It’s All in the Name of the Game - A Reflection on the “Nature and Meaning of Sport”
What is Sport?
Back in 1994, I was the Keynote Speaker for the Athletes’ Award Celebration in Bavaria, Germany. I surprised some and rattled others because the topic was not glamorizing some local sports hero but was a reflection about the “Nature and Meaning of Sport”, pondering on “what sport is supposed to be, what it has become, how it might go astray, and become eventually destructive” … a very profound contemplation touching on events at the time and future ones, which had the audience stunned, needless to say.
I decided to re-visit that original presentation because sport has taken on more and more of a ‘darker side’ over the past few decades. As the new season in most sports is about to begin and numerous scandals are under investigation in both countries and overseas, it would be a good thing to contemplate what sport actually stands for (is meant to be), what it presents, and what values we ought to teach or coach! Many of my predictions in 1994 have now been realized since then. The issue is that nobody within reigning sports administrations in the USA or Canada is willing to face the truth. They rather prefer to bury their head in the sand, be passive or feel paralyzed, and follow some sort of illusion or pretense that all is well! I have added my current thoughts at the end in the Post Script, which undoubtedly will ruffle some more feathers.
The Questions arise:
Does sport still hold any value besides monetary greed?
Does it even make sense any more? Has it become perverted and gone awry?
Do we actually still need sport in a complex and problematic society, in a global world spiked with Woke culture, producing critical issues in gender ideology, and therefore causing greater dilemma in sport?
Is morality still alive or is it in decay?
I pose the question to you, Coaches and Readers… “What exactly does Sport mean to you?” Is there still power in sport?
*Note: The quotes used from German classical literature are restated as such. I refuse to bend to Woke culture in translation and language use.
Landshut, Bavaria
December 1994
SPORT IS: Enjoyment, Frón, and Paradox
OR – ability to perform, permission to perform, and must/have to perform
A culture or cult, excessive hero worship leading to aberration, distortion, chaos and/or dilemma?
‘Sport’ is derived from:
Latin ‘portare’ – to take pleasure, to amuse oneself"
Old French ‘desporter – deporter’ – to divert, amuse, please, play; to seek amusement, literally "carry away" (the mind from serious matters); from des- "away" (see dis-) + porter "to carry."
Sport is Enjoyment (Fun) – creative and voluntary Play – learning about and perfecting one’s skills
Kant and Schiller, well-known German philosophers of the Enlightenment period, wrote about the aesthetic concepts of sport and the “meaning for mankind:
… Wherever MAN plays – he is MAN – And he is no longer MAN if he no longer plays” (‘homo ludens’ [Man at Play] by Dutch Philosopher John Huizinga) –…
However, how many of mankind still ‘engage in ‘play for play’s sake’ today, and how do they really play?
Personal Nostalgia: remembering playing with my buddies on our street block, getting together for traditional German games against another neighborhood group to match skills in Völkerball (requires speed and knowledge of countries’ names when called out by the target throwing person, running to catch and then throw the ball back). It created a sense of FUN, friendly competition, matching physical skills, and social interaction … or playing ‘bandits and robbers’, hide and seek’ for many hours in the summertime without getting tired. But such games are disappearing because safety factors have become an issue and cultural changes are taking place in society.
Or – building castles in the nearby sandbox and as a group sleeping over in the box with blankets to make sure nobody would destroy our creation, playing knighthood games, or paddling as a foursome in a tin tub down the small river close by, pretending to be on a ‘Wild West’ journey, having adapted ideas from famous German author Karl May (1842-1912), best known for his 19th-century novels of fictitious travels and adventures, set in the American Old West with Winnetou and Old Shatterhand … Ah… such creativity challenge and FUN!
Children and youth nowadays are more and more socially estranged, entrapped to watch the ‘Flimmerkiste’ (‘flicker box’ in German for TV). Due to progress, newer technical gadgets will show up in the near future to capture their attention and destroy ‘natural play’ even more (Note: tech gadgets were not yet trendy in 1994 but I revealed my vision as indeed video and computer games have become the replacement for play nowadays)!
Play is said to offer joy/enjoyment, satisfaction, and personal freedom (as one can start and stop any time at will). It promotes the value of freedom, creativity, initiative, FUN, satisfaction, recreation, leisure, self-determination, and authenticity. These are values that are not only promoted but are still expected in society. Play also entails emotion, sociability, develops and enhances discourse and social interaction, increases personal expertise, and creates a strive for excellence to measure the personal self against others, utilizing what one has learned, acknowledging and accepting not only oneself but also others.
NBA Chicago Bulls basketball ace Michael Jordan stated two years prior to his leaving the sport:
… I experienced joy and freedom when I played against my shadow under the moonlight at midnight at my home in North Carolina. My movements under the basket were absolutely fantastic. I created many challenging ones. Unfortunately, I am not permitted now – nor can I in reality play that way. It is no longer FUN…
Joy or Enjoyment in play and sport is about developing and improving physical attributes and technical skills. Think about what it means to you! Is it still changing or has it changed? Why? Are you still able to enjoy playing sport? How? What are you doing to promote it or work against it? What are you doing to show others that you still enjoy it? Why not? Should one not show or display fun and enjoyment … not only when winning … because that would be too simple. Do you exhibit enjoyment when placing second or third? How is daily training going? Is it positive? Where is the fun or pleasure in this daily undertaking – as an athlete and/or coach? Is it producing happiness and laughter or has it become a ‘drag?’
How to Experience Joy and Enjoyment:
(Note: the examples were set for 1994 times)
When…
Grace and novelty displayed by British Torville and Dean dance team at the 1984 Winter Olympics, setting a revolutionary trend in ice dance with music from Bolero
Getting exited over the super goal by Brasilian Pele in the World Cup soccer match
Watching the sprint effort at the end of a 10,000m race
Watching the flight of a high jumper, clearing the cross bar and overcoming gravity at a new record height
Observing Citius – Altius – Fortius for the Olympic pursuit of excellence
Achieving ‘personal best’ even without setting a record or winning a medal
Opponents recognize your efforts
Competition translates into common striving for achievement not against one another at all cost (Latin: cum petare = competing with) … reason, Japanese athletes greet their coach and opponent with a bow for offering the opportunity to compete!
Successfully testing personal agon (such as fortitude, courage, self- confidence)
Successfully overcoming competition anxiety or negative training mentality
Striving to become and act courageous, virtuous, righteous, and remaining that way despite outside influences or pressures
Staying human and modest despite being very successful
Striving “to be the best and remain the best among all others” – not only in sport but also in life (Greek motto as athlete and Greek citizen)
Personal Experiences of Joy and Smiles as a Coach:
When:
Learning about sport, doing sport, and teaching others
The 8-year-old swimmer exchanges his gold medal for a 6th place pink ribbon because that very colour is still missing in his collection – shocking his parents
One is able to create swim programs from baby lessons to college swimmers on scholarships, and they return as volunteers to the summer program
The team (6-21 years) holds a meeting to decide the make-up of the annual behavior contract, including rules and consequences and hands it over – taking on accountability and responsibility
Team members have the courage and are not afraid to state: Coach, time to smile – we are trying our best!
The 4-year-old says that he wants to be a coach like you when he grows up
You learn from children to create mutual respect for each other that grows over time and becomes firmly established and honored
The LA, California gang member joins the Minority Coach Leadership Education program, tells you: “Coach … you’re a dope but super cool, and you’re giving me my daily ‘high’
Over 76 (1991-1994) such asocial elements go out into the community, and create sport programs for underprivileged minority children ... because they learned from your leadership that joy is ‘giving back’ to the community
One can give thanks to the Lord for the opportunity to manage difficult tasks, and has been awarded the gift to teach such people
Sport is Frón (German word: drudgery, hard work, labor, toil, struggle, grind away, strive, struggle, exertion, chore, slavery, pains, exertion).
Frón … to be allowed to engage in sport with obstacles; frustration; dealing with one’s psyche; dealing with issues, problems or dilemma; and as the saying goes, “living on top of the world or down in the dumps’ because of the nature of sport
Frón is:
When:
Engaging in daily training with heavy and serious commitment
Having to develop patience for daily efforts as hustle becomes a hassle
Dealing with slow progressions in training and performance
Having to develop self-knowledge and trying to maintain it
Having to make critical decisions
Having to depend on teammates
Giving up personal leisure time as sport has become the replacement altering one’ life style
Losing control and oversight over the Self, and feeling trapped
Fighting against the Self as personal ‘agon’ (Greek for: struggle, conflict, contest) starts to turn to personal ‘agony’ (suffering · torture · torment · anguish · affliction · trauma · misery · distress · grief · woe · wretchedness · heartbreak · heartache · pangs · throes · excruciation)
Sport becomes Paradox (contradiction or conflict) becomes the ‘must’ perform stage linked to pressure and stress – becomes forced) labor – the modern form of slave labor
The original concept of sport as ‘dis-portare’ (carry away) to be an amateur (lover/friend of sport) has undergone a dramatic change, and should cause some serious thought because what was once a so-called ‘hobby’ is overtaken by the ‘daily grind’ turning into ‘labora’ (work/job)
Paradox is:
When…
Famous professional NBA athletes like Michael Jordan and NHL super hockey star Wayne Gretzky retire from the game because it is no longer FUN, having turned into forced labor and regrets
Children leave sports at very young ages (12-13 years) because of pressure from parents and coaches, and because sport it is no longer FUN
Family and friends are neglected because sport has become the only focus
Health begins to suffer as sports turn into a burden, creating discomfort and pain, anorexia among female athletes or results in back injuries for high jumpers and luge athletes – then sport valued for stress release and health benefits is indeed a paradox
The Olympic motto ‘Citius – Altius – Fortius’ turns into obsession, mania, addiction, the use of drugs and doping to be successful
Sport scientists use/misuse the human body for chemical experimentation to turn athletes into high-tech human performance machines
Fan shoots soccer player because he made a self-goal
Taking drugs with the message ‘don’t be stupid and get caught’ (Canadian Ben Johnson)
Drug use or doping has become acceptable because everyone else is doing it, and one has to compete at the same level … is OK because “winning at all cost is everything and losing is death” (common phrase)
82% of parents in a survey (USA and Canada) would allow their children to use drugs if it meant winning a gold medal – even if the child would die after 5 years (!) – Sport Illustrated
Sport organisations give a damn when female athletes are doped with the potential of miscarriage later on in life (former East Germany)
Female athletes are forced to become pregnant, and then forced to undergo abortion to have higher but legal hormone level for competition success (Russia)
Athletes commit suicide driven by stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and loss of self-worth – become ‘broken human beings BUT who cares?
Coaches and trainers violate athletes’ rights with unethical behavior and morals, pushing them into eating disorders, misleading them into drug use, or entrapping them into sexual relationships
Athletes end up as alcoholics after retirement because they have no clue about post-career choices as they never been educated – becoming ‘lost souls’ in society because the ‘claim to fame’ has passed them
Sport as culture turns into a societal cult, becoming a perversion of the ideal, pushed by excessive desire, greed, narcissism, selfishness, aggressiveness, and even violence as humanity becomes further distorted, and is finally destroyed
Then… sport has become the exact opposite of the original ideal. It is now irony, paradox, and social dilemma. Pier de Coubertin, father of the Modern 1896 Olympics spoke about ‘Chevalerie’, ‘esprit sportif’ and ‘athletae religionae’ (spiritual athlete). However, these are too abstract and ideal for modern society, who does not want to deal with such notion. Thus, we have climbed the mountain and staring at the downward crash and potential abyss.
Post Script:
If you check the Reference section you notice that ‘sport in a philosophical context’ was a primary undertaking in the early century, and then by academics during 1950-1986 until sport sciences stepped in. Gone are the discussions and interchange of ideas.
Twenty-eight years have passed since I gave that presentation. I must say that I have always been twenty years ahead of time in my vision of what is and what will be., which does not always make for popularity because people do not want a warrior rather followers! Many of the predictions in 1994 have played out since then affecting and reducing the value of sport.
Suicides have increased among elite level athletes. The shocker was Multi-medal Olympic USA Swimmer Michael Phelps admitting that he had considered suicide when he locked himself in his room for 4 days. And where was his famous and nationally worshipped coach at that time? Did he not recognize Michael’s struggles? Did he even care or was he just worried about his personal Ego and image? Michael discussed his mental pain in the HBO movie “The weight of Gold” (July 29, 2020), as did elite figure skaters, bobsledders, and other elite athletes and Olympians. I wrote about it in the December 2021 Newsletter: “Are sports prepared to deal with the mental wellness of athletes.” That was way ahead before any USA or Canadian National sport organisations even began to address the matter seriously.
Sport training nowadays has become far more complex compared to the past because greater emphasis is placed on ‘winning at all cost.’ Pressure to reach elite level sports begin as early as possible creating stress not only at the younger but also at the Elite level. Win – continue to win – must win – keep setting records – is the ultimate goal. Due to such demands, it is now common for younger athletes to train year-round to assure success. But body and mind are greatly affected as current researchers point to increased anxiety, depression, physical and mental breakdown, suicide attempts, and actual deaths among elite and even lower-level athletes. Stanford University reports that their female soccer goalie Katie Meyer (22), died by suicide in her dormitory room March 4, 2022. Twenty-one- year-old Cross-country runner, Sarah Shulze, University of Wisconsin, died April 13. Parents revealed that their daughter took her own life, and that balancing athletics, academics, and the demands of daily life overwhelmed her in a single, desperate moment. At least four more NCAA athletes have died by suicide in the two months since Meyer’s death, three of them young women. Several Highschool volleyball players in Ohio committed suicide within several months of each other in 2021, shocking school administrators and coaches. Where was the insight?
That sport has evolved into its ‘dark side’ has become more evident as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as bullying and psychological terror by coaches and trainers are under investigation. The non-action by administrators, whether clubs or national organizations, to pretend that problems do not exist despite athletes coming forward for years is not only shameful but destroys the purity of sports, and athletes’ lives.
That Canada Junior hockey players, always elevated to the national pedestal because of their success at the World level, engaged in 8-player gang rape was covered up for years, only highlights the rotten swamp of such leadership and organization. That registration fees were placed into a special fund to pay off lawsuit by raped females is beyond all ethical standards … and that the GEO still gets the ‘vote of confidence from Hockey Canada only shows the sick and decayed attitude toward gender and the ideals of sport! I had spoken about incidents in Junior hocky during the 1990s as the brother of one of my swimmers quit his team due to the popular hazing traditions, which are well-known and accepted in this toxic culture, even today!
That Junior hockey in Saskatchewan (Swift Current Bronchos) in the early 1990’s was ‘foul’, leading to sexual abuse by Coach James, was somewhat known but tolerated because he was a “winning coach, Coach of the year, Man of the year.” He promised the players the entry into the NHL but destroyed their lives on the way. He finally served 5-years prison time but ended up again coaching in other countries. I taught a NCCP Level Theory I course during that time, and was lecturing on coaching ethics. When discussing the topic, the ‘one and only’ hockey coach in the room ‘bragged’ loudly that it would never happen in hockey. I had to control myself and stated: Do not say never ever! That was Friday evening. At the opening of the Sunday morning class at 9:00 I slapped the Calgary Herald Paper with the headlines on Coach James abuse on his desk. There, you go, Coach!
That concussions in NHL hockey and NFL football are prominent, not only causing serious health issues, leading to increased use of painkillers, alcoholism due to depression and anxiety, and numerous suicides. But who cares as long as the organizations make the money! I personally love hockey because both brothers played on the German national team, and my younger was 3x Olympic Captain of the team with a Bronze Medal in 1976. He was inducted into the International Hall of Fame. However, the game has turned into a ‘goon and gladiator’ version whereby skills are replaced by dirty hits into the boards, and goalies are attacked in their crease and injured … AH… but is sells because Fans like it!
That it was recently stated by a sport journalist from the Washington Post (August 30, 2022) that …
… NFL football is not going to change as long as fans keep watching! That the performance of effort in lien of effort – is a manipulative melodrama intended to convince people that you care more and play harder than you actually do. Of course, the path for ethical consumption in America is narrow. It exists, but capitalism ensures its intentionality. Due to the concussion dilemma the NFL has developed a new helmet that looks something like waffles from IHop, stitched together into a helmet-like substance (!) – intended to reduce the head drama – the Guardian Caps. If this sounds like another example of fake hustle, you are correct. Football is America’s most popular sport (by far) and most lucrative. It demands that many of the participants violently smash into each other each time the ball is snapped. Scientists have compared the collisions to car crashes. The average number of snaps in a game is 130. Multiply that by the number of games per season and number of years, and the collisions add up. The violence and broken bones are not just unfortunate inevitability – it is the entire point. The tremendous feats of skill and athleticism are only meaningful because of the spectre of violence, and sometimes it is the highlight. As long as the franchise values (32 of them) continues to grow into billions, the league does not care about the health of players (Young, August 30, The Calgary Herald, B2/Sports, taken from The Washington Post)
That NFL football players, high percentage of Blacks, have been fighting for years to get compensation for their concussion problems … and finally succeeded.
That the 22-year-old grandson of my best friend in Tempe, AZ, who played linebacker in Highschool and College football at Notre Dame on an academic scholarship, received his Masters in chemical engineering, got a scholarship to the University of Colorado to pursue his PhD, took his clothes to the Good Will store, returned, and hung himself on a tree close to the campus in October 2018 because his headaches had become unbearable. The academic advisor never had a clue or realized the gravity of the situation
That the team doctor of USA gymnastics was able to molest over 300 female gymnasts and got away with it – although complaints were reported but ignored – is as destructive as it gets – and that his ‘special treatments were well-known. That penetration of female anatomy to ‘fix back problems’ is not only absurd but psychologically sick!
That the FBI investigating these cases stayed silent and ignored the reports for some years only reinforces the problem of continued coverup in the ‘name of the game or the ‘win at all cost’, no matter how destructive or the consequences!
That the USA Gymnastics National husband and wife team of Bela and and Martha Karoli could continue their physical and emotional abuse, brought with them from former Eastern communist Rumania to their Texas training camps, was tolerated because Olympic Gold for mighty USA and their Ego was worth it! They did succeed but at the cost of many gymnasts’ lives, who suffered eating disorders, injuries, physical, health and emotional problems for the rest of their young lives – and are writing books about their life and experience now to voice their anger and distress.
That the world’s greatest gymnast American Simone Biles speaks out against injustice and the ‘weight of perfection’ withdraws after leading the competition from events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics because of mental health issues due to pressure and personal pain because the “weight she carried as the face of the sport had become a burden” tells it all. That the wear and tear on her body had become what she called “unreal,” with the pain in her ankles making every excruciating step a reminder of how unforgiving gymnastics can be.
That Japan’s Number 2 ranked Tennis player Naomi Osaka stated "I feel like for me, recently, when I win, I don't feel happy, I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad," after losing at Flushing Meadows. This was the first Slam tournament for the 23-year-old Osaka since she pulled out of the French Open before the second round to take a mental health break after having announced she would not participate in news conferences in Paris. She also sat out Wimbledon, before participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but was ousted.
That Greek Tennis champion Maria Sakkari stated after being ousted at the 2022 USA Open tournament that she struggled to handle a higher profile that came with her rise to Number 3 rankings, but some days she did not enjoy tennis, and did not even want to get out of bed.
That Canada’s most decorated Olympic swimmer Penny Oleksiak says she has a long recovery ahead after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in her knee demonstrates that extensive training is a burden to the human body (September 1, 2022).
That the natural biological order of male and female have fallen prey to hip Woke culture forcing women in all sports to compete against naturally stronger opponents. The notion of a male wanting to be accepted as a woman infringes on the safety and all rights of female athletes in their locker room, and is totally ignored and violates their privacy. So, stop preaching that ‘Safety of Athletes’ is the Number 1 obligation and responsibility under the Code of Ethics in coaching education. It has become a farce, especially for someone like myself, who fought for women’s Rights and Title IX in 1972 as a coach at Arizona State University.
Sport is supposed to represent corpo-reality or soma in the image of Plato’s ‘sound mind – sound body’, fitness and health, experience and sensation with the ability to engage and perform without extravagance, alienation and depreciation. But if we continue on this path we lose even more, namely humanity, the human spirit, our values, ethics and morality, and finally our dignity. It is this dignity that we were given once upon a time and for which we are responsible and accountable. We are all equal – whether successful or winners or not because we are only transitory champions or heroes in the passing of time.
My appeal: What are you going to do in the near future to cause or initiate change to re-capture that sport remains a ‘Kulturgut’, and does not present itself strictly in economic pursuits.
Joy is … transmitting Knowledge and Experience in Coaching
AAF Minority Coach Leadership Education Project
Inner City, Los Angeles-Watts
217 Minority Coach Graduates to date
References:
Blanchard, K. (1986). (Ed.). The many faces of play. The Association for Anthropological Study of Play. Vol 9. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Gerber, E.W. (1972). Sport and the body. A philosophical symposium. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.
Harris J.C., & Park, R. J. (1983). (Eds.). Play, games & sports in cultural contexts. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Books.
Huizinga, J. (1950). Homo ludens. A study of the play elements in culture. Boston: Beacon Press.
Paplauskas, R. (1968). Development of the whole man through physical education. Ottawa, ON, Canada, University of Ottawa Press.
Slusher, H.S. (1967). MAN, sport and existence. A critical analysis. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.
Young, J. (2022, August 30). NFL won’t change as long as fans keep watching. The Calgary Herald, p. B2, taken from The Washington Post.