OBrien

** A Pre-Game Warm-up **
 * Winter/Spring 2012 Mr. Dunne **

For, as an athlete, sports are an outlet for competition, and emotion. I take sports as a way to let off stress and get away from school and my studies. Being on a team is one of my favorite parts of sports, the friendships bonded on teams I think are the most important to have in a lifetime. As a fan, for high school, collegiate and professional sports are a way to be part of a bigger team. Having a love for one team in particular gives you something to be excited about and it brings people together all over.
 * What do sports mean to you as an athlete and as a fan? **

I played youth sports up until high school and I started when I was five years old. I played club teams, indoor teams, and town teams for soccer all through the years. Youth soccer especially when I was in elementary school was my favorite because I got to know kids from other schools and it made going to the middle school a much smoother transition. When I was younger I really didn't like playing soccer and I resented going to play soccer every Sunday, but as time went on I learned to love the game. My best experience with youth sports was the competition from fifth grade to eighth grade. That time frame was when I was on the most competitive teams and when I had the best time. I had a coach who loved teaching the game and helping us grow. One of my worst experiences was when we played Mansfield in 7th grade and both of their coaches were thrown out of the game and several parents were as well for yelling at the referees. I think youth sports are a good way to introduce competition to young athletes but having parents, and coaches become the focal point of the game is ridiculous. Playing club soccer when I was younger was also interesting. It is another level at such a young age but it is good preparation for the future.
 * What has been your experience with youth sports? Describe your best and worst experiences. **

I believe athletes do make good role models. Every child grows up at one point in their lives playing sports and having someone in that sport to look up to is important. I was recently looking back in my 5th grade yearbook and we had to write down a future profession and at least one fourth of the class wrote they wanted to be a professional athlete. Kids think this way because they aspire to be just like their athlete role model. For example when I was younger I thought Mia Hamm was the greatest player ever and she is a great role model for girls playing soccer all over. She has such a good reputation with girl soccer players because of her ability and because she hasn't tarnished her reputation in any way or caused people to stop liking her for no reason.
 * Do athletes make good role models? Identify one or two professional athletes to make your case. **

The sports teams I pay attention to the most would be the ones everyone in my house follows. My dad is an avid watcher of football so I would have to say I watch football most of the time. I pay attention to the Patriots the most but I like to watch college football as well. My favorite games to attend though are Red Sox games. I love to watch baseball especially go to the games because I love how relaxed the sport is and the games are the best on a nice spring or summer day. Sports occupy a lot of my life. I love to play sports and compete and I also love watching games, whether it be at school or on TV I enjoy supporting the teams I follow.
 * What sports/teams do you pay attention to the most? How much time do sports occupy in your life? How do you spend that time (attending, watching, reading, talking, participating)? **

I would like to learn about controversial court cases revolving around sports. Some I don't understand and I would like to learn more about them so I can gain a better understanding.
 * What sports-related issues would you be disappointed //not// to cover in this class? Why? **