Devience In Sports

INTRODUCTION

In the opinion of many fans, deviance and criminality are rampant among athletes in today's power and performance sports. Onlookers feel that it has gotten worse in recent years. Take for instance, last month's Pistons/ Pacers spectacle in which five NBA stars were charged with misdemeanors. A highly publicized event, the fight gave further publicity to the very actions that many deem disappointing. Furthermore, recent publicity raised questions regarding guilt. Many blame the media. Some blame the commercialization of sports. Regardless of guilt, the standards and morals practiced by the NBA showed, at least that particular evening, a compromise.

Purpose of Paper

The purpose of this paper is to compare the deviance of a high-profile athlete to Jay Coakley's Sport Ethic. The athlete being studied is the infamous, Iron Mike Tyson.

Background Information

Born June 30, 1966, Mike Tyson was an experienced mugger by age 13. He became a professional boxer by 1985 and for many years he would enter the ring wearing a black robe, black trunks, and black shoes, cultivating an executioner image. By 1988, Tyson was the heavyweight champion of the world after giving Michael Spinks his only career loss. His quick rise to the top was characterized by 1st Round knockouts, some within two minutes. At times he was called the most dangerous fighter in the history of the sport (no pun intended). Famous boxing trainer Cus D'Amato once boasted that Tyson could land three punches in under one second. Many people appreciated Tyson's boxing abilities. His comeback fight in 1995 generated over $90 million. In 1996, Tyson fought Holyfield bringing in $14 million, the highest revenues from a live gate in the history of boxing.

Tyson's professional resume doesn't stop in the ring. In other words, Tyson has an impressive record, both in the ring and at the police station. His problems became public after he beat Michael Spinks when he intentionally crashed his car in a suicide attempt. That same year, Tyson's wife, actress Robin Givens, divorced him because he repeatedly beat her.

In 1991, Tyson was convicted of rape and sent to prison for a six year term. After his release in 1997 and in his returning fight, Tyson bit Holyfield's ear, resulting in the revoke of his Nevada State Boxing License. Then, his victory against Andrew Golota in 2000 was changed to "no-contest" by Michigan officials because Tyson refused a pre-fight drug test. Afterward, he tested positive for illegal narcotics. Finally, Tyson has appeared in court for numerous offenses ranging from public drunkenness to assault and battery.

Significance of Study

The significance of this study hinges on the comparison of Tyson to the Sport Ethic. Coakley describes the Sport Ethic as, "a set of norms that many people in power and performance sports have accepted as the dominant criteria for defining what it means to be an athlete and successfully claim an identity as an athlete." (Coakley, p.168) The four core norms of the Sport Ethic are: athletes make sacrifices for the game, athletes strive for distinction, athletes accept risks and play through pain, and athletes accept no limits in the pursuit of possibilities.

Does Tyson's deviance outside of the ring reflect his unconditional acceptance of the norms of the Sport Ethic? It is possible that Tyson felt that his future success was solely dependent on his boxing career. Are Tyson's athletics experiences so invigorating that he cannot help to continue violence outside the ring? Violence or deviance occurring outside of sport arenas often shows that athletes are trying to demonstrate their merit, or pursuit of greatness. What about his violence towards women? Does it reflect something larger than his psychological problems, maybe a problem with boxing itself? It's possible that Tyson's behavior outside of boxing doesn't reflect his efforts in the ring. Tyson could have learned violence before entering the ring.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Review : An Illustrated History of Boxing

This text provided great objective insight into the life of Mike Tyson. The authors provided facts about the type of person Tyson was. The text covered boxing's major fighters with a concise outline of the major times of their lives. Comments and quotes accompanied the illustrations, "Tyson had five stints in boy's homes and jails before he even started boxing," the author replied. (Andre, p. 435) The text also commented on Tyson's state of mind. "The death of Cus D'Amato had a tremendous affect on Mike. He attempted suicide after the death of his beloved trainer." (Andre, p. 437)

Review: A sit down with Mike Tyson

This