Examining violence in sports

By Grace Garner

CMHS Journalism Alum

Over the course of history, sports have evolved, but one thing has never changed about them: the violence factor. From players fighting, brawls breaking out, and major injuries on the line, the risk factor of sports may never change.

A Quarterback Playing for the Vikings

“All the time that I’ve played football, aggression and adrenaline are always running high,” said Jesus Ambriz, Crete-Monee alum and former left tackle on the varsity football team.

Sophomore Jaden Bynum played on junior varsity for the Warrior football team as a linebacker, running back, and defensive end, and agreed with Ambriz saying, “I personally don’t get into fights while on the field for any sport, but I’ve seen other people lose their cool sometimes.”

According bleacherreport.com, “The overt physical actions that take place in sports can be described as both aggression and violence. These actions take place for many reasons, and can become dangerous to those participating in the sport, as well as spectators of the competition.”

Basketball player Allen Reed said that it is not always anger that gets players riled up.

“Most times when fights break out on the court and people are throwing punches is when they are embarrassed. They do not want to look stupid, so they have to look tougher than the other person.”

He went on to say that in basketball, it is not always the fist that brings the violence, but the gore too.

“Sometimes the thing that draws people to sports are injuries,” said Reed. “In basketball, you’re almost waiting for your bones to break. Like Derrick Rose, he gets injured all the time and when he’s not, people want to see the moment when he will be again.”

Ambriz stated that when he thinks someone on the field might be hurt, he tries to keep his distance.

“I don’t want to hurt them anymore than they already are, so I try to let the trainers do their thing and help them. I do not really think it attracts more people to our games, but I do think the hard tackles and roughness has a lot to do with someone’s fascination with football. It’s all fun and roughhousing until it’s too late.”

Football Player Suffering from Injury

Bynum said that violence in the end is always up to the people who watch the game, match, or tournament.

“Most people will go to a hockey game in hopes to see a fight on the ice, what can you expect? There are those fans of the sport and then the fans of the violence.”