduct called if the dance were too extreme. Although there is the notion that "white people cant dance", I dont believe any sort of measure would be taken place to prevent white people from actually dancing if they scored a touchdown. I think people would actually find it more humorous and it may attract more attention to the game. Like Jordan said, if I scored a touchdown in the NCAA or NFL, I would get in the endzone and do a little jiggy.
ReplyDeleteI think that an endzone dance is a fine way to show emotion during a game. When you do something that is worth celebrating, why not dance. I do not believe that there should be any rules against an end zone dance unless it is offensive to a certain group or it is excessive, in which they should recieve the normal penalty. It is what makes watching football fun. I can bet that there are a ton of people that just watch Chad Johnson play specifically because they want to see him do his touchdown dance. This kind of action is not violent or hurtful in anyway, and it actually draws people to the games. Even though some people argue that it is unsportsmanlike, it is still apart of the game. Some people are modest when they do something good and some people dance. Its sports.
ReplyDeleteThe NCAA making a rule to prohibit an endzone dance? That sounds silly to me. There's a fine line between unsportmaship like conduct. I feel like as long as its not offensive to the public or other players and excessive in the game, than it is a great way to express your emotions of accomplishing your duty and demonstrating athletic skills. Obviously there are going to be penalties called if you are too excessive in your dance, but that's something all players should be aware of if they choose to dance. No matter who you are -White, black, yellow, green or brown, dancing should not be prevented at the endzone. As long as it deemed appropriate, I think you should go on and celebrate! I personally feel like the crowd would enjoy a little show. Sometimes people are drawn to watching certain teams and people play because of their traidtional dance moves seen in a game!
ReplyDeleteI think athletes should be able to be prideful and bring their culture in to the sports they play. However, some excessive celebrations might be considered offensive to the other team. This is where the referee must use discretion and punish teams with penalties. Sports provide the stage for athlete from various cultures to display their talents and represent their ethnic groups. Celebrating is one outlet for this representation. The players cannot line dance during the actual play in the game so let them do it during their celebrations. Take a look at the Hawaii football team. They do their dance before the game even begins. Again, the referee must use discretion when deciding if the dance is purposely offensive or intimidating.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's offensive to bring routine parts of the game to other racial groups. I think it's all part of the game. Other racial groups have come together to play the same sports. Celebrating is anyone's expression. I agree with Coakley.
ReplyDeleteAll leagues are sanctioned or have common rules for everyone. By saying that white players can not do a specific dance/celebration if celebrations were even allowed, but another ethnic group could do there's that would be wrong. This goes for any ethnic or racial groups. As long as the rules governing the sport are equal to everyone ethnic or racial group then it is all fair game, but you can not discriminate because a thing that white guys shouldn't and can't dance. I do not think a rule would be made to prohibit such a dance, it would be unreasonable.
ReplyDeleteI pretty much agree with everyone that touchdown dances are a perfectly acceptable part of the game as long as they are unoffensive and not excessive. People should be allowed to celebrate their accomplishments and if they do this within a certain frame where they are not taunting the other team or being disrespectful to the game then it should be allowed. It is good that there are penalties in place if a player takes it too far and goes beyond just be excited about their touchdown. People from different backgrounds are always going to react differently in situations, so this is what causes the different forms of celebration. Some are too modest to express their excitement and others are very vocal about their emotions. If the dance is not meant to offend the other team, but is rather a ritual of the scoring player or team then it should be accepted as part of the game.
ReplyDeleteI think sports is just sports. I do not think players are having celebration of plays for ethnic and racial reasons. They are just celebrating their team and feeling. There were some racial issues of goal celebrating in English Premiere Football League few years ago. However it is 2009. I think there are no more ethnic, racial or cultural back grounds in sports. Celebrating is just parts of the game. When i was watching home game, goal celebration made me to cheer more. It is no more racial or ethnic issues.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Coakley that experiences and traditions vary from one racial and ethnic group to another. Growing up, I have learned the differences between myself and my friends. Every one has their own way in how they go about things. I feel that when people bring their experiences and traditions to sports is personal and makes them feel comfortable in their environment. It is a way for people to express themselves, and fans can learn more about the athletes. You can learn what they value and what is important to them. It’s a great for athletes to express themselves in their play or celebration of on-the-field success. I personally have never had any special traditions when I played sports, but knew of many people that would point to the sky, wear crosses, or dance after a touchdown. In reference to the cartoon, I think it is quite hilarious. It’s funny because it is something that you wouldn’t expect to see. I don’t know if the NCAA would prohibit white players from line dancing in the end zone, but I wouldn’t put it past the NCAA to pass a ridiculous rule.
ReplyDeleteI fully believe that the endzone dance in the NFL is acceptable. There's no way that it would ever be prohibited if this white man line dance scenario occurred. It is completely acceptable for people to express their emotions and excitement through a little jig or whatever they please. However, I discourage the celebrations where people celebrate excessively or attempt to show-up an opponent. It especially upsets me when a batter hits a home run and then stares down the pitcher. The cartoon scenario is just funny to me because I find the idea that white men can't dance hilarious.
ReplyDeleteOf course the NCAA would rule against line dances, its members are constantly looking for more rules to make. Plus, it is the different conferences and coaches that produce the rules, so teams with a showy personality that have reveived penalties in the past for celebration are likely to try to even the score. There is a lot of tradition and respect within college football, but I think more latitude on having fun at games could bring in more fans and revenue. Because really, anybody who tells you college sports aren't about entertainment just as much as pro sports is lying to your face.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that there is a fine line between respect and racism in this situation. If you are from Texas and you start doing a line dance, then that is perfectly legitimate, you are from Texas, that's your history, you do that kind of thing. But I can see how Native Americans can be offended, the "Washington Red Skins" "The Chiefs", imagine having the "New York Negros" and it was a bunch of white guys and when they celebrated they did hip hop dancing. This would not and should be accepted. I believe that if a team like the Red Skins doesn't have any Native Americans, then over time i feel the name should be blended out and changed.
ReplyDeleteThe NFL is called the No Fun League for a reason. As long as it's not offensive who cares if TO shakes some pom poms or Joe Horn calls his mom with a strategically placed cell phone. Sports have become a huge form of entertainment so let the athletes entertain. I don't think it should matter if a white man does the line dance or if a black man does the icky shuffle, as long as they are doing it in fun I think that it adds to the atmosphere of the game. In some cases such as when the whole Georgia team ran onto the field to celebrate a touchdown it can even unify teams together around the game.
ReplyDeleteThere is no mistaking that different races and ethnicities bring different ideas to sport. Well about the football player from Texas doing an dance and the NCAA passing a law against it, I dont think it matters who does it, the NCAA is always going to be looking for a new rule to make. While this idea of different ideas from different cultures may at first bring tension and aggression to the industry, like in Remember the Titans, but over time as people become more marginalized, they start to accept that these people are here for the same reason as you are, to play a game they love.
ReplyDeleteThe NCAA has made rules to discourage almost all types of touchdown celebrations, regardless of their connection to any ethnic group. If a team choreographed a line dance there is no doubt that they would be penalized for celebration. There are many other ways in which different ethnic groups are celebrated in college football, so it is difficult to believe that they would single out one group in the rules. There are many teams that participate in the Haka, a Polynesian dance, as well as other celebrations that could arguably be linked to certain ethnic groups and the NCAA seems to view them all the same.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as long as the league rules in a consistent fashion across the board, there is no problem. Just like everyone comes from a different background, everyone celebrates differently. If the league is penalizing current over the top celebrations, then they should also penalize a line dance, regardless of the race of those performing it. I believe consistency in action is the best decision for leagues to make to prevent any potential discrimination.
ReplyDelete