Amateurism

Scholars argue that, to one degree or another, amateurism has been idealized in competitive sport. As your readings (especially the one by Eitzen) will point out, the ideas of honor and fair play are more readily attached to the amateurism. Amateurism and the belief in its moral sensibilities have also been prime drivers of the rationale for including athletics in higher education in the United States.

Although some might argue that the amateur ideal is no longer relevant in an age where money seems to be a driving force behind spectator sports, it is still seen as important by some scholars and commentators—and it may be important to many fans. New York Times columnist David Brooks, for instance, wrote in 2011 that the amateur ideal promotes a “value system” that counteracts “commercial interests.” He added, “The lingering vestiges of the amateur ideal are worth preserving.” (Brooks, 2011). 

But, does amateurism in elite sport in the United States even exist? Or has amateurism merely become a façade for commercial interests in sport? (Think about the controversy around the NCAA, one of the most prominent “amateur” sports organizations in the world.)

We’ll explore the amateur ideal and the role it plays in this unit through readings and through considering the ways amateur sports operate and the way the athletes are depicted in the media.

 

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References

Brooks, D. (2011, September 22). The Amateur Ideal. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/opinion/the-amateur-ideal.html?_r=0