The dark side of sport

Some readers expressed amazement at the amount of research done in the sociology of sport in the US by the authors we cited in earlier columns. They (and I’m sure many others) long for the day when our sports development program will have similar studies as bases for sports management and sports development planning.

D. Stanley Eitzen, a prolific writer, Professor Emeritus of sociology at the Colorado State University, Sports Ethics Fellow at the Institute for International Sport and whose work we have quoted in previous columns, continues to provide us with valuable insights in sports sociology.

In his work, “Ethical Dilemmas in American Sport: The Dark Side of Competition”, Eitzen examines the high value of success placed in sport; the ethical dilemmas in sport that can be traced to this emphasis on success; and the consequences of unethical behavior in sport.

Eitzen says that there are a number of prominent American values, two of which he considers most central: achievement and competition. I suppose that over the years, other societies, north and south, east and west, have also imbibed these two values as they started to savor the benefits of capitalism. He adds that Americans glorify individual achievement in competitive situations emphasizing that incredible rewards are heaped on winners while others are barely rewarded.

There is no doubt Eitzen says that “the values we promote throughout American society are believed to be good. They motivate. They promote excellence. They make individuals and society productive. They fit with capitalism. And, they make life interesting.”

The starting premise is that sports participation for children and youth prepares them for success in a competitive society. Eitzen says that according to folk wisdom, these young people will take on a number of desirable character traits from sport. They will learn to persevere, to sacrifice, to work hard, to follow orders, to work together with others, and to be self-disciplined. Assuming that these traits are learned through sport, what else is learned through the sports experience, asks Eitzen. This is the central question Eitzen wishes to explore: the dark side of competition, emphasizing ethical dilemmas.

Sport has a dark side. It is plagued with problems. More on this next week.

* * *

On May 14, I was guest of honor of the 2nd Tenista Invitational Team Tournament 2011 held at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) in Paco. Tenista was originally known as Tenistas for Noynoy for President which campaigned among tennis aficionados for the presidential candidacy of then Senator Benigno Aquino III. During the campaign period, Tenista promoted both the tennis sport and Sen. Aquino’s candidacy through tennis tournaments and competitions with other groups and clubs. After the presidential elections, with P-Noy’s having won the presidency, Tenista decided to continue its tennis advocacy and dropped the “Noynoy for President” tag for the simple reason that the campaign was over and to extricate itself from all partisanship.

After several weeks of competitions, organizers of the Tenista tournament, headed by, among others, Rina Caniza, announced the winners of the team event. Eight teams joined the men’s event: Camp Crame, Cebuana Lhuillier (emerged champion), Mandaluyong City, PCA-A, PCA-B, Villamor, Whirlpool (finalist) and Zamboanga-Sulu.

Winners in the men’s individual age categories (all doubles events, two players per category with one alternate) were: 40-44 years champions: Maning Suarez, Jojo Tomacruz, Gerard Maronilla (Cebuana Lhuillier); finalists: Hanky Lee, Aldrin Geluz, Charlie Niu (PCA-A); 45-49 champions: Jackie Tomacruz, Nestor Baul (Cebuana Lhuillier); finalists: Butch Mejico, Frank Paguyo, B. Mendoza (Villamor); 50-54 champions : Jun Frias, Rudy Male (PCA-A); finalists; Jake Tuazon, Eddie Tuazon (Whirlpool); 55 and above champions: Chito Estanislao, Juanito Tan, George Bandola (Whirlpool); finalists: Billy DeMyer, Lito Tabian (Mandaluyong).

Four teams joined the women’s event: BF Resort, Celebrity, Phoenix (eventual chamption) and Whirlpool (finalist). Winners in the women’s in the different age categories were: 30-34 years champions: Sally Ong, Ching Henson, Mary Yao (Whirlpool); finalists: Elena Duran, Odette Asperin (Phoenix); 35-39 champions: Luz Maestrado, Vivian Peña (Phoenix); finalists: Joan Odosis, Mara Nasrabad, Ruth Cosim (Whirlpool); 40-44 champions: Grace Dumaual, Edna Grecia (Phoenix); finalists: Jenny Niu, Lourdes Ceniza (Whirlpool); 45 and above champions: Lisa Go, Dorene Uy, Via Yuquimpo (Whirlpool) and finalists: Shirley Valler, Maria Maccormack (Phoenix).

The next challenge for Tenista is the 11-team 4th Sabah (Malaysia) Invitational Team Tennis Tournament in Kota Kinabalu (KK). Teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines will play under the round-robin format. The tournament will feature five age categories in the men’s division and one category in the ladies group and will be held from July 1 to 3. Tenista members leave tomorrow for KK.

Tenista and a host of unpublicized club-based sports groups breathe life to grassroots and community sports, the base of the sports development pyramid.