Foul Play :: essays research papers

Foul PlayDear Members of the Board of the National Collegiate Association of AmericaSince the beginning of collegial play, there have been student-athletes whose actions are considered disproportionately deviant. College athletes have defied the rules and regulations set forth by the National Collegiate Association of America by such acts as accepting stipends, committing date rape, abusing drugs, and even committing homicide. For some reason, college athletes believe they are above the law and should not have to abide by the same set of rules as a normal student, because of their athletic talent. As a former NCAA Division II football player, I can attest to the feeling athletes have that they deserve special treatment because of their status. There are some people who believe that college athletics is above reproach, but the purpose of this essay is to assert the statement that college athletics is corrupt.Year after year, college athletes make the headlines of newspapers and maga zines across the country, not only for their accomplishments on the field, but more for their antics off the field. College athletes devote their bodies, integrity, and character to gain an advantage allwhere their opponent. Athletes oblige up the very things that make them who they are to feel appreciated by their coaches, teammates, and fans. Players cheat by taking anabolic steroids and other banned substances that give them a chemically induced physical advantage (Eitzen 3). Athletes desire to be identified with a team that works and sacrifices together to reach a car park goal. The guestion we should ask ourselves is Why? Why do individuals give up so much to be a part of a team? The answer lies indoors the organization of how big-time college sport exists. Fans are drawn to big sporting events such as the Super Bowl and the World Series. College athletes want to be in that spotlight, and they sacrifice everything to gain that status. Fans are consumed by sports. USA Toda y, the most widely read newspaper in the United States, devotes one-fourth of its space to sport (14). Fans know every detail about their beloved sports team. Not only the latest box scores, but also the win-loss record, point spread, current statistics, play-off probabilities, and biographical information about athletes and coaches (16). College sports compendium to the general public, young and old.At a very young age, aspiring college athletes are taught the principles of sport and how much winning really means.