Sociology Of Sports Research Paper
Sociology of sports
Christopher Wood
Colorado Technical University
SOCL120-1302B-05
Professor Andrew Crowther
16 June 2013
Abstract: In this paper I will voice my views on the sociology of sports. I will also talk about my observations and how it pertains to NASCAR.
The sociology of sports is the study of the relationship between sports and society. The sociology of sports looks at sports from several different perspectives including the conflict, functionalist, interactionist, and feminist vantage points. In my readings I have found that the sociology of sports covers some main points such as, the relationship between sports and other areas of social life; like family, education, politics, economy, and religion. …show more content…
NASCAR was started by moonshine runners competing to see whose car was fastest and has now become one of the most watches sports on television. “Bill Frances SR founded NASCAR in 1948. Most races in those days were of modified cars. Street vehicles were lightened and reinforced.” (NO AUTHOR OR DATE GIVEN THE BEGINNING NASCAR HISTORY http://www.decadesofracing.net/TheBeginning.htm). Cars were being raced by the 1940’s for both the pride and the profit. In the start of the 1950 season, strictly stock cars were renamed "Grand National" division. In 1972, the first ever title sponsorship of a NASCAR race came from the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. This series was known as the Winston Cup series from 1972 until 2003. In 2003 the federal government prohibited tobacco companies to market their products on television. At the start of the 2004 racing year NEXTEL took over as the title sponsor of the Premier series. With the change in sponsorship came a change to the points system as well. In 2008 this series became known as the Sprint Cup due to the merger of Sprint and Nextel. One reason NASCAR is so popular …show more content…
The study of sports also covers different processes that occur in sports such as, competition, socialization, and social change. I read that sports is a way to make a group of people achieve discipline, hard work, and meet a common goal. Success in sports is measured by material possessions, power, and status; like the way many current world powers behave. Sports can be seen as one way to make things better. Sports do help individualism by making it possible for players to overcome adversity and rise above oppression. Sports also help a government control its society by maintaining stability and abiding by societal expectations and rules. Sports play a role in politics by giving countries leaders a way to enhance their reputation of power, such as in the Olympic Games. Religion and sports go hand and hand nowadays, not only to churches and other religious institutions sponsor sporting events and clubs, but the athletes themselves promote and attest to the religious beliefs instilled in them. I also read that the media has thrived because of the demand for people to watch both men and women’s sporting events. Some of the men’s events that are viewed on live television include, but are not limited to hockey, baseball, football, wrestling, basketball, and boxing. While the women’s sports that are
Christopher Wood
Colorado Technical University
SOCL120-1302B-05
Professor Andrew Crowther
16 June 2013
Abstract: In this paper I will voice my views on the sociology of sports. I will also talk about my observations and how it pertains to NASCAR.
The sociology of sports is the study of the relationship between sports and society. The sociology of sports looks at sports from several different perspectives including the conflict, functionalist, interactionist, and feminist vantage points. In my readings I have found that the sociology of sports covers some main points such as, the relationship between sports and other areas of social life; like family, education, politics, economy, and religion. …show more content…
NASCAR was started by moonshine runners competing to see whose car was fastest and has now become one of the most watches sports on television. “Bill Frances SR founded NASCAR in 1948. Most races in those days were of modified cars. Street vehicles were lightened and reinforced.” (NO AUTHOR OR DATE GIVEN THE BEGINNING NASCAR HISTORY http://www.decadesofracing.net/TheBeginning.htm). Cars were being raced by the 1940’s for both the pride and the profit. In the start of the 1950 season, strictly stock cars were renamed "Grand National" division. In 1972, the first ever title sponsorship of a NASCAR race came from the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. This series was known as the Winston Cup series from 1972 until 2003. In 2003 the federal government prohibited tobacco companies to market their products on television. At the start of the 2004 racing year NEXTEL took over as the title sponsor of the Premier series. With the change in sponsorship came a change to the points system as well. In 2008 this series became known as the Sprint Cup due to the merger of Sprint and Nextel. One reason NASCAR is so popular …show more content…
The study of sports also covers different processes that occur in sports such as, competition, socialization, and social change. I read that sports is a way to make a group of people achieve discipline, hard work, and meet a common goal. Success in sports is measured by material possessions, power, and status; like the way many current world powers behave. Sports can be seen as one way to make things better. Sports do help individualism by making it possible for players to overcome adversity and rise above oppression. Sports also help a government control its society by maintaining stability and abiding by societal expectations and rules. Sports play a role in politics by giving countries leaders a way to enhance their reputation of power, such as in the Olympic Games. Religion and sports go hand and hand nowadays, not only to churches and other religious institutions sponsor sporting events and clubs, but the athletes themselves promote and attest to the religious beliefs instilled in them. I also read that the media has thrived because of the demand for people to watch both men and women’s sporting events. Some of the men’s events that are viewed on live television include, but are not limited to hockey, baseball, football, wrestling, basketball, and boxing. While the women’s sports that are