If You Ain T First, It's The Only Thing Analysis

Rewarding winning has been a part of human society from the beginning, we give the spoils and riches to the winner and higher bidder. While the loser finds they might need to practice a little

In the book “Winning Is the Only Thing”, Randy Roberts and James Olsen unravel the true origins of sports and the post war effects on American sports. The book reveals the social, economic, racial, and worldly affairs that shaped sports in the U.S. Roberts and Olsen also explain how sports went from fun and games to winning being the only importance. The book begins with the cold war and its effects on the Olympic Games, demonstrating how the games were politicized. It then transitions with racial integration becoming a thing of the past, to the modernization of sports through mass media and technology. “Winning is the Only Thing” offers a variety of the historical stories, giving the readers factual insight on the controversial and scandalous sides behind the transformation of American sports. The book was informative and quickly covered the historical and evolutionary aspects of sports, keeping the book short, sweet and easy to read.

Participation trophies are not good for athletes. It has been acknowledged, “But it’s not just the “losers” we need to worry about; it’s the “winners” too. Phrases like “You’re a winner” or “You’re a natural” can actually be toxic to how kids deal with losing” (Fader). If young athletes get used to winning all of their childhood when they lose the children will not be able to cope with the feeling of defeat. If children earn their awards through competition, they will want to keep winning and work harder, which will develop a great work ethic. Long time coaches know what it takes to win: “I coach tons of world-class athletes, and the pride they feel from a big win does not come from a ring, or a trophy, and it does not come from someone

"Be a sport," young people are admonished. "Play fair." "Play by the rules." Everywhere in the developed world, sports are raised high up on social pedestals as redeeming activities that characterize the best of the human spirit, fair competition, and physical achievement. Society welcomes athleticism due largely to anticipation of the wholesome and upstanding values with which it is associated. Character is said to be built through participation in sports. While certainly there are elements of these high expectations and standards for athletes, there too has been a steady erosion of these traditional foundations and nowhere is this more evident than in collegiate sports. Intercollege sports are big business, and those associated with it take a very business-like attitude toward the games (Eitzen & Sage, 1978). The driver in intercollegiate sports is competition, just as it is in business (Eitzen & Sage, 1978). And, as in business, unfair advantage is translated into competitive edge. Responsibility morphs into power. In such an environment, the notion of cheating becomes blurred (Eitzen & Sage, 1978). Recruitment of college athletes commonly means looking the other way when rules are broken. Athletes are paid under the table, and are admitted according to a separate set of rules than those

Professional sports in America are all about winning championships, representing a city, and overpriced beer. Professional sports are glues that keep communities together and give us a sense of pride from where we’re from. Sports are magical and filled with underdog stories, the live action games never stop being entertaining. However, when you look beyond hype of the game, you can see that professional teams and athletes are being used to promote America.

In modern day America sports are a very important part of our culture, because we are constantly watching sports and participating in sports. In any sport we watch mythology is present. The very act itself of playing the sport is reflective of old roman times when gladiators would kill for the crowds entertainment although today instead of killing its by hitting a home run or scoring a goal. “At their best, sports are about the extraordinary capacities of the human spirit.”(Wolter). These athletes can become extremely popular to the point were they are viewed as superhuman just like in myths, and there is a reason because the best athletes in their respective sport do what no average person could do. “The most legendary performances speak of almost super-human feats: the sub 4 minute mile, Michael Jordan’s flu stricken playoff

Sports have became a huge part of our American culture. We are known worldwide for having produced some of the most top-ranked athletes in a wide variety of sports. Basketball has become a very popular sport amongst all types of people ranging from little kids to the older generation. What other sport can you see players jumping high off the ground, going around the back and through the legs, to slam dunk a ball through a round piece of metal attached to a glass bored ten feet off the ground? Only in basketball can you get that excitement. Only in the United States of America can you get the caliber of talent that you see each time you turn the TV on to

No one really likes to feel defeated and it is in those times that we may think we want a participation award. Some think that the award will take away the sting. Unfortunately, it is through feeling that sting that we truly understand the sweet feeling of winning. It is only with feeling the exact opposite that we can learn and appreciate what a win is really like. Likewise, it is only when we understand losing that we can feel compassion for those that do not win. An attribute that can also come about is learning to be a good sport in times that we fail to

In business, there are people who manage the company and there are those few who lead. “In order to be a successful leader, you need to have all of the values and strengths that an athlete would also require” (D’Agostino). To be a leader you need to be a forward-thinker that’s driven to succeed. As leader of a football team, an athlete has to be the one showing confidence in good or bad times, as well as a business moments of financial success and lost contracts. Approximately thirteen of the last nineteen presidents participated in college athletics. They were able to become president because they were disciplined

“Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement” according to McCullough. Creating something useful or doing something great or distinctive that actually impacts people, such as discovering a cure for cancer or even doing community service to help others and earning recognition is achievement. However, giving trophies to all members of the losing teams sends the wrong message about achievement.

Society has shifted in the way competition has worked,and will continue to change its beliefs in how we should treat competition in young people. Is it really necessary that every participant should receive a trophy? Or should only those that accomplished the goal, earn one? In today’s youth activities, it has become an American tradition, to award all those that participate in the activity, whether they win or not. This is perhaps, a decision that many have faced, but in reality it will teach the children about life. Life isn’t always fair, and there’s nothing more atrocious than giving a child a trophy for everything they do.

In today’s society, everyone wants to be a winner. This idea of everyone winning is doing injustice to the youth in society. For the most part, everyone being a winner is mainly seen in young children when all children are giving awards. Even more worrisome is that this kind of acknowledgment is often carried into the teen years. While Abby Lee Miller might have taken it to extremes when she said, “If you’re not first, you’re last,” she did make a very clear point. The point is that not everyone is a winner, in fact, very few of us are. Although parents take great pleasure watching their children receive awards, participation trophies should not be given to all participants because they devalue the awards and they do not teach children about the spirit of competition.

In a world where athletes get paid the most that they ever have and the workforce is the most competitive, participation awards are hindering the ability for fairness and impartiality to grow and for humans to flourish. Society is becoming a place where everyone is looked at equally, truly eliminating being unique and taking away individualism, fairness and teamwork. By doing this, people with great powers and capabilities in the general populace are being left behind and denied ability to achieve their own personal greatness. Without this chance to strive, they will be left feeling complacent and never be able to flourish their abilities and strengths. The workforce lose a higher level employee, with the middle class never learning the traits taught through competition. These workers will never push themselves and expect to be rewarded solely for showing up to work. The professional sports entertainment market will also have a smaller pool of great athletes to choose from which leads to more teams not performing at a high enough level with cities losing teams and athletes losing jobs. The concept of teamwork will slowly disappear leaving a trail of individualistic yet equal members of society. Competition and fair play are losing ground to the freshly remodeled idea of participation awards, slowly devaluing the need to strive for greatness and creating a society focused on over equality

Unfortunately, James was awarded participation trophies throughout his whole childhood. He was informed he was always a winner. He did not have to be the best at a sport or activity, but was still provided with a trophy. Because he constantly captured that trophy, he always expected to receive one. In the United States, the everybody wins mentality has led to an entitled populace. Participation trophies lead to an inflated self image. Throughout their lives, millennials have been exposed to the

Glory comes from the success of trials that each individual has gone through. Athletes who go against the world as representatives of America goes through those trials. “Sports injuries cause about 2.6 million visits to the ER” (Thiel). Pushing the limits of athletes’ can be cruel and can restrain their minds. They go through the pain of being brought down to become stronger than before. “Difficulties include health risks like overtraining, malnutrition, drug abuse, and playing while injured” (Thiel). They push away how they feel in that moment while they pursue their reason to become the best at what they do. Americans look up to these athletes that achieve their goals because people look to success. Admiration causes a positive chain reaction to be like the American athletes who win. America takes pride in the majority of sports teams that represent the country.