This week Dr. Barnes spoke with you all regarding the nature of competition---the theoretical frameworks associated with the idealistic perspective on competition and the realistic perspective on competition. David Light Shields has written a paper investigating the practical applications of these theories---"Opponents or Enemies: Rethinking the Nature of Competition". You may access this paper on-line at www.characterandcitizenship.org/research/keynote.htm. Please read the paper thoroughly and discuss in a minimum four paragraph post the following: 1.) What is Alfie Kohn's argument against competition? What is MEGA? Do you agree with Kohn's position? Why/Why not? What ethical reasoning supports your argument? 2.) What is decompetition? Can you provide a personal example of when you might have participated in sport and the concept of decompetition was applied? 3.) How does decompetition affect motivation in the participant? 4.) What is an outcome oriented perspective regarding competition? What is a 'process oriented perspective' regarding competition? Which orientation matches best with the participant who is a 'decompetitor' ? 5.)What is 'bracketed morality'? How does this relate to our competitive orientations? 6.) Are you a competitor or a decompetitor?
Grades for last weeks blog will be done this weekend. Posts for this blog should be done by 930am PST on Wednesday February 24---My Birthday! Looking forward to seeing you all in two weeks---Go Vandals!!

sportsmanship, fair play and gamesmanship

In class today we discussed sportsmanship, fair play, and gamesmanship. Further I presented some examples of each in practice. Paul Brown and the sowing of the footballs on the jerseys, my buddy Coach Nick and the kicking tee, and the West Point football player who 'told on himself' after he ran out of bounds, nullifying a touchdown for Army. Cite two examples of sportsmanship, fair play, and gamesmanship from your own personal experience with sport or from sport experiences that you have observed as a spectator/fan.