HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND

1
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND
2

• HERE IS A LIST OF SPORTS CURRENTLY PLAYED IN THE
  USA-
• American Football
• Lawn Tennis
• Baseball
• Ice Hockey
• Athletics
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Golf
• Soccer
• Gymnastics

3

• TRY AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THESE
  SPORTS IN THE USA AND LIST THEM UNDER THE
  FOLLOWING HEADINGS-
• ADAPTED
• ADOPTED
• INVENTED

4
(No Transcript)
5
PAXON, AN AMERICAN HISTORIAN, CALLED SPORT THE
SOCIAL SAFETY VALVE THAT REPLACED THE
FRONTIER. USING SPORTING EXAMPLES, EXPLAIN WHAT
YOU THINK HE MEANT.
6

• The North American continent is a large and
  diverse environment. The 50 states of the USA
  share a heritage of ancient civilisations
  transformed by European invasion during the C18th
  and C19th and evolution into the ethnic melting
  pot of the C20th.
• Like many countries of the new world, the USA has
  colonial links, but these were early in the
  countrys development and for many years, the USA
  developed in planned isolation from the rest of
  the world.
• During this period many of Americas sports were
  adapted from old European games to suit Americas
  new image.

7

• In sports such as Football and Hockey, a more
  robust, glamorous version has developed and
  distinctively American Sports , such as
  Basketball, were invented on American soil.
• So closely did these sports mirror American
  society they have never really developed away
  from Americas shores.
• Americas sports tend to be high scoring and
  action packed to maximise their entertainment
  value.
• They reflect American culture in that the aim is
  to WIN- THE WIN ETIC or LOMBARDIAN ETHIC is what
  drives all American people and this fuels the
  AMERICAN DREAM Epitomised in the Rocky films
  when a nobody becomes world champion overnight.

8

• There are 3 ethical viewpoints in USA sport-
• The Lombardian ethic- A win at all costs approach
  has been adopted by many professional teams and
  individuals- This held belief goes against
  previous held ideals of sportsmanship.
• The Radical ethic- States that winning is
  important but not at all costs. There is value in
  the means by which victory is achieved and in the
  development of the performer.
• The Counter Culture ethic- The experience is all
  that matters. The notion of competition beyond
  its essential process is derided as self
  posturing and flag waving. Winning is irrelevant
  other than as a reflection of the quality of
  effort.the notion of CHALLENGE is acceptable.

9
(No Transcript)
10

• There have always been frontiers in American
  life. The taming of the WILD WEST, the CROSSING
  OF THE ROCKIES and SURVIVAL IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS.

11

• The courageous FRONTIER SPIRIT of the early
  settlers has found its way onto the sports field
  in names like Redskins.
• It is also lived out in the camping-hunting-fishin
  g philosophy which is seen in many middle class
  American father-son relationships.
• American summer camps often set in environments
  in the great outdoors are an attempt to pass on
  these values to American youth preparing them for
  the rigours of adult life.

12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16

• Sporting heroes are often seen as gladiators
  defending their communities against the invaders
  from outside.
• The commercial aspect of American sport makes it
  unique. Every level, from professional national
  teams to the local high school football team, is
  run as a business.
• The influence of television is total and most
  sports rely on the money generated through tv
  deals and advertising revenue.
• Sports stars in America are millionaires- indeed,
  most professional teams will have a number of
  players on multi million dollar contracts.
• Many stars like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods
  make even more money through sponsorship deals
  and endorsements.

17

• There is a flip side to this- sport in the USA is
  extremely elitist. In Athletics,for example,
  there is not even one amateur club where
  performers can train and compete.
• Clubs are based in educational establishments
  such as schools and colleges or professional
  enterprises.
• For most Americans, sport is something you watch
  on tv and is not something most people play after
  leaving school.
• TV also dictates the rules- for example, American
  Football has evolved into a STACCATO stop-go
  pattern to allow companies to screen
  advertisements every 5 minutes.
• Many of these trends are beginning to filter into
  British sport and it may be very difficult for us
  to prevent AMERICANISATION of our sport.

18
(No Transcript)