The term “sport” has two different meanings. In its common usage, the word sports is used to refer to any contact sport; although other, more specific sports may also fall under this umbrella. The other meaning of the term is to refer to a particular set of athletic activities. For instance, swimming, running, and gymnastics are all forms of physical activity. The term sport can also be used in conjunction with other words like recreation, pastime, and action. These other words, while often used in conjunction with sport, can also have an element of sportsmanship, competition, or exercise incorporated into their definition.
Michael Brown was arrested for stealing during the Thanksgiving break of a Texas shopping mall. Sports, and particularly American football, were the obvious choice for his crime. Sports as a recreational activity has been around for a long time. The reason why sports are so frequently associated with this offense, and why they are considered acceptable outlets for anger and aggression, is that many people feel that aggressive action must somehow result in positive results; thus, sports can be viewed as a venue for positive, constructive behavior. There are many who would like to see this definition change, perhaps due to the actions of former UCLA Bruin star Bruin Jordan Pederson, who was arrested on suspicion of throwing a car bomb into a crowd at a game last year.
Sports, both professional and college sports alike, require an incredible amount of physical exertion and dexterity on the part of the athletes or players participating. This is not only necessary for excelling in their chosen sports, but is also necessary for the health of the participant. Not only do athletes engaged in sports suffer from injuries on a regular basis, but they also put themselves at risk for serious health problems if they do not adhere to a strict sportsman’s code of ethics. Sportsman’s codes of ethics, which were created to protect the athlete in the face of harmful acts directed against the athlete, are often referred to as athlete’s codes of conduct. While it may be difficult for some to understand how a person could engage in any type of physical exertion or dexterity for a sport, one should consider that sports allow for the maximum exertion of physical skills; sometimes, these skills may be used in ways that are detrimental to the health of the participant.
