Blog # 9: Sports in the Media
The other day I was watching TV when a Gillette commercial came on. Nothing about it stood out until I realized Tiger Woods was advocating for the company. I realized, for the first time, that sports players are one of our many role models in society today. It is no longer enough to say I just look up to my mom, dad, or big sister or brother. Little boys, and girls alike, are looking to sports players to inspire them.
Sports players represent to us not just role models but they meet society ideals as well. They are athletic, fit, and healthy, and therefore set an example for us (they deviate from the stereotype that America is fat and lazy). They inspire us to get involved and maintain our health. They are the retaliatory act to the traditional world view that America is obese.
Athletes are a positive aspect of media for the most part. There is an ulterior motive, however. From the advertisements, the sport stars are making money. Money is what motivations most of this nation. And sports stars, for one, do not need more of it. It is no longer enough for them just to be a professional athlete, but to achieve full fame, they need to become a “celebrity”. They achieve this through representing a certain corporation—and some even resort to acting or singing (Michael Jordon in Space Jam and Like Mike).
By forcing themselves upon us, through the media, sports stars become “celebrities” and house hold names. We are all envious of their special talent and we look to them to send out a good image to the younger generation. Through the media, this is what most of them are doing. Television and magazines provide the medium for sports stars to project their leadership upon children.
3 years ago • 0 notes