Read the opinions. Consider the author's tone, structure of the article, validity of evidence, persuasive techniques, and your personal reaction. Is one opinion more persuasive than the other? Why?
2. Please add an intelligent comment (minimum 5 sentences) in response to the linked articles from The New York Times. Be sure to use two quotes in your response.
3. Optional: Comment on a classmates post in a second post (minimum 3 sentences)
*Use only your first name, last initial and class period.
3. Optional: Comment on a classmates post in a second post (minimum 3 sentences)
*Use only your first name, last initial and class period.
Rivalries add another element of excitement to a sport. The hatred and rage fires people up and in doing that creates more entertaining atmosphere. There will always be bad blood among people when there's a winner or a loser, even when there's a tie people will get bad at refs saying they made a bad call that could have changed the outcome of the game. So instead of trying to get rid of it people embrace it. There is even something called, "“Rivalry Week,” a heavily promoted (and watched) time period when heated rivals not affected by conference realignment play." Michael Tillery talks about it as a good way in which people can come together, even in tough times. all you need is a TV, food, friends and it's a great time. Though the sports rivalries can cause a bit of hostility between opposing fans, it can also bring people together and create memories and close bonds.
ReplyDeleteAlec Janis
No matter what sport you're enthusiastic about, rivalries enrich the experience of
ReplyDeletewatching them because we’re inclined to want to be part of something and feel involved. The authors who think that rivalries aren't prominent anymore harp on how things used to be and how the morale and competition is now gone because of free agents and the continuous changing of players and teams in many sports today. Broaden the spectrum, though, and you'll see that sports in general still thrive on the fuel that rivalries add to the fire. Federer and Nadal, Yankees and the Red-Sox, college football teams; all give people something to be a part of and a feeling of dedication to a sport or athlete that they admire and enjoy spending time watching. Why knock rivalries just because the same iconic basketball teams aren't neck and neck anymore? Sports are exciting and until people stop finding them entertaining, rivalries will continue to thrive on the numerous devout fans and their loyalty to their favorite sport.
Cara B
Yes there is absolutely reason for people to still care about rivalries. In the discussion it says that rivalries "disappear" overnight. While I agree that rivalries do fade in and out of focus, the rivalry is always still there. For example the Red Sox have always been rivals of the New York Yankees. There have been years when they didn't rival each other for playoff spots, and while these years result in a less intense rivalry, it always still lingers in the air. You will never go to a game like that and think that those teams are not going to put on a show. And in college basketball there is no better time for rivals to exist in the tournament. One game eliminations where players give it their absolute all trying to push their team deeper. So to say that rivalries are not an essential part of sports is like saying that intensity should be discouraged. I see that people are often one hit wonders, and that teams are not always consistently good, but there will always be one hit wonders, you just have to root for them while they are on your team. So I believe that rivalries are absolutely essential to the livelihood of sports, and that without them we would see the infrastructure of the sports world begin to collapse as the ferocity o the competition thinned to none
ReplyDeleteMike B Per 3
While I agree with the others on here that rivalries enrich the sport, they also do much harm to it as well. They can create massive fan fights in the stadiums or smaller ones on streets. Also, fans can get overexcited and hate a certain team so much for fun that they truly believe that the team and its members are evil, thus resulting in the harassment of the members of the teams. Rivalries do much more harm than good, and therefore the high sports culture attitude of America should be brought down a notch (this attitude, in a way, is brought over from our discussion on sports in high schools).
ReplyDeleteAs for the structure of the articles- they were good, some better than others. The ones that I believed to have to best structure of the bunch tended to be less biased and formed a knowledgeable opinion on the topic, thus making a good article and a good resource. The others tended to have a more biased opinion and only existed to inform us OF their biased opinion, not to serve as a good resource with knowledge.
Megan Glynn Period 3
While you do present some good points on rivalries, I disagree in your statement in which you say that rivalries do much more harm than good. I don't believe that they really produce any real major harm I agree with the fact that there may be fights between fans but those just fall under the category of people being passionate about the team and feel as if they are a part of something. Yes, they shouldn't fight over things but you cant blame them for being so passionate. But when it comes to high school sports, there are not really any major fights between fans. High school is the greatest years of your life and sports are one of the biggest component of high school. Fans feel a part of something, they feel welcomed and they have pride that they can call them self a hornet. Most sports have 2 sides, physical and mental toughness. Yes the physical toughness comes in the weight room but mental toughness comes from your idea on dedication and passion. By having a rivalry, players work hard and develop a mindset that they can play there rival and beat them, and that only creates a sense of relief and satisfaction that your hard work and dedication has lead you to success. Its not that the writers are biased, its just they have experienced playing sports and experience what it feels like to be in a rivalry. You ask a person who has never played a sport about rivalries, there response would not be as educated because of there lack of experience. My main idea in this is that Rivalries are the one of the best things you could ever experience because of all the values you learn, and I could honestly say that without rivalries in sports, they would not be as much fun and thats the whole idea of sports, to have fun and be successful and rivalries help you get to both.
DeleteDalton E
I think that rivalries are what initially draw people to a sport - whether it be the athlete themselves, or the people in the stands. I don't have any real interest in sports, so this is more of an inference than anything, but I think that the real fun of a sport is just watching, not necessarily rooting for one team or another. Also, I think rivalries can enthuse players, but they can also cause them to worry more and in general, I think sports should be played more as a game than as a serious competition.
ReplyDeleteJennifer G.
Rivalries are what comes along with almost any sport. When someone has to win and someone has to lose, their will have to of course be some type of competition. I am not very into sports. But from what I can tell from people who get really into a certain sport and its rivalries, they seem to be actually having fun. They get so into it and it seems to be that it can almost make one feel like they are a part of the team and closer to the actual game. Although rivalries can be fun, there is obviously some bad that comes with them. They cause fights between fans who are extremely passionate; and it may go too far sometimes.But, overall, rivalries seem to be a good and fun part of sports.
ReplyDeleteEmma S
period 3
I think that rivalries just come along with the territory of sports. With winning and losing someone is always going to get mad at the other team. Rivalries are healthy competition and they can make people love the sport even more. Michael Tillary states that "Rivalries can even galvanize the country and bring people together during tough times". He says it was seen at the Army Navy football game back in 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated and brought relief to many Americans. Sports are many Peoples interest and it gives them something to care about. Courtney Nyguen states, "To put it simply, it makes you care and it's compelling theater regardless of the result, the scoreline, or even the quality of play." She makes it clear cut that rivalries arent about proving someone wrong its about enjoying the great american games.
ReplyDeleteElena Muniz
Period 3
Rivalries are the best part of sports. They add an element of excitement and a want for your favorite team to win. Rivalries have been around for years and its what keeps sports alive. In college they have rivalry week, which is when the schools go all out, decorate, and spend all week talking about this one monumental game. Auburn vs Alabama, Clemson vs South Carolina, and Michigan vs Michigan State are some teams who have been rivalries for decades. Rivalries have a sense of bringing people together, as said in one quote, "Rivalries can even galvanize the country and bring people together during tough times." The Army vs Navy football game in 1963 was postponed a week and played on pearl harbor day because of the assassination of John F Kennedy. This was a tough time in American History but this one game was able to help people through the pain and take their mind of what was going on in the country. Also rivalries aren't only about the players or the school, it is about the culture and city. Such as the Yankee- red sox rivalry. It has always been a rivalry between the cities of Boston and New York. Lastly, It is a lot easier to catch your favorite teams playing their rivals. One article stated how it is easy to watch rivalries with " the flick of a remote or the tap of a keyboard." It doesn't matter where you live, if you have favorite team you can watch them play whenever you want. Rivalries are the best part of sports and no matter what anyone says they will continue throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteMichaela S
period 3
Sports in my opinion are the greatest things in life that you could experience. They teach you lifelong values such as hard work, dedication, character, passion and so many more. They help explain and show what sports are really about." Rivalries help tell the story of sports, and in so doing give fans a sense of urgency and drama, " said Tillery. Whether its baseball, football, basketball or even tennis, they all help you build you values you need. Most sports are played in a two team format unless its a tournament. But when it comes to sports, winning dosent come down to who the better team is at the sport, it comes down to who works the hardest to ensure that you will be successful. One major component that leads to your success is a long lasting rivalry between teams. Throughout your season, you work hard every day to get ready to play these rivals and beat them no matter what. We are all branford hornets and we all know who are rival is...... East Haven. Let me ask you something, have you have ever gone to a basketball game against a team such as Lyman Hall or Foran or Jonathan Law? and have you ever gone to a game against East Haven. Now think, compare what its like at each games, which is better? Obviously East Haven, because we always look forward to beating them every time. I know in baseball that I cannot wait to play our rival this year and to crush them, its a huge confidence boost and it makes you work hard. Duke and North Carolina, arguably the greatest college basketball rivalry, not just because of the players on each time but because of all the history behind it. "What makes their rivalry special isn't just the fact that for so long they were clashing in the finals of the biggest tournaments and chasing history," said Nguyen. I agree with every article on their, money and fame always come in the way of hardworking people and teams and they take center stage. The redsox-yankees rivalry is probably the greatest professional sports rivalry of all time, as Frommer said, "is not just about the players. It's also a battle between cities, cultures, traditions and styles." Sports are the greatest thing on earth and without rivalries, they would have no excitement and have no reason for all that hardwork and dedication. For people who play sports and have rivalries, they know what it feels like to beat your rival and the pride you recieve. But you dont need to play that sport to feel those values, everyone involved such as fans and everybody who supports them. Even though they dont play, they feel what its like to play these rivals and understand that rivalries in sports are the biggest thing there is because of what you gain from it, you gain respect and there is no better value.
ReplyDeleteDalton E
I believe sports are exciting and exhilarating, and what contributes to that exhilaration are rivalries. And just because rivalries are existent doesn't necessarily ruin the sport. Rivalries are natural and can't be helped. Rivalries can even be beneficial. In the article "Bad Blood Is Good (for Sports) by Michael Tillery he states, "Rivalries can even galvanize the country and bring people together during tough times". I believe he is correct in this statement. Rivalries bring people together, although they may not be too healthy, they're still important. I also believe that sometimes rivalry is the whole point of a sport and people don't care about the actual game itself. In the article "Sports Competition in Its Purest Form" by Courtney Nguyen she writes "To put it simply, it makes you care and it's compelling theater regardless of the result, the scoreline, or even the quality of play". In this statement I believe she makes a very good point in how some people care more about the rivalry than the sport.
ReplyDeleteGabby White
I believe that rivalries give an element of excitement, motivation, and essentially become one of the main reasons why most Americans are drawn into watching Super Bowl games, or the NBA during this March Madness. I can not imagine the stress that famous national athletes are put through to win a game against their rival team. If we as high school teens feel anxiety over a track meet or our first basketball game of the season, national athletes probably feel 10 times more pressure. If rivalry did not coexist between teams, there is not will or determination to gain the sensation of victory. Athletes, unlike other professions, have a short longevity due to age restrictions and deterioration of strength as they age. Although I believe that rivalry can become one of the major motives, I do not think it is right to bash on other teams or players. Dedicated fans bet hundreds or even thousands of dollars hoping their teams will win. To me, it seems ridiculous to bet on a game when you are not even certain that your favorite team will win. In the NY times article,"Competition in Its Purest Form," it states that, "It's about the priceless concept of bragging rights, which resonates deeper than any engraving on a trophy." This means that ultimately a game is not about winning just a trophy, it is about dedication, pride, and ego as well. We want to prove to others that we are better than others, especially if our whole life was dedicated to a certain sport.
ReplyDeleteReitsuma Panta
Rivalries serve to enrich various sports, and as others have said, they simply add another element to the experience of a sports game; there is reason to still care about rivalries. Rivalries have many benefits (in addition to simply being entertaining), but there comes a point where rivalries just become overly glorified; at the professional level, we have reached this point.
ReplyDeleteSimply speaking about in-town, or local rivalries, if you will, I think there is still some reason to care about them. Most of these rivalries range between young children to the high school level. For Branford, our biggest rival is East Haven (which is no bulletin). There is still reason to care about this rivalry simply because it is more personal; we know the people playing in the games. In a major league baseball game, most people don’t personally know the players, which makes it hard to connect to them.
On another note, sports as a whole have become disconnected. People are no longer staying home to watch a big game, simply because they can record it onto the DVR for later, or if need be, just look up the results. As Willy Blythe stated in, “All Americans Are Free Agents, Not Just Athletes,” “Sports rivalries, it now appears, are just as portable, available at the flick of a remote or the tap of a keyboard.” Like I mentioned earlier, professional game rivalries don’t really have much of an impact on every day life, as compared to those local games.
Generally speaking, I find rivalries to be a bit confusing, not in the sense that I don’t grasp the concept, but in the regard that players are constantly changing, so what/who exactly are you rooting for? The name of the team? The colors? The mascot? This issue was brought up in the writing, “Changing Sports Team Uniforms Can Fuel the Rivalry.” In the text, Frederic J. Frommer quotes Jerry Seinfeld: 'You're actually rooting for the clothes, when you get right down to it," he said. "You are standing and cheering and yelling for your clothes to beat the clothes from another city.” To me, this concept seems quite ridiculous, but, to each his own.
All in all, there is still reason to care about rivalries, but what type, is key.
I have never been one to watch sports, but I have family members who do. I think that although times have changed, if anything, rivalry has become stronger. In the article it states, "We understand that corporate loyalty is provisional for everyone, not just athletes. In such a world, home is an inherently variable concept, more notion than place, which we must carry with us in our iPhones and Androids, or in that exotic device known as our memory." The author's tone comes off as negative, but I interpreted his words differently. Rivalry has become stronger, I feel, because these days, it is easier than ever to access sport games and other data about teams and events. I witness family members capable of streaming clips of their favorite teams anywhere they go. With everything so portable, rivalry is at an all time high.
ReplyDeleteClaire Paterson
Class 3
I don't usually get caught up in the rivalry between sports, however I feel that it is important for the players and those loyal to the teams to have a sense of competition. Whenever there are bigger stakes, there is a larger incentive to work harder and in the case of sports- to win. Fans particularly fuel the team when a game has bigger stakes. I also know that when I go to a Red Sox game, it is fun to have a sense of loyalty toward that team. You are able to sympathize with the teams wins and loses. I agree with one of the articles when Markman says, "There are few opportunities in life that allow for extreme emotional experiences. Embracing rivalries pays off in those unmatched moments of pure feeling." We need rivals to heighten competition and have a more entertaining experience when watching sports.
ReplyDeleteEleanor Hall
Class 3
I lack a lot of information when it comes to sports. I don’t know the specific details about sports but to be general I think rivalry provides the chance to make the sports even more enjoyable. I do agree with Michael Tillery, the author of Bad Blood if good (for sports) .“Rivalries help tell the story of sports, and in so doing give fans a sense of urgency and drama.” However, I don’t know how much the concept of rivalry has changed over time. If it’s a friendly action that encourages the athletes to compete and perform their best then there’s nothing wrong with rivalry. The fans and foes of the different sports and teams get to meet at a single stadium and enjoy the match. The sport events brings the all Americans to a single place, where the culture overlaps. Frederic J. Frommer makes a great point in his article Changing Uniform Can Fuel Rivalry. “The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is not just about the players. It's also a battle between cities, cultures, traditions and styles.” As long rivalry stays positive source of entertainment, encouragement and friendliness then yes the fans should stay interested in rivalry.
ReplyDelete~Shilpa R Period 3
I believe that rivalries are a very integral part of sports. In the athletic world it fuels competition and fosters better performance from teams. People invest a lot of themselves into their favorite teams and in return they expect their teams to perform well, but not everybody can a winner so this creates rivalries between teams in the same region. One of the NYTimes articles stated that, "It's about the priceless concept of bragging rights, which resonates deeper than any engraving on a trophy." Which makes sense because whether we're talking about sports or just life in general, it is human nature for people to want to be the best that they can be.
ReplyDeleteJustin Campos
Period 3