1. SPORTS IMPACT ON SOCIETY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Why do sports get so much attention in the US?
2) Research the following sport athletes & events & answer why they had such an impact on not only the sports world, but to society as a
whole?
A) Jackie Robinson
B) Muhammad Ali
C) 1972 Olympics
D) Title IX
E) 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
F) Lance Armstrong
G) 1980 Olympics (USA vs Russia in hockey)
H) Jim Valvano
I) 1968 Olympics (Tommie Smith & John Carlos)
J) 1995 Rugby World Cup
3) In addition to the above, can you think of any other athletes, teams, games, events, etc. that had an impact on society as a whole?
SPORTS & SOCIETY ARTICLES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What Makes Fans Tick?
1) Explain the 8 basic motives that drive people to be sports fans.
2) How does the "social identity theory" explain our attraction to spectator sports?
3) Explain the concepts of "BIRGing" and "CORFing."
4) What is a "Deep Fan?"
5) What are the differences between blue collar and white collar fans?
What Makes Fans Crazy About Sports?
1) What is the #1 "passion driver" of most NFL fans?
2) What is the #1 "passion driver" of most MLB fans?
3) Explain the following 3 groups of baseball fans:
A) Field of Dreamers
B) Team Obsessors
C) Family Connectors
4) What sports property had the largest U.S. fan base in 2009?
5) What sports property had the largest U.S. fan base in 2001?

2. THE YANKEES PLAYOFF RUN AFTER 9/11 IS NOT THE ONLY
EXAMPLE OF HOW SPORTS FIGURES & EVENTS
TRANSCENDED THE SPORTS WORLD & IMPACTED
SOCIETY.

3. WHAT WAS THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE FOLLOWING SPORT
EVENTS & ATHLETES?

4. JACKIE ROBINSON

5. -PLAYED FOR THE BROOKLYN DODGERS FROM 1947-56.
-SELECTED TO 6 CONSECUTIVE ALL-STAR GAMES (1949-54).
-WON MLB ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 1949.
-WON WORLD SERIES WITH DODGERS IN 1955.
-ELECTED TO MLB HALL OF FAME IN 1962.
-BECAME 1ST BLACK MLB PLAYER SINCE 1880’S WHEN HE
DEBUTED WITH DODGERS ON APRIL 15, 1947.
-HIS CHALLENGE OF MLB SEGREGATION CONTRIBUTED
SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1955-68).
-MLB RETIRED HIS NUMBER 42 ACROSS ALL TEAMS IN
1997.

6. MUHAMMAD ALI

7. -WON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT GOLD MEDAL AT THE 1960 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN ROME.
-BECAME YOUNGEST BOXER (22) TO TAKE THE TITLE FROM A REIGNING HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMPION WHEN HE DEFEATED SONNY LISTON ON 2/25/64.
-NAMED “FIGHTER OF THE YEAR” BY RING MAGAZINE MORE TIMES THAN ANY OTHER
FIGHTER.
-INDUCTED INTO INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME IN 1990.
-CROWNED “SPORTSMAN OF THE CENTURY” BY SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IN 1999.
-BORN CASSIUS CLAY BUT CHANGED HIS NAME IN 1964 AFTER JOINING THE NATION OF
ISLAM.
-REFUSED CONSCRIPTION INTO US MILITARY IN 1967 BASED ON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS &
OPPOSITION TO THE VIETNAM WAR.”
-”I AIN’T GOT NO QUARREL WITH THEM VIET CONG…NO VIET CONG EVER CALLED ME
NIGGER.”
-QUOTE ARTICULATED THE REASON TO OPPOSE THE WAR FOR MANY YOUNG
AMERICANS, & SERVED AS A TOUCHSTONE FOR THE RACIAL UPHEAVALS THAT WOULD
ROCK THE 60’S.
-AWARDED PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM ON 11/9/05 BY GEORGE W. BUSH.

8. 1972 SUMMER OLYMPICS

9. -TOOK PLACE IN MUNICH, WEST GERMANY FROM 8/26-9/11 1972.
-US SWIMMER MARK SPITZ WON 7 GOLD MEDALS & SET A NEW
WORLD RECORD FOR EACH.
-SOVIET UNION WON MOST MEDALS (99). US WAS 2ND (94).
-OFFICIAL MOTTO: “THE HAPPY GAMES.”
-WEST GERMAN GOVERNMENT WANTED TO PRESENT A NEW,
DEMOCRATIC GERMANY TO THE WORLD AFTER THE FALL OF THE
NAZI REGIME.
-ON 9/5 8 PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS BELONGING TO THE BLACK
SEPTEMBER ORGANIZATION BROKE INTO OLYMPIC VILLAGE & TOOK
11 ISRAELI ATHLETES, COACHES, & OFFICIALS HOSTAGE.
-ALL 11 HOSTAGES WERE EVENTUALLY MURDERED.

10. TITLE IX

11. -TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972 WAS ENACTED
ON JUNE 23, 1972.
-IN 2002 IT WAS RENAMED THE PATSY T. MINK EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
IN EDUCATION ACT, IN HONOR OF ITS PRINCIPAL AUTHOR PATSY
MINK.
-SINCE 1972, 9 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN HIGH
SCHOOL SPORTS & PARTICIPATION AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL
INCREASED 450%.
-A RECIPIENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE
WITH TITLE IX BY MEETING ANY 1 OF THE FOLLOWING 3 PRONGS:
1) PROVIDING ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
SUBSTANTIALLY PROPORTIONATE TO THE STUDENT
ENROLLMENT.
2) DEMONSTRATE A CONTINUAL EXPANSION OF ATHLETIC
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE UNERREPRESENTED SEX.
3) FULL & EFFECTIVE ACCOMMODATION OF THE INTEREST & ABILITY
OF THE UNDERREPRESENTED SEX.

12. 1999 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

13. -1999 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP WAS HELD IN US.
-CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON JULY 10 AT THE ROSE BOWL IN
PASADENA, CA WAS THE MOST-ATTENDED WOMEN’S SPORTS
EVENT IN HISTORY WITH OFFICAL ATTENDANCE OF 90,185.
-US DEFEATED CHINA 0-0 IN PENALTY SHOOTOUT (5-4) WITH A
GOAL BY BRANDI CHASTAIN.
-PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: “THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS CAUGHT
UP. IT’S GOING TO HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT THAN PEOPLE EVER
REALIZED, & IT WILL HAVE A FAR-REACHING IMPACT NOT ONLY
IN THE US BUT ALSO IN OTHER COUNTRIES.”

14. LANCE ARMSTRONG

15. -WON 7 CONSECUTIVE TOUR DE FRANCE RACES (1999-
2005).
-1997: FOUNDED THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION
WHICH SUPPORTS PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CANCER.
-2004: NIKE DEVELOPED & LAUNCHED THE YELLOW
LIVESTRONG WRISTBAND AS A FUNDRAISER FOR LAF.
-WRISTBANDS SELL FOR $1 EACH.
-TO DATE, 80 MILLION WRISTBANDS HAVE BEEN SOLD.

16. 1980 WINTER OLYMPICS: USA VS RUSSIA

17. -1980 WINTER OLYMPICS HELD IN LAKE PLACID, NY.
-US BEAT THE SOVIET UNION 4-3 IN THE SEMI-FINAL GAME.
-US WENT ON TO WIN GOLD BY BEATING FINLAND.
-1999: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED NAMED THE GAME THE TOP
SPORTS MOMENT OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
-COLD WAR (1946-1991): A PERIOD OF POLITICAL,
MILITARY, & ECONOMIC TENSION BETWEEN THE
COMMUNIST WORLD (SOVIET UNION) & DEMOCRATIC
WORLD (US).
-1979 ENERGY CRISIS: LED TO GAS SHORTAGE IN US.
-MOST AMERICANS WERE DOWN ON THE US & THE GAME
PROVIDED A REVITALIZATION OF PATRIOTISM.

18. JIM VALVANO

19. -NCAA DIVISION 1 BASKETBALL COACH FROM 1968-1990.
-WON 1983 TOURNAMENT WITH NORTH CAROLINA STATE
UNIVERSITY.
-DIAGNOSED WITH TERMINAL CANCER IN 1992.
-ON MARCH 4, 1993 GAVE FAMOUS “DON’T GIVE UP…
DON’T EVER GIVE UP” SPEECH AT 1ST ESPY AWARDS.
-THE V FOUNDATION WAS STARTED IN 1993 TO FUND
RESEARCH TO FIND CURES FOR CANCER.
-HAS RAISED MORE THAN $80 MILLION TO DATE.

20. 1968 SUMMER OLYMPICS: TOMMIE SMITH & JOHN CARLOS

21. -TOOK PLACE IN OCTOBER 1968 IN MEXICO CITY, MEXICO.
-FIRST OLYMPICS HOSTED BY A SPANISH-SPEAKING
COUNTRY.
-ONLY OLYMPICS EVER HELD IN LATIN AMERICA.
-TOMMIE SMITH & JOHN CARLOS AMERICAN SPRINTERS.
-SMITH: GOLD & CARLOS: BRONZE IN 200-METER RACE.
-ON THE AWARD PODIUM RAISED A BLACK-GLOVED FIST
AS THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER PLAYED.
-SYMBOLIZED SOLIDARITY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS &
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

22. 1995 RUGBY WORLD CUP

23. -HOSTED BY SOUTH AFRICA.
-3RD RUGBY WORLD CUP.
-1ST RUGBY WORLD CUP WHERE EVERY MATCH WAS
HELD IN 1 COUNTRY.
-1ST MAJOR SPORTING EVENT HELD IN SOUTH AFRICA
AFTER THE END OF APARTHEID IN WHICH SOUTH AFRICA
WAS ALLOWED TO COMPETE.
-WON BY SOUTH AFRICA (SPRINGBOKS).
-VICTORY BECAME A SYMBOL OF UNITY & INSPIRATION
FOR THE NATION AFTER 50 YEARS OF RACIAL TENSION.

24. Sport is the subject of much conversation, reading
material, leisure activity, and discretionary spending. Over
one-tenth of the World Almanac is devoted annually to
sport, more than is allotted to politics, business, and
science. USA Today, the most widely read newspaper in
the United States, devotes one-fourth of its space to sport.
Even the Wall Street Journal has a weekly sports page.
There are numerous cable television networks providing
twenty-four-hour coverage. Annually, the most watched
television event in the United States is the Super Bowl. The
amount of sports betting is staggering, with unknown
billions waged legally and illegally.
Why all the attention?

25. WHY ARE WE SPORTS FANS?

26. THE 8 BASIC MOTIVES THAT DRIVE PEOPLE TO
CONSUME SPORTS

27. 1) ENTERTAINMENT

28. 2) ESCAPE

29. 3) ECONOMICS

30. 4) EUSTRESS

31. 5) AESTHETIC

32. 6) FAMILY

33. 7) GROUP AFFILIATION

34. 8) SELF-ESTEEM

35. BIRGing & CORFing
•TERMS COINED IN THE MID ’70’S WHEN AN ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY PSYCHOLOGY
PROFESSOR NOTICED THAT STUDENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO WEAR ASU GEAR ON
MONDAYS AFTER THE FOOTBALL TEAM WON THAN WHEN IT LOST.
•BASKING IN REFLECTED GLORY (BIRG):
-FANS ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH A TEAM THAT HAS SUCCESS, HOPING THAT THE CONNECTION
WILL IMPROVE THE WAY THEY’RE VIEWED BY OTHERS.
•CUTTING OFF REFLECTED FAILURE (CORF):
-FANS CUT THE CORD ON THE CONNECTION WITH THE TEAM WHEN THE TEAM LOSES, TRYING
TO AVOID THE NEGATIVE EVALUATION THAT COMES FROM OTHERS WHEN A TEAM LOSES.
•THE GROUPS THAT WE BELONG TO FORM A PART OF OUR SELF CONCEPT

36. SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY
“US VERSUS THEM”
-STATES THAT GROUP MEMBERSHIP CREATES SELF-
CATEGORIZATION & ENHANCEMENT IN WAYS THAT
FAVOR THE IN-GROUP (US) AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
OUT-GROUP (THEM).
-THE GROUPS THAT WE BELONG TO (FRATERNITIES &
SORORITIES) & THE TEAMS THAT WE CHEER FOR
(YANKEES & RED SOX) INFLUENCE OUR SELF-IDENTITY.

37. DEEP FAN
-FORM AN EMOTIONAL
ATTACHMENT TO A TEAM THAT IS
OUTSIDE OF NORMAL.
-THESE PEOPLE LIVE & DIE WITH
THE TEAM.

38. BLUE COLLAR VS WHITE COLLAR FANS

41. PASSION DRIVERS
-REASONS WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW THEIR FAVORITE
SPORTS.
#1 PASSION DRIVER OF NFL FANS
-TEAM DEVOTION
#1 PASSION DRIVER OF MLB FANS
-NOSTALGIA

42. BASEBALL FAN GROUPS

43. FIELD OF DREAMERS
-AGE: 55-64.
-INCOME: +$75,000/YEAR.
-COMBINE A LOVE OF THE HISTORY OF THE GAME WITH
TEAM DEVOTION.
-CONSIDER THE GAME A SOCIAL EVENT & LOVE TALKING
ABOUT IT WHEN NOT WATCHING IT.

44. TEAM OBSESSORS
-AGE: 25-34.
-INCOME: $75,000-150,000.
-CONTEMPORARY HARDCORE
FANS.
-HYPERCOMPETITIVE & FEEL A
DEEP NEED TO CONNECT WITH
SIMILAR MINDED FANS.
-LISTEN TO SPORTS TALK
RADIO & READ ONLINE SPORTS
CONTENT.

45. FAMILY CONNECTORS
-AGE: MARRIED WITH CHILDREN (TEND TO BE FEMALE).
-INCOME: $50,000-75,000.
-SEE BASEBALL AS A WAY TO ENJOY TIME TOGETHER WITH
FAMILY OR WITH OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
-SUPPORT TEAM, BUT NOT VERY CLOSELY.
-MORE LIKELY TO CONNECT WITH TEAM FOR THE ROLE IT
PLAYED FOR THEIR FAMILY.