MEDIA AND SPORTS

       Media and Sports go hand in hand due to the fact that they both depend upon each other. They depend upon each other in the sense that the media would not have sports to report on if there was not any, and athletes get recognition from the media after they win a game.  However, there is always positive and negatives about the media reporting on sports.

        The pros of media coverage on sports is that athletes once they win a game they are recognized in the newspapers, T.V., public forums, and blogs.  Thus, media can bring about amazing praise, glorification and expectation. As well, intense national marketing and exposure tends to make any sport very popular and provides top dollar to the top. 

        
        The negative media coverage of an athlete can dramatically ruin his/her career. It is stated that distractions such as the media can interfere with a players ability to focus, and be harmful on the athletes chances of success.  When an athlete losses it is exemplified in the media with negative judgement and criticism. As of 2004, China blamed the losses on exaggerated hype of China's athletes to win the Gold as they became too over confident.  Therefore, it was sad that the athletes felt more pressure and resulted in distracting thoughts which ultimately caused them to loose. Another example of an athlete bombarded by negative criticism by the media was Mike Tyson.   Mike was unbeatable at the top of his career but when his personal life came to the forefront in the media it had negative effects on Mikes career-he lost all his previous earned boxing titles because he mental state was affected by the media reporting on the personal life.  However, Mike retorted by saying its his job to beat people and win fights and it's the medias job to sell papers.  
          In concluding, I think that if an athlete is at the top of his game then he or she will receive the awesome and positive media coverage that they deserve. It's like drinking and driving one know the consequences if one drinks they will be arrested and go to jail.  Therefore, once an athlete is successful in his or her sport they must keep their actions on and off the court squeaky clean or it will affect their concentration from bad criticism in the media.  

References:    
1.   whiskey, Jim. (2009, February 17). Media on sports. Retrieved from http://whiskey-jim.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13144606/13625889
2.  Ott, Kyle. (2006). Does the media impact athletic performance. Retrieved from http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/does-media-impact-athletic-performance