Threatened Egotism

Threatened Egotism

Jason M. Hawes

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

           

            The article titled “Violent Pride” was very interesting. The connection between low self-esteem and aggression seemed intriguing. When I first started reading the article I was surprised that so many individuals with varying degrees of power over a child would worry about criticizing them. According to the article their belief was that if they negatively critique a child then they may cause the child to act out in aggression.

            Thus, low self-esteem is supposed to be directly linked to violence. This theoretical perspective does seem to make sense at first. One would think that if an individual had low self-esteem, perhaps that person would have less to loose. That person would act out violently without the loss of anything. The higher sense of self-worth that an individual has, perhaps that person would not want to risk the loss of someone without a sense of self-worth. We can look at social construct theory or the value an individual holds in society. It seems to me that the more value an individual assigns him or herself is directly correlated to the way he or she is willing to conduct him or herself.

            This article demonstrated that low self-esteem theory is incongruent with what we have learned about self-esteem and aggression. Threatened egotism is a new concept that was introduced in this article. An individual’s ego can become threatened when someone else challenges his or her own beliefs/values/morals/folkways/desires. Once challenged, the individual may become aggressive due to the challenge. The article also presented another interesting concept. An individual can also threaten his or her own belief system/values. This can create aggression that may be directed inward upon oneself or outward towards others. Once we pit ourselves against our own values, we create an internal struggle. This struggle can manifest itself into anger. This is exactly why self-help books have been proven to be problematic, rather than an easy solution for the reader.

            It was very thought provoking how they conducted the research associated with aggression. It was astonishing how the third party in the trial was not persecuted. I would have thought for sure that the agitated individual would have misdirected his or her anger against the stranger at hand. Instead, the research showed that the anger was directly linked towards the individual he or she thought had given the negative score/feedback.  

            Before reading this article I did believe that self-esteem varied at times for individuals given certain life events. I was surprised to read that research has shown that it stays consistent without regard of whatever life throws at us. Life events still cause our self-esteem to mildly fluctuate but we still remain stagnant with what we originated with. This begs the question of how we look at our own self-concept and the personal stories and ideations that we carry. 

            I also found it interesting that men have a higher level of self-esteem than women. I would have been very interested in reading the author’s perspective on the reasoning behind this. I believe as a society, we hold men to a hierarchy in life. Women fall below men still in our society and are rated as a large category to be less aggressive. It would have been very interesting if the author looked at the gender biases that each sex lives up to. Men are breed to be aggressive so perhaps we have created this behavior socially rather than the behavior being part of this theory.

            I do believe as this article suggested that we hold dearly to our valued sense of identity. We are true to our own beliefs regardless of the light others hold us in. We are quick to end our lives once we feel there is maleficence in our own traits or expectations.  The Chinese culture is a great example. They hold each other accountable for such a grandeur of self-respect that if something should go wrong, they cannot live another day due to the shame associated with the loss of whatever has occurred.

References

Baumeister, R. F. (2006). Violent Pride. Scientific American Mind, 17(4), 54-59. doi: 10.1038/scientificamericanmind0806-54

Hacker, D. (n.d.). Rules for Writers - Tabbed Edition. 6th Edition. Retrieved May 20, 2012, from http://www.valorebooks.com/textbooks/rules-for-writers-tabbed-edition-6th-edition/9780312485733

Hacker, D., Sommers, N. I., Jehn, T. R., Rosenzweig, J., & Carbajal, V. H. (2008). Rules for writers. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Psychopaths: Real Life Big Screen Horror Next Door?

Written for MP578 Mental Health Law

          In 1941, Medical College of Georgia psychiatrist Hervey M. Cleckley (2007) analytically described Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder. He described a set of personality personas and behaviors as described below (Meyer & Weaver, 2006). These superficial personalities display continually charismatic behavior, normal, trustworthy and comforting. However, a person with Psychopathic and Antisocial Personalities are really egocentric, self-absorbing, dishonest and erratic behaviors for self-fulfilling pleasure.  They do not fully feel a sense of responsibility, compassion and love. They normally are insensitive during relationships; vindicating their reckless behavior by placing blame on others instead. Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder seldom learn from their mistakes and struggle with their immoral impulses (Arkowitz & Lilienfeld, 2007).

Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder as described by Cleckley has led to the conception that real life monsters exist in society (Arkowitz & Lilienfeld, 2007). A society that the media and Hollywood enjoy promoting through real-life horror stories elevating them to an almost pop-culture status. The depiction of Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder individuals in movies, television shows, stories and news reports are depictions of insane killers using their charm to torment their victims. However, are they really insane, or do their morals not fit within society?

Andrew Tudor (1989) study of the horror films from the 1960’s to the late 1980’s demonstrated an intense use of a psychotic killer over the horror’s more conventional forms such as monsters, vampires, werewolves, or aliens. Steffen Hantke’s (2010) book American Horror Film: The Genre at the turn of the Millennium also states that American film goers love a psychotic killer because they are so close to being scared by the real thing. In 2012 Almost a quarter century after Tudor’s book came out, Hollywood and American culture still favor the psychopathic killers. Hollywood’s shift from using mythological antagonists to human based real life psychotic killer movies are because the demons are so real. The serial killer is usually portrayed with Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder characteristics, as described by Cleckley’s as well as characteristics such as genius intelligence, charismatics, cunning, manipulative, charming, disillusioned, cryptic, regimented, compulsive, etc. 

Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho (1991) created controversy when it was released because of the horrific details and the book’s ability to exhibit the thought process of a serial killer and their perception of reality. One can question in the novel whether any of the crimes really happened, or are they really a delusional psychotic fantasy. The cinematic version of the book was able to establish a bewildering visual demonstration of his thought. Many questioned the book and film’s plot was it a fantasy or were they seeing the world through the eyes of psychotic killer, or both? Are psychopaths living in an alternate perception of reality where they do not have a sense of moral judgment? 

 Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder is a pattern of disregard, the unforgiving violation of others and deviant characteristics of a person that harms without remorse. A person with Psychopathy and/or Antisocial Personality Disorders demonstrates the same characteristics as many of their fictional counterparts.  The term Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder is currently not a diagnostic criterion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as an appropriate diagnosis for a personality disorder (Meyer, R., & Weaver, G., 2006). The law defines them as moral disorders; which seems appropriate according to the Encarta Dictionary definition moral as “the right, wrong and how individual people should behave”. Society decides these morals though laws and social culture, when one does not fit into society’s standards because of their perception they become deviants.

Society’s social deviants such as John Wayne Gacy can have the ability to appear as a model citizen. Gacy was able to fool his community because he would be seen doing volunteer work, working with kids, helping out his neighbors and even dressed up as a clown and visited sick children.  Individuals with a Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder are sometimes able to manipulate the people around them. Gacy was caught and sent to prison for illegal sexual acts. Gacy was able to manipulate and convince the parole board that he was fit for society. A mental health expert may be able to see the behaviors but in Gacy’s case they were not able to convince the parole board (Hawes, 2012).

Gacy had an unnatural ability to manipulate and lie. His ability to do this resulted in the deaths of 33 known victims (McCormick, J, 1998). Gacy is not the only serial killer to demonstrate such traits, Jeffrey Dahmer’s antisocial personality allowed him to manipulate and lie. Jeffrey was a social outcast during his high school years, however when he started killing he needed to start learning how to manipulate and lie in order to stay out of trouble. During Jeffrey’s first murder he was pulled over by police and they questioned him about the full trash bags (A&E Biography-Jeffrey Dahmer 1996). Jeffrey was also seemly caught by police 10 years later when he left a young 14 year old drunk boy alone. The boy was able to get out of Jeffrey’s apartment and the police were called on his behalf because he was standing in the middle of the street naked. When police questioned him, he was able to convince them that this was a “lover’s quarrel” and even invited them into his apartment and showed them photos of their relationship. Jeffrey had mastered the art to manipulate and lie (A&E Biography-Jeffrey Dahmer 1996).

Ted Bundy one of America’s most notorious serial killers story sounds as though it comes straight from a Hollywood script. His story demonstrated how manipulative and egotistical a Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder person can be. Ted Bundy was able to master traits that allowed him to be a public figure and serial killer. Ted Bundy was able to commit over 30 known murders of women and believed to have killed many more during the 1970s and possibly earlier. This real life serial killer was so charismatic, intelligent and sophisticated that his real life killings, personality and story are believed to inspire one of the most famous fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter (A&E Biography-Ted Bundy 2007).

Ted Bundy was considered handsome and charismatic, so profound in exploiting these traits he was able to win the trust of over 30 victims many in public places as an authority figure. Ted was so manipulative that he was able to explain his way out of many arrests. One such famous incident was when police found what Ted called “household items”. These items included an ice pick, a crowbar, trash bags, a coil of rope, as well as a ski mask, a second mask created from pantyhose, handcuffs, and other items assumed to be burglary tools. The police were holding Bundy and were allowed to search his room and found a brochure advertising a high school play (where a victim had recently disappeared). He was so skilled and intelligent; Ted was able to convince police that they did not have enough condemning evidence to hold him (A&E Biography-Ted Bundy 2007).

Ted Bundy was able to escape prison twice in the State of Colorado. He acted as his own counsel and was able to outmaneuver the legal system. He was so charismatic that he obtained “groupie” status during his media driven trial. The media allowed Ted Bundy to develop “pop culture” status all while trying to prove that he was innocent as his own counsel. Ted Bundy was so incredibly deceptive that his own mother believed him until the day before his death when he told her the truth about his victims (A&E Biography-Ted Bundy 2007).

Often Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder characteristics are apparent during childhood and continue on throughout adulthood.  All three of the above famous personalities had similar childhood upbringings. They did not have strong father figures, they had some reports of animal abuse, and they were outsiders in high school that developed charismatic personalities after high school. They all disassociated themselves and created a alternate personalities, which was how the main character of “American Psycho” Patrick Bates descended into serial murders.  

 There are many well-known stories, cinematic portrayals, documents and disclosures describing characteristic traits of Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder especially during the childhood years. The above three display similar immoral behaviors and validated how terrible Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder can be without mental health assistance. The above examples are just a sample of the aggressive and violent behaviors that only grow as the person matures (Baskin-Sommers, Wallace, MacCoon, Curtin, & Newman, 2010).

A psychopathy checklist was created in order to help find moral deviants. Meyer and Weaver (2006) explain that the Psychopathy Checklist -Revised (PCL-R) score may predict the future characteristics of the individual or even develop ways to prevent violent crimes. The score is a measurement that assesses whether or not the individual may have psychopathic traits and tests criminal offenders. The PCL-R involves questions about criminal activity and helps to predict violent behavior as well as other criminal acts. The PCL-R is said to be a good tool to assess risk factors of violence tendencies. 

According to the American Law Institute (ALI) (pg.245) the US Court of Appeals rejected the plea of mental illness for psychopathy because it is not considered a mental illness and therefore it cannot be considered insanity. All three are portrayed as insane but as Meyer and Weaver (2006) state, “psychopathy is deviations of character rather than disorders of the mind” (pg. 245). 

There are many reasons this writer believes that Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder should not be considered a mental health disorder. A moral is the difference between right and wrong. In order to be considered insane one must prove that he is unaware of his actions and not of sound mental health. Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder suffers are of sound mind, because they know what they are doing is wrong. If they did not know what they were doing then they would not go to such great lengths to ensure self-preservation. Another reason Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder should not be considered a mental health diagnosis is due to the fact that it would be an easy excuse to kill someone. These individuals have a moral dilemma, but they are egotistical and already find loopholes to ensure their own self-preservation.  If the diagnosis were to change then it would open up the possibility of the individual not being held responsible for any of their actions. A psychopath can easily fool society into thinking “they have cast no stone”.

Mental health professionals are the best source in helping the legal system and society understand the thought process of these individuals. Society cannot rely on Hollywood movies or television shows to provide accurate information about Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder mainly because of the overly dramatized sanity levels. Also, society loves the feeling of being scared by the onscreen personas and some even develop their fantasies about the possibility that their neighbor or someone they see as a positive public figure is really a morally corrupt psychopathic killer.

It appears that modern American culture is in unilateral belief that psychopaths are violent. This is what over 50 years of Hollywood’s portrayal of psychopathic antagonist as engrained on our culture. There has been much research by psychologists since Hervey M. Cleckley’s initial definition (Arkowitz & Lilienfeld, 2007). It is now understood that psychopathy and Antisocial behavior “is a risk factor for future physical and sexual violence” (Arkowitz & Lilienfeld, 2007). Gacy, Bundy and Dahmer all had a history of traumatic childhoods which might have lead them on to a dark sinister path as psychopathic serial killers. 

Lilienfeld and Arkowitz (2007) mentioned in their article that behaviors can be diverted through positive role modeling, therapeutic intervention and medication.  Many with Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Disorder are not violent, and one could even say that most violent people are not psychopaths (Arkowitz & Lilienfeld, 2007). Mental health professionals need to prove support and use the tools that have been developed to thwart violent behavior.  The Psychopathy Checklist -Revised (PCL-R) assessment score just might be the key to stopping the next Ted Bundy (Meyer & Weaver, 2006).  

References

A&E Biography [Television series episode]. (2000, February 8). In Ted Bundy: the mind of a killer. A&E.

Arkowitz, H., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (2007, November 28). What "psychopath" means: scientific american. Retrieved August 12, 2012.

Baskin-Sommers, A. R., Wallace, J. F., MacCoon, D. G., Curtin, J. J., & Newman, J. P. (2010). Clarifying the factors that undermine behavioral inhibition system functioning in psychopathy. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 1(4), 203-217. doi: 10.1037/a0018950

Hantke, S. (2010). American horror film: The genre at the turn of the millennium. Jackson, MI: University Press of Mississippi.

Hawes, J. M. (2012). Psychopaths are they always dangerous? (Master's thesis, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 2012). Norwichtown.

Jimenez-Albiar, I., Piqueras, J. A., Mateu-Martinez, O., Carballo, J. L., Orgiles, M., & Espada, J. P. (2012). Gender, personality and coping characteristics in the use of internet, mobile and videogames in adolescence. Health and Addictions, 12(1), 61-82.

McCormick, J. (1998, November 23). Digging Up The Past – Did John Wayne Gacy Kill More Than We Knew?”. Newsweek.

Meyer, R. G., & Weaver, C. M. (2006). Law and Mental Health: A Case-Based Approach. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Shuler, C. (Writer). (1996). Jeffrey Dahmer: The Monster Within [Television broadcast]. In Biography. A&E.

Tudor, A. (1989). Monsters and Mad Scientists: A Cultural History of The Horror Movie. Oxford, England: B. Blackwell.

Vronsky, P. (2004). Serial Killers the Method and Madness of Monsters. New York, NY: Berkley Books.

Welcome to the Terrordome- The Pain, Politics and Promise of Sports
           Let me first off state that Dave Zirin's political opinions are socialist and not that is a bad thing at all, because in America today the need for people of different views, is what keeps America a free nation. Different views and expression is what keeps our freedom of speech rights. One political view point of power, will lead us into a nation of one sided thinkers and we will destroy our own creative thinking process. So, when I read this book I did not always agree with his views but I respected them and took them into consideration and did changes my views on some of his points.

Introduction- March of the Domes- Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst national disasters the U.S. has ever seen, the city of New Orleans was leveled by probably the most power hurricane ever to hit land. The city fought through it and survived, that is until a renegade barge destroyed a levy that was holding the flood waters back.  The levy breaking and the storms torment of the city below sea level structure spelled disaster for the city of New Orleans. The mayor of New Orleans asked people to vacate the city before the storm hit; however the people of New Orleans have been through many mighty storms and this one they felt would be no different.

Many 25,000 residents who did not get out of the city on time turned to the Superdome for a safe heaven to escape the category five hurricane and in Superdome there were rumors of murder, rape and riots but that was all propaganda. There were some people who died during the storm of health complications, and many died after the storm was over, waiting outside for the FEMA buses that never came, but that is a whole other story.  

The Superdome saved thousands of people’s lives, the structure protected them in worst of the storm and there was plenty of room for the 25,000 people in the 72,000 capacity arena. The author quotes Jessie Jackson about the conditions of the Superdome and compares it to “the hold of a slave ship”. I guess Jesse Jackson has never seen Roots or the Amistad because that is a ridiculous comment to make. These people were in no way surviving in a penthouse hotel or even a motel for that matter, but I would bet they would have given certain body parts to stay in the Superdome, compared to the people having to live on the their roof for 3-4 days. Many of the New Orleans residents and surrounding suburbs had to retreat to their roofs and bake in the 105 degree heat, for 3-4 days before rescue came. Not, only did they have to sit on their roofs and bake with little to no water but they had to watch water rush through filled with sewage and in some cases bodies. Where’s the hold of the slave ship again Jesse?

So, the people staying in the Superdome may not have had the greatest of experiences and it maybe a little ironic they paid for the stadium and can not afforded to attend a game, now that the Saints are actually winning games. The government did give millions to fix the stadium and nothing to fix these people homes and help repair their lives, but through out all problems that these people faced in the Superdome they came out alive and survived the storm, the events that happened after the storm are major faults of our government.        

        However, Americans came to the rescue, through donations, volunteers and monetary support.  It may not have been enough to put everyone back in their home but it was enough to get some action and put pressure our government to change the way we look and think about a national crisis. I agree with some of the things that Dave Zirin and the people he quoted through out the March of Domes chapter. There were many injustices by their local, state and national governments.  Whether it be athletes, actors, businessmen or the average Joe they all gave and supported the people of New Orleans.

         Chapter 1 –Relearning Roberto Clemente- Roberto Clemente was one of the greatest ball players ever to play the game and he did a lot for the game of baseball and the Latin American ball players of today. He helped Baseball and America see that racism was still very prevalent in the south and how bad the "Jim Crowe" laws were apart of minorities lives in the South.  

         Roberto worked hard to bridge the gap of equality in baseball and the gap the players that had to endure when they had to travel in the Deep South. Roberto had to deal with eating and sleeping on the team bus, while his white teammates got to dine in restaurants and sleep in nice hotels. Roberto was around to see racism at its height in the fifties to the equality movement in the seventies. He grew up poor but lived, life to its fullest.

He pushed for equal rights in baseball, he would stand up against the press when they mocked his accent, was instrumental helping to implement a players union, he stood up against the Vietnam War and poverty side by side with Martin Luther King. He protested opening day and moved the date, so that people had proper time to attend Kings’ Funeral and put things into perspective. He flew in people from Puerto Rico to help spread cultural awareness. He then led his team against impossible odds to beat the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles, almost single handedly.

Clemente was a man of a generation; he did what was right and did it without shame. Clemente did not complain about little things, he used his fame to bring broad problems out.  He cared about people half a world away, his island of Puerto Rico, the United States and everything that it was supposed to stand for. I do not think Roberto Clemente should have his number retired for being a player, human rights activist, or a disaster relief volunteer; no I think that he should have his number retired because he is a true American, helping minorities live the American way in America.

         Chapter 2- Beisbol: How the Major Leagues Eat their Young – This chapter along with other chapters, I did not really agree with. The author points out hardships of Latinos in baseball and their struggle with the English language during interviews. Or how the World Baseball Classic was baseballs way of extending its roots into other countries and be a globalized sport and show the strength of our baseball superiority.

         Dave Zirin’s got me fired up on the topic of major league team’s involvement in the Latin American countries setting up baseball camps for youths and providing them with actual equipment, clean sheets, a balanced meal and an actual toilet. These baseball camps are very competitive but these poor children have the opportunity of a lifetime and get more out of these camps then American children do, going up through the little leagues.  Then the author tells how these children grow up and get paid in the minors but then do not make the cut and get discarded and have to go home and live a poor life.

         We’ll I am sorry that these players are just being tossed aside after their major league and/or minor league careers are over, after they go through the system. They get a chance to learn English, eat a quality meal, sleep in an actual bed, get professional coaching by the teams and have a chance to make something of them selves. They have an opportunity and they should make the best of the situation. Yes, their countries are poor and yes these children have to work hard and maybe neglecting school. However, children in China work in sweat shops all day long for pennies a week, men, women and children in Darfur are being slathered everyday for being a darker shade of black then their killers and children in the United States are being forced to take up their entire life with  “No Child Left Behind” tests. So, yes they may not have much when they are done playing baseball on a professional level, but at least they got to play baseball for a living; something that many Americans and people all around the world would do for free.  If these countries want the Major League Baseball to monetarily compensate them for producing ball players, then would it technically be paying people to reproduce and make the economic problem worse?

         The author also criticized Carlos Delgado for getting a big pay check and then stopping himself from speaking out against things. Maybe he wanted a big pay check so he can help out his home country. Maybe not, if all these Latino stars speak out against America’s war and their impoverished counties, while they are making millions of dollars, yet you do not hear about them rebuilding their communities and donating money to charities. If there is so much talent in these countries why are these players not giving back like Roberto Clemente did?

         Chapter 3 Soccer: The Perilous Practice of Political Projection- Soccer is the epitome of globalization of a sport. It is the most boring sport one could watch, but it is the side events that make soccer such an astonishing spectacle. For some countries soccer represents the country itself and the soccer stars are bigger then most political leaders.  So, when a soccer star or a player does something great and then makes a political statement it uses the heat of the moment and fans undying love for their team as a stepping stone for change. Soccer is one thing that makes people come out of their homes in war torn countries, this maybe why there are so many riots in so many countries. The people are able to show emotion and it then runs wild.

         I think that it is funny how Dave Zirin talks about how a drug addicted who constantly was getting caught on drug tests and made lots of money being a soccer star, protesting our president when he was meeting about North American Free Trade agreement. NAFTA is something, that I do not like but does bring millions of jobs to South America and he was protesting it. It is interesting that Dave Zirin really spot lights the Socialist people through out this entire book and makes them look like they are doing no wrong.

Chapter 4- The 2006 World Cup: The Politics of Play Personified- Soccer is a globalized sport and some countries just do not like each other and they will do anything to embarrass and degrade them. Racism is a global issue; it has been since the dawn of time. Whether we like it or not, as long as there is hate there will be racism. This is the sad truth we must all face, we really cannot stop but we can control it and these issues and solutions that are brought up through out this chapter can help.

         Soccer has long been a way for certain nations, countries, states, cities, towns and people to decide who is better. In American sports such as football, I see a less radical way of trying to humiliate the other team, so that there team has an advantage, or an edge. I think that this is the same but soccer fans are so engrained into their sport culture that they act this way towards people, not always as hate but as dominance. In my opinion, racism lies in the heart of the individual and just because someone may act a certain way at certain times, does not mean he is a hateful person.

Chapter 5- The NBA and the Two Souls of Hip-Hop- The NBA is a business and just like any business it uses what ever it can to attract who ever it can to buy their product. For the NBA this was the Hip-Hop culture it saved the NBA in the 1970s and has been a factor ever since and will somewhat always be a factor as long as Americas listen and enjoy the rhythmic music and beats. Now, the NBA is not necessarily moving away from Hip-hop, it is try to transform its self and its players into a more business type atmosphere. While players can have their own style on the court the sidelines should be clean and well kept. Many businesses have dress codes and the NBA is trying to be no different.

At a game a player not playing should act and be professional, off the court however a player should be themselves and do what they want. If they want to be a gangster rapper then fine, if they want to join a polka band great, as long as the players are not involved in crimes. I do not think the dress code or the early entry from high school has anything to do with race or culture, a positive image is important. If I was getting paid millions of dollars and I was hurt and could not play I would gladly wear nice clothes and be respectful on the sidelines.

As, far as skipping college and going straight to the NBA, I think it is a bad idea. Some people are not meant for college yes. However, you do not know until you try and for them it is a free education something I am paying thousands of dollars for a year. Education is something they can fall back on if their career does not work out or they get hurt. Eighteen year olds maybe adults and may be able to fight for our country and vote, but most have a very small view of the world and have no clue about how to manage themselves and their money, especially millions of dollars. Also, they are going to be playing against some of the worlds best players, what’s going to happen when their confidence is shaken and the have to learn the complex plays of the NBA. I think the rule is fair and just and is in place to protect young people and their talents.

Chapter 6- The Olympics: Gold, Guns and Graft- I really like what the Olympics represent, however I am against the politics behind them. Heroes are made in the Olympics and so is greed and power. Also, if the littlest, tiniest, rumor comes out that one took a performance enhance drug or one makes a political stance that is to great or even does not take a political stance they can be stripped of their medals. Why do people really care so much about performance enhancing drugs, they are no the greatest thing for you, but you try and perform everyday at their level and then lift and train and see how you feel. 

The cities must be in top order and they must build stadiums and other places to hold events. I understand that the cities want the streets to be clean, no beggars, and drunks present. The sad killings of people such as in Mexico must be given more thought when choosing a city or country and not to the highest bidder. The games do proved construction jobs and increase the economy for those few months during the games. The debt the cities have been going into is a tough sell, but the increase and games sharing revenue does help compensate.

Chapter 7- Barry Bonds Gonna Git Your Mama: When Steroids Attack!- I think this whole steroid thing is a big finger pointing witch-hunt. At the time our economy was about to fail, a hedge fund manager swindled billions of dollars from people and we are chasing steroids in baseball and using all of congress to do it. This is exactly what I want my tax dollars going towards. Then we make Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens the bad guys after all they have done for baseball. We have turned on them, even though all of the other players were doing steroids and many of the players of the past have as well. I am sick of the whole thing and wish our government would stop this silliness and focus on bringing jobs back here.

Chapter 8- The Use of Sports: How People in Power Exploit the Games- Pat Tillman was a hero and so was his troop and anyone else who serves our country and allows us the opportunity to live as free as we do. The way our military handled his unfortunate death was a grave mistake, however I can see why they would want him to be seen as nothing but an American hero, dying a hero’s death. They did not want his ranger group to be blame and received backlash for the friendly fire. It was a bad situation and it was not right how these events happened.

I also think that it is unfair to blame Armstrong for not saying anything to the president. Maybe he did say something, maybe he did not. He himself was involved in witch hunt at the time for illegal racing substances and was thrown into a situation he probably had no idea about and it is not all that uncommon for people to protest outside the White House and other places where the president is staying.

Chapter 9- The Way it Was, the Way It Is- I really think that some of the stories that Edwards and Bouton told were interesting and informative especially the part about some of the Yankee players kissing on the team bus. I also agreed with Jim Brown and many other people about putting Tookie Williams to death. I f you start a problem and then try and rectify it why you are serving your time and do great things then why kill the person who is doing great things to fix the problem? Whether or not Tookie Williams killed people he had people who admired him and learned from his mistakes. Something we all must learn to do, “learn from our mistakes”.

Chapter 10- In Their own words- Walk into any jail, prison and death row and ask any of the prisoners if they are innocent and nine times out of ten you will get the same answer, “ I am innocent”. I feel that a mans rights ends, under certain circumstances and when you flat out kill a person beyond a reasonable doubt your rights end there. The punishment should fit the crime and I believe that death should only occur when the evidence is 100 percent correct, most people on death row end up dying in prison of old age anyway.

I think that players who are gay should come out if they feel comfortable about it. I also think that their teammates and opponents should be supportive of them. The road for athletes coming out of the closet will be a long and hard road for them, but it has been some what paved by the gay rights activist before them. If athletes start coming out then being “gay” would absolutely become more accepted. I just wished Sheryl Swoopes came out during her playing day and John Amaechi too.

I think Prior who has every right to say racism exist and even says that they were looked down upon as thinkers. However, to say that they were slaves to their team and the league is absurd. How can one say they make millions a year and they are a slave, they get to play a game that I would give my first born up for if I could play for in it for a living or even just enough to get by. This guy is nothing a spoiled brat who did not get his way and probably got cut by same team who brought Brock Lesner to try and fix their defensive line problems. 

Chapter 10- Marching In: Tearing Down the Terrordome- I thought as I watched the first game back for the Saints that it was the right thing to do. I thought by rebuilding the Superdome it said, “New Orleans will not die”. I did not realize how much money was put into the stadium to fix it. I do not think it would have been right thought for the saints to move out of New Orleans and many of the players pitched in and helped out the people of New Orleans. The fact that the levees were fixed was a little disheartening. I just think that it meant a lot to the people of New Orleans to have their team back, but that is just me.

As, far as the U2 and Green Day performances may not be exactly what one thinks of when they think of New Orleans, however both bands donated not only their time, money and support to the people of New Orleans but they also set up programs to help bring the music back to New Orleans with instrument donations and places to play. President Bush the first and President Clinton also donation millions to people in the region with their foundations and people got help to rebuild their homes from them.

The city fought through it and survived, that is until a renegade barge destroyed a levy that was holding the flood waters back the best it could. The levy breaking and the storms torment of the city structure spelled disaster for the city of New Orleans. The mayor of New Orleans asked people to vacate the city because of the impending storm; however the people of New Orleans have been through many mighty storms and this one they felt would be no different. Many people went to the Superdome for many reasons, mainly safety and safety is what they got. It was not and ideal place but it was safe and proved to be safe after one of the worst storms ever to hit the gulf region. While the Superdome cost the people of New Orleans and taxpayers lots of money, lets us not forget it saved 25,000 lives on that dreadful day.

         This book made me think about the way I look at sports and how they are run. How our political belief systems relate to how sports are run and how they affect people on a global scale. The sports world is ever changing and sports provide a window of opportunity and entertainment. They are very important and play a huge role in everything from politics to food distribution, and we need sports to remind us after all it is just a game.