Article 1: Sport and Politics

In our October 2^nd and October 7^th class we discussed the relationship between sports and politics. Sport and politics are very much related. Every sport league is a governing body similar to our nations government. A Sports Business Journal article talks about the governing power in the National Football League is response to the domestic violence scandals going through the league this season.  Much like people say about a Presidential Candidate, people are saying the National Football League commissioner, Roger Goodell should be fired because he didn’t do enough to correct the problem when it first occurred. Also much like the President of the United States, there is a Vice President or a second-hand person to make important decisions when the President is not able to. In the sport industry, there are the commissioners and most have a second hand person to help with important decision. Except in the National Football League where Roger Goodell is the only person making the decisions. He eliminated the second hand position when he took over the league in 2006. Similarities between politics and sports closely resemble one another and often decisions are made based off one or the other. In class we discussed some ways that they are associated with one another such as the president throwing out the first pitch at a ballgame, the league champions being invited to the White House to be honored and many athletes become politicians after there playing days are over due to the established following that they have. According to our notes, some noted politicians that have come from the sport industry are Lynn Swann of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who ran for governor of the state of Pennsylvania, and Steve Largent, of the Seattle Seahawks, who ran for governor of the state of Oklahoma after being in the House of Representatives for eight years.

                            Example of Championship Team being honored at the White House