If you take a look at men's and women's sports you will see a clear difference between the two. Even the expectations for are different for each gender. Women's sports are suppose to be competitive without have much physicality, where as men's sports are suppose to be very physical. A clear example of this difference is Elizabeth Lambert (left) who plays soccer for the University of New Mexico. There is a video of her using dirty tactics against players from the BYU soccer team. She is seen hitting them in the back, kicking the ball into other players faces when they are on the ground and throwing girls to the ground. During the game she received only one yellow card. The next day the NCAA suspended Lambert indefinitely for her actions in the game. On the other hand, men's sports is seen in a different light. The saturday before the Lambert incident, Brandon Spikes a football player at the University of Florida had an incident of his own.
During Florida's game that weekend Brandon Spikes was seen trying to reach through the facemask of a Georgia player. His attempt was to reach his finger to the eye of the opposing player. After the tape was reviewed Spikes received only have half-game suspension. Brandon Spikes came out and took responsibility for his actions and took himself out of the second half of the next game. So, a girl who hurts the opposing players with elbows and take downs gets an indefinite suspension. Where as, a guy who tries to blind the opposing player formally gets a half-game, but it turned out to be a 1 game after a self imposed suspension. Personally I see a huge problem with this situation. Someone trying to commit long term damage to someone else gets a lesser penalty then someone just being more physical then need be. Do I think gender had a part in the decision? I cannot say for certain, but the conspiracy theorist in me wants to say that Brandon Spikes did not get a heavy penalty, because everyone that has authority in the matter wants Florida to win. That should not be what is bases for handing down penalties, it should the nature of the incident.
During Florida's game that weekend Brandon Spikes was seen trying to reach through the facemask of a Georgia player. His attempt was to reach his finger to the eye of the opposing player. After the tape was reviewed Spikes received only have half-game suspension. Brandon Spikes came out and took responsibility for his actions and took himself out of the second half of the next game. So, a girl who hurts the opposing players with elbows and take downs gets an indefinite suspension. Where as, a guy who tries to blind the opposing player formally gets a half-game, but it turned out to be a 1 game after a self imposed suspension. Personally I see a huge problem with this situation. Someone trying to commit long term damage to someone else gets a lesser penalty then someone just being more physical then need be. Do I think gender had a part in the decision? I cannot say for certain, but the conspiracy theorist in me wants to say that Brandon Spikes did not get a heavy penalty, because everyone that has authority in the matter wants Florida to win. That should not be what is bases for handing down penalties, it should the nature of the incident.
These were really good incidents to compare, Chris. Good pics to include too.
ReplyDeleteThe university of mexico's womens soccer game was a horrible display of sportsmanship. It was entertaining but i believe no athlete should behave this way in their sport. Men or women.
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