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Final Phase - ISU

In this video, Jay says that it is important that athletes and celebrities use their platform to discuss issues like this. He also says how he loves that we’re in the age that guys recognize the power of their voice as well. Colin Kaepernick is an example of this. Colin decided to kneel down during a football game which was twisted in the media by saying he is disrespecting our country. However, there was a bigger message around the action that he did. This was more so about police brutality and also talking about the unfair treatments and social justice as well. I think what Colin did definitely was something that was hard to do because now he is a free agent as football teams are scared to hire him after the actions he has done. The announcer also says that we should not just use our platforms to speak up but that we should also activate and even go to the government officials to try and find a solution and take more action then just signing petitions and posting on social media. The other announcer also says how these ongoing acts of racism have been going on since 1995. The announcer says that there should be harsher penalties for people making these choices. In my opinion, I think the more the society speaks up about this issue nothing more is really being done. There’s at least a murder of an innocent black man every month. I think that more needs to be done due to this and that there should also be harsher penalties because if this keeps happening it is probably because the people doing these actions think they will not face the consequences as they think they are more privileged. 

I agree with this statement that the presenter said due to the fact that we all watch these big sports events resulting in this being common among all of us. I think sports events have such a large number of people watching that it is the best way for them to bring out and discuss social reforms. I think since sports events such as the NBA or Soccer Leagues have such big crowds that this is the best time and place to have and discuss meaningful issues such as racism or issues that are happening in our society today. In my opinion, I think sports are the most effective way of making our current society a better one due to the fact that sports are something all of us have in common. It's something that we always look forward to watching together with our families and loved ones as it also brings us closer together. Sports would also be the most effective way as more people would listen to athletes using time out of the game and also even using their very own platform to discuss the issues not only through a screen but discuss these ongoing issues innocent black people face. I think sports events should discuss current events that are happening in the world such as the tragic murder of George Floyd. I think sports should use a bit of their time out of their games to at least talk about and discuss tragic events that have lead to the losses of innocent black people's lives. 

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Social Media Posts

https://twitter.com/Jumpman23/status/1267195991964282881/photo/1

I chose this post by Michael Jordan because Michael Jordan is a well known retired basketball icon. If former athletes such as Michael Jordan post the ongoing issue of racism in our world today, more people will come to realize the issue and will start to support and spread more awareness about this ongoing issue. Something I found really interesting about this post is that he says we all must come together as one and demand justice to create a systematic change in our society. He also says each one of us needs to be a part of the solution and that we all must work together to make a change.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3527Ep-ou/

I chose this post by Ryan Renolds because he discusses how Racism is not something you are born with it is rather taught by the people you are around or even your own parents. In this post that Ryan Renolds posts to Instagram he says we have been teaching and educating our children differently than the way parents have taught people like Ryan Renolds. He says that we should be educating our kids as to what is happening in the world today. Something that stood out to me about this post is that Ryan contributed $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. This is interesting to me because I think most people post something and think that’s enough to help this issue, but this Canadian actor took it one step further to help by donating money to a fundraiser. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA_tVdXnWr1/

I chose this post by Dwayne Johnson because he not only posted about Racism and the murder of George Floyd, but he also speaks out against President Trump in an Instagram video. In this video, Dwayne calls out on the president asking, “Where is our leader?” He goes on throughout this Instagram video encouraging the viewers to become the “leaders” they are looking for. Something I found interesting about this post is the fact that he called out on the President. Many people wouldn’t call out on the President but would rather just speak about the ongoing issue of racism. However, the Canadian American actor called out on the president asking where their leader is.

https://twitter.com/kimkardashian

I chose these tweets by Kim Kardashian on Twitter because Kim has not only once but multiple times has spoken out on social media to help and spread awareness about black lives and how all humans should be treated equally not based on the color of their skin. Kim is also studying law to help innocent people who were put in jail for crimes they did not commit. Kim has helped innocent people by convincing the jury to reopen the case as these innocent people were framed for crimes they did not commit. Kim has also spoken out about George Floyd’s death and says she is angry and that there must be a stop to the innocent killing of black lives.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBHAQiUn1MV/

This post by Justin Bieber interested me as he admits he is benefited and has been inspired by black culture. Justin Bieber also says he is committed to using his platform to learn and address racial injustice and also to make a change worldwide and in the system in regards to innocent black lives being taken away. Justin Bieber also says that Racism is evident all around the world and that we need to educate ourselves and open up our eyes to how black people are being treated differently.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEXRlCFMBI/

I chose this post from blogto in Toronto because this displays what Torontonians are doing to support Black Lives and also the Black Community. Something that I also find interesting about this post is that everyone is peacefully protesting without any violence whereas in America people are there for the right and wrong reasons. Some people are there to start violence and steal from stores. However, the protest in Toronto was peaceful and their voices were heard.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBL-yo0FZKZ/

I chose this post because this displays how Toronto is paying tribute to George Floyd. This Graffiti Alley has been transformed into a tribute for George Floyd and Black Lives Matter. I found this post interesting because as soon as the video of the officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck, people started to raise awareness and stand by black lives to help make a change in the system.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA6GeS7F_mh/

In this post it shows a memorial for Regis Korchinski-Paquet as she was a girl who was thrown off the balcony by police, however, police are calling this case a “suicide”. This angered the family as the family only called the police because she had mental health issues and it was getting out of hand and her mother wanted her to be taken to CamH which is a mental health hospital. Instead, Regis ended up dead. This was the memorial in front of the building where she fell to her death. I also found this post interesting because Regis Death sparked a protest as well to fight for justice and the answers to how Regis ended up dead.

https://twitter.com/richardgrant88/status/1267523353289474048/photo/1

I decided to choose this post that Colin reposted on Twitter by Richard Grant because, in my opinion, I think this post is very powerful. This post shows an officer in Long Beach California pointing a gun at a peaceful protester and his child. This post interests me because I think the protesters are peaceful and a majority of the time the police end up being violent and hurting the protesters. Although this is not always the case a majority of the time police officers do start the violence. Colin has also done actions in the past for black lives matter as he kneeled down during the national anthem during a football game and is now a free agent as teams are afraid to sign contracts with him after he kneeled down during the national anthem.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAx9n8BlVAe/

I chose this post by Ariana Grande because she is one of the many athletes who keep speaking up and using her platform to tell her fans to educate themselves on this issue of racism and innocent back lives being killed. I also found this post interesting because Ariana Grande is not only speaking up about this but also encouraging her fans to do whatever they can and to also donate the most they can to help. 

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Politics & Sports

The entire world is grieving about the death of George Floyd, who as an African-American man in Minneapolis killed after a police officer was caught on video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over seven minutes after even saying he couldn’t breathe. Floyd's death has sparked protests against police specifically against the African-American community, across the country.  I think athletes should definitely speak up about the murder of George Floyd. I think famous people such as athletes speaking out will definitely raise more awareness about the ongoing issue of racism and killing innocent black people’s lives. LeBron James and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers all posted messages as well on their social media platforms saying; “Why Doesn’t America Love US!!!!!???? TOO.”James also posted a picture to Instagram of  Floyd being knelt on by police officer alongside a photo of Colin Kaepernick kneeling in protest during the national anthem with the caption: “Do you understand NOW!!??!!??”. Another former athlete who is speaking up about this issue is Michael Jordan. He is using his social media platforms to voice his opinions and on the behalf of all black Americans saying that black lives do matter and that this needs to be stopped. On Sunday Michael Jordan released a statement to Instagram saying he is deeply saddened and filled with anger. He also says that during these difficult times that we must stick together and work together to ensure justice for everyone. He also gave his condolences out to the Floyd family as they are grieving the death of George Floyd and also the countless others who have lost their lives throughout acts of racism and injustice. I think Nike is being genuine here and is also helping spread awareness. Nike released a new socially aware ad calling on Americans to do something quite different than the brand’s usual call to “Just Do It.” Instead, however, this worldwide known athletic company called on individuals to not turn their back on the painful issue of racism in America. “Don’t pretend there’s not a problem in America. Don’t turn your back on racism. Don’t accept innocent lives being taken from us. Don’t make any more excuses. Don’t think this doesn’t affect you. Don’t sit back and be silent.” This is not the first time Nike has addressed the issue of Racism as well. In 2018, as part of the 30th anniversary of its ‘Just Do It’ campaign, Nike released a powerful ad focused on former NFL player and activist Colin Kaepernick that sparked both applause and criticism. This displays that the company Nike feels strongly about this issue and is determined in speaking their opinion and raising awareness amongst this issue to put an end to this. Racism is an ongoing issue even in our society today. George Floyd is not the first black person to be killed. We need to spread more awareness and support our fellow black brothers and sisters during this difficult time to help stop an ongoing issue of racism as black lives matter just like any other individual’s life matters. 

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Your Mood & Food

1.Write down 5 things you learned from this article

The 2010 study found that women who ate diets high in vegetables, fruit, fish and whole grains with moderate amounts of red meat were less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders than those who followed a typical Western diet which consisted of processed food, pizza, fast food, white flour and sugary sodas or beverages.

Mental disorders account for the leading cause of global disability when people are unable to participate fully in life, the workforce and education.

There have been no new medical treatments for depression for decades.

A healthy diet can not only help prevent and treat depression but it may be important for other aspects of brain health such as dementia.

Spinach and other dark leafy greens are filled with magnesium helping reduce anxiety. Half of Americans do not get enough of the minerals. 

 2.  Make a list of 10 healthy foods you eat regularly

Spinach 

Avocado 

Olives

Baked chicken

Bean salad

Raspberries

Mangoes 

Onions 

Lemon 

Almonds

3. Make a list of 5 unhealthy foods you eat regularly

Chocolate chip cookies

Ice Cream

Fruit Juices

Chips

Cereal 

4. In your opinion, what is the link between diet and mental health (nutritional psychiatry)? Write 200 words here and use ideas from the article if you wish. 

In my opinion, the connection between diet and mental health is that in order to have good mental health you must obtain a good and healthy diet. When you obtain a healthy diet this allows your brain to take in all the needed healthy nutrients resulting in you having much better health mentally and physically. In the Your Mood & Food article, it states, “The 2010 study found that women who ate diets high in vegetables, fruit, fish and whole grains with moderate amounts of red meat were less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders than those who followed a typical Western diet which consisted of processed food, pizza, fast food, white flour and sugary sodas or beverages.” Although this study was a few years back this shows how those who ate diets high in healthy foods were less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. In the article, The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorder, it states: “A very large body of evidence now exists that suggests diet is as important to mental health as it is to physical health, says Felice Jacka, president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research. A healthy diet is protective and an unhealthy diet is a risk factor for depression and anxiety. I think for children it should be essential that they obtain a healthy diet as they are still growing and need.” In addition, having a healthy diet also affects the brain by boosting its brain development. 

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NFL Article

The issue of diversity in the football industry has remained stuck or rather stumped this off-season due to the fact that the number of nonwhite head coaches remained stuck at 4, down from a high of 8 in 2014. I agree with the NFL’s two proposals. I think these proposals will increase the number of colored people in the NFL and diversity since the number of colored people is low in the football industry. This first proposal will also allow a team that hires a nonwhite head coach to move up six spots from their position in the third round of the NFL. In the article, The New York Times says: “Now, the N.F.L. wants to take a more aggressive approach to reshaping its highest ranks by using tangible incentives, not penalties, to get teams to hire more nonwhite coaches and general managers in a league in which about 70 percent of the players are African-American.” 

Secondly, there is also more to the NFL than just the issue of not enough colored individuals. The NFL should also look into hiring more minorities. The article, The New York Times states; “The issue of personnel diversity in football has taken on a renewed urgency this off-season when the number of nonwhite head coaches remained stuck at four, down from a high of eight in 2014.” The article also says that in 2019 only one nonwhite head coach, Brian Flores was hired by the Miami Dolphins. In addition, this year another nonwhite coach was hired who was Ron Rivera, who is Hispanic. The NFL should definitely put in more effort to hire more minorities. 

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Social Media & Sports

Teenagers spend countless hours on social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. In my opinion, I think social media does more harm than good. Teenagers use their spare time in various ways by surfing the Internet via social media. Whether it’s viewing someone’s new Snapchat story or viewing their recent post on Instagram, a majority of us individuals would agree that social media plays a huge role in people’s day to day lives. Therefore, social media has a tremendous impact, but in many ways, the influence can be perceived as negative. Social media is a huge platform amongst teenagers for cyber bullying. 

Cyberbullies use the internet as a disguise or mask to harass people without any real interaction. Social media can definitely harm an individual's self-esteem by the negative comments they will say in regards to their social media posts. In the article about a Winnipeg woman, she tried to focus on body positivity and uplifting herself after being targeted by hockey players' negative comments in a group chat, some of whom she personally knew and was friends with. The article says: “Zajac has been posting body-positive messages online for two years, and has received negative comments about her looks before. She said she wasn't surprised when the recent comments came to light, though she was "unimpressed" because she knows some of the men in the chat.” This displays how social media does more harm than good to people. Although Nicole Zajac didn't let these negative comments get to her and instead rather decided to rise above this and continue to advocate for body positivity and address the situation that happened, another individual who was a victim of this could’ve been really hurt by these words and would have taken these much more seriously and even gone to the worse case scenario which would be suicide.

Secondly, younger generations who are exposed to unlimited access to social media becomes a negative outlet. Once an individual posts something negative on social media it is easy for society to identify you from your past actions and what you have said on social media. For instance, when Josh Allen was 14 he was responsible for posting a series of tweets from when Allen was in high school containing racist language. Alan tells reporters; “I’m not the type of person I was at 14 and 15 that tweeted so recklessly,” However, columnist Rochelle Riley says, “You don’t have to be an adult to learn right from wrong, Children do it every day. Millions of high school students are on Twitter and don’t post the garbage Josh Allen did.” This displays how social media does more harm than good due to the fact that an individual like Josh Allen decided to turn to social media to tweet his opinion and in which it contained racist language. It shows how much harm social media causes to the victims and the cyberbullies’ reputation. These actions that these athletes or cyberbullies choose to make will haunt them and follow them around for the rest of their careers, sports, and even job opportunities that might not happen due to their careless actions. When universities look at these individuals' social media accounts or even just search up their name this can negatively impact one’s chances of being accepted due to their past irresponsible actions.

To decrease social media’s impact, people should seek to minimize the amount of screen time on these social media platforms. If an individual were to limit the amount of time spent on social media platforms, they would be less likely to necessarily pick up their devices and would decrease the amount of time spent through technology and the amount of cyber bullying would also be reduced. In conclusion, I think that social media can do more harm than good in this generation since technology is such an essential part of our daily lives and can definitely harm an individual's future if you do not act responsibly resulting in having to suffer the consequences in the upcoming years to come.

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Sports Leagues Regarding COVID-19

Question: Should sports leagues attempt to return to play or should all sports be canceled for the remainder of 2020? Provide 3 reasons in support of your answer. The reasons should be based upon ideas from the article and the video. Write 3 paragraphs of no fewer than 100 words for each reason. (3 paragraphs of at least 100 words each=300 words minimum). 

1.Sports Leagues across the globe are beginning to attempt to reopen and compete again. I think all sports should be canceled for the remainder of 2020. Firstly, attempting Sports Leagues to reopen puts the players at high risk of being prone to catch the virus. For instance, sports are usually very contacting sports. If sports leagues open, this increases the chance of athletes catching the virus. Researchers now say an individual can carry the virus without any symptoms whatsoever and can still test positive for the virus resulting in the individual spreading the virus to multiple other individuals. Whether this individual is a player himself or a coach, he can be responsible for giving the virus to countless other people without the individual knowing he had the virus at first.

2.There are more than 3 million COVID-19 deaths worldwide and that number is rising every minute. Testing is one prerequisite that will be required if the Sports Leagues are to start reopening worldwide. Public health officials and league executives both agree that even playing in empty stadiums or arenas will have to require regular COVID-19 testing for all athletes and also anyone else who is deemed essential to play games. The number of tests required can be a challenge for any league attempting to start playing. The Washington Post states: “Testing might be required three to four times per week — as often as every other day, medical experts say — especially if travel is involved and mobility is not restricted. For a single team, that will mean hundreds of tests each week. For an entire league, it will mean thousands.” The main concern with Sports Leagues starting to reopen is the lack of corona virus tests. If there is a lack of tests overall and we’re using these test kits for something that isn’t essential such as sports, innocent people will end up dying and will not be able to get tested for the virus. Medical professionals have consistently called for further research around the board, and in the near future, it may be a struggle to produce enough to support a sports league.

3.Since there is no cure or vaccine for this virus yet, catching it can be very deadly. On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days. If sports leagues are attempting to reopen athletes this will affect the athletes’ performance. This will result in athletes not playing their best due to the fact that they would be in constant fear that if they get in contact that they will put themselves at risk and may catch the virus. Sports such as basketball, baseball, and even soccer are all contact sports resulting in putting the athletes and the athlete’s performance when playing the sports at risk.

Question: Do athletes deserve special consideration? If sports leagues are going to resume play, then the players will have to be tested continuously. Is this justifiable when tests are not available to most people including those who are working in essential service? For example, grocery store employees are not regularly tested nor are bus drivers. 200 words.

With the rapid spread of COVID-19 to every state, the nation faces an ongoing emergency in regards to health. In my opinion, I do not think athletes deserve special consideration. I think that Sports Leagues’ reopening is not essential, therefore sports should be canceled for the remainder of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For several weeks, grocery and pharmacy employees have been working these extra hours to repair shelves, open early to allow elderly, disabled, and at-risk individuals to shop at a scheduled time and deal with panic buying consumers who frequently tend to take their grievances out on the staff. These grocery employees are working long hours under extremely stressful and sometimes dangerous circumstances to ensure that the public has access to food and medications, given the real risks of being exposed to COVID-19. If we expect these essential workers to work in this unprecedented crisis, it is crucial that they get tested continuously as well as critical benefits for health, safety, and jobs. If there is a shortage in testing kits for even the essential workers such as grocery employees, I don’t think it is necessary for Sports Leagues to reopen and play knowing that even for essential workers, there is a lack of testing kits available for COVID-19.

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/labor/488760-grocery-and-pharmacy-employees-are-essential-workers-and-must-be

Is it necessary for sports to resume for the rest of 2020? Are sports an “essential” service? 100 words

No, I think it is not necessary for sports to resume for the remainder of 2020 unless however, things are progressively starting to get back to normal but if it is not sports should not resume. As I said before sports are not deemed to be essential, they are rather considered to be entertainment like any other TV show or movie. However, people who enjoy watching sports might say that sports should be resumed for the remainder of 2020 whereas people who do not watch sports say they should be canceled for the remainder of 2020. If sports were to resume for the rest of 2020 this would be very risky and would only be beneficial to people who watch sports. To conclude, they should not resume sports for the remainder of 2020. It is better to be safe rather than take a risk. Therefore, resume all sports to 2021 when this virus is hopefully gone or perhaps under more control with a cure or even a vaccine.

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Briana Scurry Presentation

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wEPwX2j15sLa1jR74ce3t62SefRXWnnOHZ2O9RBCj4M/edit?usp=sharing

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A Positive Look at COVID-19

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hIbw4EwSntHUnrYIUMA9hq5ga9_vZkt6ISo6IoyY0Bw/edit?usp=sharing

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Activity 2

Concussions Symptoms/Effects

Headaches

Confusion

Blurry Vision

Sickness 

Generally feeling weird

Might feel like being in a fog

Find it hard to concentrate

Feeling sad

Having anxiety

Starting to worry more than usual

May have trouble sleeping

More sensitive to light and noise

Memory loss

Can be easily frustrated

Being anxious or nervous all the time

Rachel’s Symptoms/Problems

Headache

Trouble concentrating

Keeping Balance

Functioning overall

Nauseous

Dizziness 

Felt like passing out

Felt like everything was spinning

Internal bleeding

Bad migraines

Fatigued

Very bad memory for a 27 year old so she writes everything down so she does not forget

Rachel was very sensitive to sound and light resulting in her not being able to go to clubs

She could not do anything that jostles her brain. Jumping hopping etc

Chronic terrible neck pain

A result of fluid buildup from concussions resulting in her going to physical therapy to make her pain bearable and make her muscles loose.

Similarities Among 3 Resources

In all the articles, after the collision it left the occipital nerves in a shambles 

In all the articles, it says the concussions masked secondary issues with balance, memory and her emotional state

In all the articles, they all felt depressed, anxious, or even suicidal at one point throughout their concussion recovery.

An Article on an athlete who had a concussion

https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/briana-scurry-talks-concussions-soccer/

After watching this short concussion video, I learned so many new things about concussions that I never knew before. I never came to realize how dangerous concussions can be, and how much more seriously we should take concussions. A concussion is an injury to the brain from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that makes the head and brain jerk quickly side to side or back and forth, like in a car crash. There are various reasons why concussions are dangerous. For instance, if an athlete or individual suffers enough concussions, the nerves may never fully heal. People who also get concussions over and over again can develop a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy which causes the brain to break down, leading to memory loss,depression, and even dementia. Most people who have had concussions get better in a short amount of time. However, older adults, younger children and teens may take slower to recover. Those who have also experienced a concussion are likely to have another, and if they do it is harder for them to recover making it much more dangerous. We should also be taking concussions much more seriously as a society because, in some rare cases, a concussion can cause a deadly blood clot in the brain. In this case the safest thing to do is to go to an emergency room right away if there are any following symptoms after the bump to the head or body. More and more research is also finding that suffering a concussion dramatically increases your chances of suffering from various neurodegenerative diseases. The NFL has found itself facing multiple lawsuits filed by former players and families seeking damages for life-altering brain injuries sustained from career-related concussions. Due to these lawsuits,I think we should be taking concussions much more seriously as a society to further prevent these lawsuits filed by former or current athletes and their families. 

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Concussions

After watching this short documentary, I was absolutely speechless. I never knew anything about hockey or wasn’t too interested in it as I thought it was a simple, boring sport. However, after this documentary, I had never been so concerned with the consequences that come with playing Hockey. I can definitely say that being a team member requires a great deal of courage and confidence. From this 30 minute documentary I've learned more things in a day than I have in an entire semester. From how traumatic experiences affect an individual's overall future to learning the basics of severe injuries, this documentary has really opened my eyes and insight of viewing the world. The video was on Derek Boogaard, one of NHL’s top feared and outrageous players. It examines the consequences of both his life and death. To start off, I learned that traumatic experiences that may not seem significant to many, have greatly impacted some individuals lives. In this case, Boogaard was a chubby kid and was very tall for his age. It was also difficult for him to not only get along with his peers, but perform many of the activities children his age  usually enjoyed. Not only was his size a problem, but his constant moving to multiple towns most likely contributed to his growth experiences as well. Having to move often isn’t easy, as it is hard to make new friends and adapt to a whole new environment. Nonetheless for Derek Boogard, this affected his entire childhood for the reason that it was troubling to fit into various schools along with getting comfortable in new atmospheres. In the future, I personally would like to further examine and learn the effects of concussions as this documentary truly interested me. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury which is caused by a rough action to the body, that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Parts of the brain then start to die. As I was a bit curious, I did a little research on my own, only to find out that 10% of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly. Brain injuries cause more deaths than any other sports injury. In addition, in sports brain injuries account for 65% to 95% of all fatalities. However, according to a survey, 60 percent of those with concussions reported playing with symptoms and 40 percent reported that their coach was not aware of their concussion. Besides that fact, a substance which is protein-like, is produced in the brain. This is part of the reason as to why the brain will cease activity and die off. Depending on where this protein is formed, the results may vary. From a personal opinion, I always think there should never be fighting when playing. When it comes to any sport, I feel that fighting is a waste of time and that it demonstrates poor sportsmanship. For instance, fighting over a ball or puck would be an exception as they are not only trying to win for themselves but also for their city and fans. Nonetheless, when the fighting turns into rage and it gets violent, that is where there should be an end to it. Fans did come out to see two players getting into a fight over a ball or puck. In addition, holding an individual accountable for someone's death is a lot to grasp and consider. However, depending on the situation, it is hard to determine. Derek Boogaard died in his sleep from the multiple concussions he had experienced,but there are some things to consider. If Derek Boogaard was aware of the trauma and pain that was being caused from playing, knowing the consequences, he would be at fault. He would be the one to put his own life at stake, endangering his future. Though, if the NHL had known about his concussions, and had taken no action, then they would also partly be at fault. 

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Do Icons Exist Today Essay

An icon is defined as “a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration”. Icons can be found all throughout the history of time. Specifically, in sports, many athletes exhibit the characteristics of an icon. These unique traits can be found in Lebron James, Serena Williams and Colin Kaepernick. Today, there are modern-day icons who exist. By noting the many achievements gained by these individuals, it will be shown that there are icons that exist in today's society.

LeBron James is an icon because he helps people in need. One of LeBron James's goals in life was to inspire young people and show that people can be capable of doing anything. 1“I would describe it as a success because I was able to inspire so many people throughout the year.” This shows how one of LeBron James Goals for the longest time was to inspire people throughout the world by doing good deeds. James also says when he got the opportunity to go back to China, Paris and Berlin he was able to open up a new school. This helped kids and people all over the world see how he was able to inspire and also help them think that they can be so much more than what they’re capable of doing. Secondly, LeBron James is an icon due to the fact that he was one of the various athletes who discussed and spoke about the civil rights issues players faced in today’s society in the documentary “Shut up and Dribble.” Lebron James states that there is a next star out there and that one message that they need to know is that there is someone out there that cares for them and they should not give up.2“The next star is out there, James said. And I’m not just talking sports. Doctor, nurse, pilots, they’re out there. The one thing they need is knowing that people care about them and care about their lives. I believe it’s part of my job, and I take it very seriously, to try to tap into that.” This displays how LeBron James was determined to star in a documentary and talk about the difficulties and struggles he faced to help support and show other young adults to not give up and that anyone is capable of anything. In conclusion, LeBron James is an icon because he inspires young adults that they are capable of anything and discussed and addressed issues that he faced throughout his career.

Serena Williams is an icon because she puts an emphasis on gender equality. In an essay she wrote for Fortune, she states that black women don’t receive the same amount of support she got when playing matches and she recognizes this act to be unfair. 3“Most black women across our country do not have the same support that I did, and so they often don’t speak out about what is just, fair and appropriate in the workplace. When they do, they are often punished for it.” Across the country, women are perceived to be lower than men. In terms of sports, women are less recognized for their achievements and often not publicized as much. While Williams is taking a stand of promoting gender equality, it opens the eyes of others of how the world should be; equal. She is an educator and a symbol of hope to black women across the United States by standing up and being a voice for women of colour. Moreover, Serena Williams puts an emphasis on gender equality by building a school in Kenya. A few years ago, Serena and her team travelled to Kenya to build a school for the kids there. She made sure that class sizes had an equal ratio of boys and girls.4“...we’re making progress. But we can keep working even more to increase equality—whether it’s making sure to interview black candidates for tech jobs...standing up to cyberbullying...making sure that our technology is designed by all kinds of people. Eventually, we’re going to make the world better. For everyone.” Girls in Kenya are still facing educational barriers and are struggling to access institutions of higher education. Meanwhile, boys are not facing these barriers. Serena stepped into the picture to break this problem and made it possible for girls to have the same education as the boys. Not only did she build a school for the boys and girls in Kenya but, she worked side by side with her team to build the school from start to finish, which proves the point that she is a modern-day icon. Through her actions, Williams has represented and symbolized something bigger than just the sport, tennis.

Colin Kaepernick is an icon because he has taken a lead in the civil rights movement in America. He did this with a simple and silent protest that sent him into a war of controversy; sitting during the national anthem.5 "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." Although it’s been decades since Martin Luther King Jr. marched for black rights and freedom in America, the mistreatment of minorities is still there. Many of these minorities are falling victim to gun use. Gun violence is an issue that has major physical and psychological effects, not only in America but all over the globe. In America, thousands of people die every day from intentional gun use. Colin Kaepernick, using his right as a citizen and his platform as an athlete, joined the many activists today in a fight for social change. After making headlines and sparking outrage, Kaepernick lost his job in the NFL. 6“When Kaepernick was out of the league, his most powerful tool was his silence. He used his voice sparingly, retweeting here and there and rarely speaking publicly, choosing instead to go about his good works quietly and let his action speak for itself.” Colin had made around 43 million dollars as a quarterback. When his time in the NFL came to an end, he directed a lot of his money to social justice groups. He even joined Nike as the face of their new campaign to bring awareness to the importance of empowerment and education. Outside of football, Colin Kaepernick has recognized the power of his voice and has used it to make the world better for people of colour.

Modern-day icons can be found all around us, especially in athletes like Lebron James, Serena Williams and Colin Kaepernick. All these athletes portray the qualities of being an icon in today’s society. LeBron James is an icon because he helps people in need and he also inspires young adults by discussing and opening about issues he faced throughout his career. Serena Williams is an icon because she stands up for women of colour and breaks the education barrier in Kenya. Lastly, Kaepernick has taken a big role in a fight for social justice. For the reasons listed above, it is shown that there are icons that exist in today’s society.

WORKS CITED 

1Associated Press. “He's an Icon On and Off the Court: LeBron James Named AP's Male Athlete of 2018.” Atlanta Black Star, 28 Dec. 2018, atlantablackstar.com/2018/12/28/hes-an-icon-on-and-off-the-court-lebron-james-named-aps-male-athlete-of-2018/.

2“He Promised: LeBron James Is the AP's Male Athlete of 2018.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2018, www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lebron-james-ap-male-athlete-of-the-year-20181227-story.html.

3Images, Laurence Griffiths/Getty. “Serena Williams Will Never Stop 'Fighting for Equality'.” The Cut, 13 July 2019, www.thecut.com/2019/07/serena-williams-fighting-for-equality.html.

4“Serena Williams Literally Helped Build a School, and It's Not Her First.” Global Citizen, www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/serena-williams-builds-schools/.

5Wyche, Steve. “Colin Kaepernick Explains Why He Sat During National Anthem.” NFL.com, National Football League, 28 Aug. 2016,

www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000691077/article/colin-kaepernick-explains-why-he-sat-during-national-anthem.

6Lauletta, Tyler. “Colin Kaepernick Has Already Donated More than $1 Million of His NFL Earnings to Social Justice Charities.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 5 Sept. 2018, www.businessinsider.com/colin-kaepernick-donations-social-justice-charities-2018-9.

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The 2020 Olympics

With the death toll from the coronavirus passing a death toll of over 3,000 worldwide, I think the Olympics should be cancelled because of the Coronavirus due to the fact that this is a worldwide virus that is spreading very rapidly. If the Olympics were to be held, there are multiple different athletes and spectators coming from all over the world and if one individual catches the virus and brings it back to their country, this can cause an outbreak in a country that has not had the virus yet. There are multiple ways you can avoid and prevent the virus as much as possible such as by washing your hands. However, at an event like the Olympics, where there are thousands of athletes and spectators arriving and attending, it can be risky still having an event as big as this one with a virus outbreak like Coronavirus. Events, whether they are major or minor in my opinion, should be cancelled, moved or postponed to a later date until this virus is under more control. In my opinion, I definitely think health comes first and I think postponing a major event like this can be very challenging. However, it is for the better of the athletes, so that people do not catch the virus and bring it back to their countries and cause more cases worldwide.

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Group Essay 2 Sites

https://atlantablackstar.com/2018/12/28/hes-an-icon-on-and-off-the-court-lebron-james-named-aps-male-athlete-of-2018/

https://www.cleveland.com/livingston/2018/07/lebron_james_inspiration_icon.html

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Are women and men portrayed differently when playing sports?

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In what ways is Muhammad Ali an icon?

Muhammad Ali was an icon for Black Americans to look up to, black Americas overcame their fears because of their leader the one and only Muhammad Ali. He was a fearless man who always spoke freely and expressed what he felt, regardless of other people’s thoughts or opinions judging him. He stood up for people of colour at the tragic times of injustice and racism and took a stance, for justice and what for what was right. Muhammad Ali simply never bowed down and took any challenge that was thrown at his way and fear was never a problem for Ali. With the life-changing mindset and mentality he had, he gave the black people of America belief, confidence, and most importantly courage. He gave them the courage to stand up for their own rights and to not be scared of anyone. Muhammad Ali gave other people of colour the courage and confidence to speak their human rights and also taught them and gave them the confidence to stick up for what’s right.

Secondly, Muhammad Ali was an icon for black Americans because he used his platform to educate others about his personal beliefs. Muhammad Ali wasn’t afraid to convert to Islam and stand up for the community as well. Islams back in the day were often mistreated or were shown racism and were deemed to be “terrorists”.He converted to Islam in 1961, and eventually changed his name from the name Cassius Marcellus Clay to Muhammad Ali. Muhammad used his platform to educate others about Islam religion and he also talked about his personal beliefs consisting of the religion Islam. This showed that Muhammad used his platform to educate other individuals about his own personal beliefs and opinions on the Islam religion. This also shows how Muhammad Ali wasn’t scared to convert to Islam knowing all the backlash and negativity he would get from doing this. Also, Muhammad worked with Martin Luther King. Both Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther had much in common. For instance, both black men grew up being segregated in their communities. They were both deemed to be the two most famous black men in America. Martin Luther King who was known for his protests and preaching, and Muhammad Ali who was known for his athleticism. However, by the end of the 1960s, both black men were the most hated men in the United States. Both of these black men worked together to fight racism and stand up for their human rights. 

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Muhammad Ali

1. Muhammad Ali won the gold medal in the 1960 Olympics in Rome at the age of 18.

2. Muhammad realizes after his encounter with a white waitress that he is nothing but another black man who has no freedom in this country. 

3. He was always often outspoken as a confident young black man but was never liked by the white Americans.

4. He only had 3 losses which were his first 3 matches.

5. Muhammad was considered to be a celebrity (especially in Africa) however not an icon by the year 1964. 

6. Elijah Muhammad, who’s the leader of the Islamic faith gave class his current name known as Muhammad Ali in the year 1964

7. The Fbi opens a case on him for not being loyal to the racist Muslim Nations of Islam. 

8. Muhammad Ali fought freedom for his people 

9. In the year 1965, Malcolm was assassinated 

10. Muhammad continuously broke his own records