Drugs/Technology/Ethics by Lauren Karina Seiji

Source 4: Under the Influence

thanhluu2 — 2024-09-10 15:34:29 UTC

In “Under the Influence: Marijuana, the Black Male Athlete, and Alternative Understandings of Humanity” by Nik Dickerson details the disparities in the treatment of Black athletes and the criminalization between Black and white athletes who use marijuana. Dickerson’s argument starts with explaining the deeply rooted systematic racism, which presented itself in the “Above the Influence” campaign that was supposed to address prevention of drugs amongst teens, but instead promoted the horrors around Black people and marijuana usage. Dickerson explains the “impossibility of imagining the Black male athlete that uses marijuana as anything but deviant and immoral” (217). The narrative that Black people are inherently more athletic and criminalized for their usage of marijuana adds to the false perception of Black athletes, undermining their success. There is a great difference in the way that white and Black users of marijuana are perceived, where white people have made a simple mistake, whereas Black people are morally wrong and dehumanized. Dickerson understands that these vast differences show the systematic oppression of Black people in both the sports, and we as a society need to rethink our understanding of Black masculinity and marijuana use in the sports and social spheres.

Source #3: Against the Rules Podcast

laurenseiji — 2024-09-10 15:39:01 UTC

“Ref, You Suck!” is an episode of Michael Lewis’s podcast, Against the Rules in which he discusses the culture around refereeing in the modern day. He visits a facility in which a large team of people review replays of NBA games in order to help referees make more accurate decisions. Lewis touches on the idea that, like with many other jobs, referees were hesitant to allow digital aids like replays and AI in fear of their own job security. However, Lewis and the people he interviewed see these technological advances as a way to have less biased, more accurate calls. Contrastingly, new issues arise in that athletes specifically try to get around these replays and use it to their advantage (i.e. to get more fouls called against the other team).

Another issue he brought up was anger towards referees. Lewis references both his 11 year old son and a professional referee in relation to this topic. He explains that his son takes influence from professional players in his dramatic celebrations and reactions to calls that go against him. This goes hand in hand with the evidence he provides of that referees are not allowed to defend themselves and the calls they make and thus need security to make it safely out of games. Lewis acknowledges both the benefits of refereeing technology and the new issues it creates.

Source #2: Cultural Nuances Doping Cycling and the Tour de France

laurenseiji — 2024-09-10 15:40:05 UTC

In "Cultural Nuances: Doping, Cycling, and the Tour de France" by Angela J. Schneider, she examines the complex relationship between doping and professional cycling, particularly in the context of the Tour de France. The Tour is considered one of the world's most mentally and physically taxing sporting events. The biggest thing about the Tour is that the values in cycling often contribute to a culture where doping is seen as adaptable and necessary. She also goes on to state the physiological intensity of the Tour and how it could force athletes to push the limits with the help of doping. Even though within the Cycling Tour group there is a "Code Of Conduct" type of respect where they all acknowledge that they've been doping but won't openly talk about it, as the author states for a real serious change both fans, viewers, and athletes have to come together and consider the mental and physical effects doping has on those participating and those viewing. A deeper look into how doping makes those new into the sport or those who are questioning the sport to dig deeper into the systemic issues beyond the self choice to dope.

Source #1: MLB's PitchCorn System Draws Mixed Reactions NYT

laurenseiji — 2024-09-10 15:41:06 UTC

In his 2022 article, “Baseball Buys In on the Digital Age. But at what cost?”, Scott Miller argues that the rise in the involvement of technology in sports is inevitable regardless of whether it is good or bad for the sport. Miller begins his article by referencing several examples of where baseball has remained unchanged since its professional inception, which signifies the importance of the new PitchCom system to counter sign stealing. The author provides several perspectives about this new rule from the players and what the benefits and losses are, and he indicates that the MLB organization believes that automation is the future of baseball. While the rapid development of technology in recent years has resulted in its eventual integration in baseball, Miller acknowledges that it has removed something from the game and partially hurt the integrity of it. He includes the example of the Automated Strike Zone, which reduces the role catchers have and their overall value to the sport. Miller understands that technology is bound to become a part of baseball, but he expresses some restraint in the level to which it will control the game.

Drugs/Technology/Ethics

laurenseiji — 2024-09-10 15:43:10 UTC

Data Visualization

thanhluu2 — 2024-09-12 16:45:09 UTC