Sports Are Linked with Violence and Aggression

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There are many positives that come from playing sports; most of the time sports are linked with violence and aggression. (Wann)(SV;SV). Fights and violence in sports has been on the rise as of lately. Players are being much more aggressive than ever before. “Some level of violence will always remain in sports” such as football, hockey, and rugby (“Violence Inevitable”). Sports such as these thrive off of violence and they must if they are to stay around. This violence has impacted sports from the players to the fans and has changed the way some sports are played. Fans are also getting much more rowdy. More security is needed at certain sporting events in order to keep the fans under control. The upping in security is due to new rules being set in place by league commissioners and presidents. The new rules are meant to protect both the players involved, and the fans.

Players are becoming much more aggressive while playing because they are told it is alright. Some assaults have, with notable frequency brought on criminal charges. (Standen). An NHL fight left Marty McSorley suspended for most of a season and he was charged with assault by the Vancouver Police (Wann). They are given the OK to go and hit the opponent as hard as they can (Standen). There are other factors that also drive aggression: financial incentive, the pressure to excel, and the want to stand out are all factors that drive players to be aggressive (Piper). Players are hurt in every sport whether it’s in a hit or landing wrong (Piper). The players know this can occur, this is a risk they take. The question is whether or not the injury was intended or not (Piper). The Saints crossed a line with their bounty hunting scandal. Players were given bonuses if they were a...

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...irst in the world of sports. If it is not, one day, people may not want to play sports anymore. People need to realize as much as they love the big hits and fights, the athletes, owners of teams, and the loved ones of the athletes will never enjoy them.

Works Cited

Davis, Samuel. “Violence in Sports is Becoming Commonplace.” Philadelphia Tribune:

May 13 1994. ProQuest. Web. 28 Feb. 2014

“Is Violence in Sports Inevitable?’ Discovery New. Discovery Communications, 7 Mar.

2012. Web. 5 Mar. 2014

Piper, Barnabas. “Are we Cheering for Victory or Violence in Sports.” 2 Aug 2013:

World, World News Group, 2014. Web. 5 Mar, 2014

Standen, Jeffrey. “The Manly Sports.” Journal of Criminal Law 49.3 (2009):619-642

Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.

Wann, L, Daniel.. “Essay:Aggression in Sport.” Lancet (2005):S31. eLibrary. Web. 28

Feb. 2014.

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