Functionalist Theories: For The Love Of Sports
For the Love of Sports
Frederick L. Webster
Ashford University
Sociology in Sports
SOC318
Eric Dybvig
December 13, 2009
For the Love of Sports In this paper, I will apply the functionalist theory to answer the question: “Why are people fanatically interested in playing and watching sports?” Culture, social structure, and social interaction play major roles in contributing to the reasons why people are fanatically interested in sports. Sport fans have a personal connection to their sport and/or team because it represents something that is important to them: city, state, favorite player, their past or future, hobby, and entertainment. Culture consists of the shared ways of life and the shared understandings that people …show more content…
It is a vehicle through which the forces and relations of societal power are covertly communicated and, if infrequently, explicitly challenged, to the benefit of some groups within society, yet to the detriment of others (Zirin, 2008, p. 29). Sport fans have a connection to their sports or sport teams because they represent their city, state and/or community. They watch their favorite team on television or attend the game live to cheer their team to victory over the other team and the fans that cheer for them. Sports and sport teams can, and often do, reflect and represent specific locations and local identities (Crawford, 2004, p. 52). Greenville High School and T.L. Weston were the two high schools that divided my town. Greenville High represented the north side and the south side was represented by T.L. Weston. It was considered a rival game whenever these two teams played each other. The communities for each team came out in full force wearing team colors and other replica to represent the high school in their community. Winning this game would give one side of the town bragging rights over the other. Both sides of the stadium were always packed with fans for both teams. A town divided by two football teams that represented their community but brought together by their love for …show more content…
Culture can influence what team you cheer for, what sport you like to watch or play, and what kind of sports fan you are. Social interaction and structure provide a forum to discuss your favorite team, cheer with other sport fans, talk about the game you watched on TV, and the opportunity to play the game with friends who also enjoy sports. Many sport fans share the same values and that is their love for sports, even though they may not be cheering for the same team. Sports develop relationships, build camaraderie and gives sports fans something to own outside of themselves.
.
Reference
Coakley, J. (2009). Sports in society: Issues and controversies (10th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Zirin, D. (2008). Calling sports sociology off the bench. Contexts, 7(3), Retrieved December 14, 2009, from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1507545141&sid=4&Fmt=2&clientId 79&RQT T=309&VName=PQD
Crawford, G. (2003). The career of the sport supporter: The case of the Manchester
Storm. Sociology: the Journal of the British Sociological Association, 37(2),
Frederick L. Webster
Ashford University
Sociology in Sports
SOC318
Eric Dybvig
December 13, 2009
For the Love of Sports In this paper, I will apply the functionalist theory to answer the question: “Why are people fanatically interested in playing and watching sports?” Culture, social structure, and social interaction play major roles in contributing to the reasons why people are fanatically interested in sports. Sport fans have a personal connection to their sport and/or team because it represents something that is important to them: city, state, favorite player, their past or future, hobby, and entertainment. Culture consists of the shared ways of life and the shared understandings that people …show more content…
It is a vehicle through which the forces and relations of societal power are covertly communicated and, if infrequently, explicitly challenged, to the benefit of some groups within society, yet to the detriment of others (Zirin, 2008, p. 29). Sport fans have a connection to their sports or sport teams because they represent their city, state and/or community. They watch their favorite team on television or attend the game live to cheer their team to victory over the other team and the fans that cheer for them. Sports and sport teams can, and often do, reflect and represent specific locations and local identities (Crawford, 2004, p. 52). Greenville High School and T.L. Weston were the two high schools that divided my town. Greenville High represented the north side and the south side was represented by T.L. Weston. It was considered a rival game whenever these two teams played each other. The communities for each team came out in full force wearing team colors and other replica to represent the high school in their community. Winning this game would give one side of the town bragging rights over the other. Both sides of the stadium were always packed with fans for both teams. A town divided by two football teams that represented their community but brought together by their love for …show more content…
Culture can influence what team you cheer for, what sport you like to watch or play, and what kind of sports fan you are. Social interaction and structure provide a forum to discuss your favorite team, cheer with other sport fans, talk about the game you watched on TV, and the opportunity to play the game with friends who also enjoy sports. Many sport fans share the same values and that is their love for sports, even though they may not be cheering for the same team. Sports develop relationships, build camaraderie and gives sports fans something to own outside of themselves.
.
Reference
Coakley, J. (2009). Sports in society: Issues and controversies (10th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Zirin, D. (2008). Calling sports sociology off the bench. Contexts, 7(3), Retrieved December 14, 2009, from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1507545141&sid=4&Fmt=2&clientId 79&RQT T=309&VName=PQD
Crawford, G. (2003). The career of the sport supporter: The case of the Manchester
Storm. Sociology: the Journal of the British Sociological Association, 37(2),