ABSTRACT
Everyone in the modern world knows about sport. As a cultural phenomenon, it has become particularly ubiquitous. Its spread is promoted by media developments but is basically due to the fact that sport appeals to the masses. The masses allow themselves to be carried along, which is more surprising than it might appear at first glance. Sports in many ways deviate from the prevailing norms and values of
society and are occasionally offensive to them. The most obvious example is boxing. Normally we would find it completely unacceptable to hit each other. In boxing it is essential. It might be objected that this may not be the best of examples, since many ordinary sporting enthusiasts do, in fact, believe that the sport of boxing is so vicious that it should be banned. But if we take instead some of the most popular branches of sport – American and continental football, ice hockey or rugby – then even here we find plenty of examples of violent behaviour. One thing is the rocklike tackle that is mistimed once in a while so that the opponent gets hurt. That is part of the game. The knee, elbow or fist that deliberately hits and hurts the opponent is quite another thing. In the language of the sports commentator such actions are ‘foul play’. In reality, this is ‘just another part of the game’. By playing hard and by landing more or less well-judged body blows, a player can earn a form of respect; and if the opponent can be intimidated into giving ground, so much the better. This is why sports involving physical contact border on the edge of violence, sometimes crossing the line and ending in broken legs, bloody noses and smashed teeth. In youth sport, things do not get as violent as they do in senior sports at the elite levels. In other words, a gradual adaptation to brutality takes place, which is surely part of the explanation for elite sportspersons having the courage to walk onto the pitch at all, knowing full well that they are likely to receive some bruising treatment and that they risk even worse. From time to time we see games in which players have to stagger to their feet again after being knocked down. Once they have pulled themselves together, they get on with the game as though nothing had happened. Players’ acceptance of opponents’ hurtful rule-breaking fouls is manifest but not easily understood in the frame of ordinary codes of conduct.
