¶ … dawn of the Olympics in ancient Greece, sports have moved away from being games people play for fun to serious competitive events. The modern sports media has taken that formula one step further by commodifying every possible aspect of a sporting event. Thus, sports have become less and less about fun and more and more about serious business.
Berlage (1982) bemoans the fact that sports no longer offer children the lighthearted opportunities for play that they once did. Because athletes add considerable value to college teams, students are geared toward intense competition when they begin showing signs of athletic prowess. Eager parents and coaches encourage adolescent athletes -- and even younger children -- to put in long hours at practice. In some cases, the game that was once fun for the student becomes an arduous chore. Especially at the varsity levels, school athletic programs gear up talented students toward the sporting industry. Outstanding student athletes are undoubtedly viewed as potential value added to a college team. At that point, sports cease to be played just for fun. Missing a practice is like missing a day at work. The student who receives an athletic scholarship understands that his or her performances is directly correlated with career success. Fun is only an afterthought. As with all amateur athletes, sports as fun begins after the day's serious practice has ended.
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