Violence in Contact Sports: Absolutely Essential or Essentially Obsolete

This week’s discussion on the link between violence in sports, and the many ways it manifests itself, hit particularly close to home (which is why this post is excessively long!). As a former member of U of T’s Varsity Blues rugby team and various rep hockey teams, contact sports have played a formative role in shaping the person I am today. Aside from the health benefits, the sense of fraternity that arises through participation in team sports has resulted in many of my teammates becoming close friends, while also giving me an opportunity to hone important social skills. Furthermore, these activities demonstrated the importance of teamwork, loyalty and dedication. However, in light of this week’s discussion and both Tracy Trothen’s article “Holy Acceptable Violence? Violence in Hockey and Christian Atonement Theories” and This American Life’s podcast on the child abuse scandal that erupted at Penn State, I have been forced to critically assess the benefit of these virtues in relation to the risk posed to both players and society.

Team motto for the world famous All Blacks rugby team

Looking back at my own actions, it becomes clear to me that many of these highly valued traits were fostered, in part, by the exaggerated siege mentality that frequently arises in highly physical sports. After reading Trothen’s article, it was evident that the foundation for the strong relationships between my teammates and myself was likely attributed to a dualistic, us versus them mentality, whereby working together was a means to achieve the desired end, winning (Trothen, 2009). Trothen attributes the normativity of this dualistic mentality to the popular Christus Victor theory of atonement that portrays Jesus as a “fighter” who overcomes his evil enemies (Trothen, 2009). Never having given much thought to the reasons for the inherent physical violence while playing hockey or rugby, the link draw to this well know theological theory provided some insight into how I was able to justify violence against those who I perceive were against me. However, thinking back to the moments when I tackled or checked somebody aggressively, these actions seemed much more primal than this theory would have you believe. Furthermore, the manifestation of this violence is not only evident on the field, but also on the sidelines and in the stands, with coaches, teammates and fans frequently participating in violent banter that encourages harming members of the opposing team. This scene has likely been repeated since the beginning of humanity, whether during a fight between gladiators at the coliseum or during a hunt in the plains of Africa. Thus, the parallel drawn with the Christus Victor theory may, perhaps, be better understood as the result of early Christians projecting a typically human trait on to Christ, in order to humanize Jesus in their effort to make sense of the crucifixion. However, whether or not human behaviour informed this theory or the theory shapes our actions (or both – which may actually be the best explanation), it effectively highlights how we are able to justify acts of violence in specific contexts, such as sports, in a society were physical abuse is generally frowned upon (Trothen, 2009). Thus, if sports provide a venue where physical violence is acceptable, does this mentality have to change in order for it to serve as a more effective teaching tool? Perhaps. However, if this acceptance is a product of widely accepted social perceptions, such as the Christus Victor theory, does the presence of physical violence negate its potential benefits? Probably not.

Montage of "Best Hits" from the 2008 Rugby World Cup in Australia

Despite the moral ambiguity surrounding the physical violence in contact sports, which fuels my own conflicting feelings, a form of violence that I believe is not subject to this ambiguity is sexual abuse. Although not being subject to it myself or knowing anybody who has, stories of incidents always made their rounds in the locker room. Furthermore, the power imbalance, discussed by Trothen, that ultimately facilitates this behaviour was exceedingly obvious (Trothen, 2009). How one is perceived by superior teammates and coaches is of central importance. The “fraternity” has a clearly defined hierarchy, and those at the bottom are extremely vulnerable. Incidents of overtly sexual hazing incidents for rookies in McGill University’s football team and the many cases of sexual abuse by coaching staff, such as the charges of child molestation against former Penn State University football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and the widely publicized cases against coach Graham James, concerning his molestation of high profile NHLers, highlights how prevalent this form of violence is. Trothen draws the link between the penal-substitutionary theory and how it is frequently misinterpreted as justification for the abuse of the vulnerable (Trothen, 2009). Although the weak have likely always been targeted, I feel that the connection between the notion of “divine child abuse” and sexual abuse by coaching staff is accurate as both present a unique situation whereby individuals in positions of moral authority abuse their status in order to conduct morally unjust behaviour. The irony and potential danger of this form of violence is highlighted by the disbelief surrounding head coach Joe Patterno’s actions after being informed about Sandusky’s molestation of a child in the Penn State locker room. In the podcast by This American Life, it becomes clear that Patterno had a reputation for being a respected and morally principled leader, explaining the disbelief, and in some cases, denial concerning his behaviour. However, this reaction highlights how dangerous organized sports can be in creating the optimal environment for sexual abuse. After all, should anyone’s judgement concerning Patterno be clouded because he is a football coach? Ultimately, although some forms of violence in sport are morally ambiguous, others are not. Assessment of the role of violence in sports cannot be done with a blanket approach and each form must be handled in a case-specific manner in order to deal with the problem in an effective and timely manner in order to minimize risks for both players and other members of society.

Impact statement by former NHL player, Theo Fleury, regarding charges laid against his former coach 

Graham James, who sexually assaulted him

Works Cited: 

Trothen, Tracy. “Holy Acceptable Violence? Violence in Hockey and Christian Atonement Theories.” Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 21 (2009), 42 pp