In the last class, we watched a movie called "Not Just A Game." This movied bought up several interesting facts about the current social beliefs of sports in American Society. It showed how, even though it is supposed to be completely separate, politics is deeply incrained in sports. The incorporation of Mass Media into the current set up of sports has created a cultural oddity that proclaims a belief in keeping neutral while it clearly does not. In class, we have talked aobut how the sports community is considered to be a "safe haven" from the worries of the outside world where people can lose themselves. This was a reason as to why people believe that sports are so popular. However, after watching the movie, we begin to realize just how much we are influenced by sports. One of hte examples given by the movie where politics was involved was Michael Jordan's hiding the Reebok insignia on his uniform. He was influenced by the politics of the media and advertising industries. He was a spokesman for Nike so wearing a Reebok jersy was something that he was unwilling to publicly do becuase it would cause problems for him and his endorsements. The book even has a whole chapter devoted to "Sports and the Media." It goes in depth into the implications of sports and media and even discusses whether sports could exist without the media.
In my opinion, media is automatically involved in politics. These politics may not be as blatant as "American politics" which is bi partisan, but they exist. The politics are all which band you wear and what things you buy. The belief that media is not involved with sports is an idea that people are fed by the media owners. The owners want you to believe that it is an escape from the world while, in truth, it is clearly not.

Charley Merrow
Kin 338I S3017