In the world of sports, intense competition is part of the game in which the athletes deal with different pressure of the game have. Through this competition in sports, athletes are able to release their adrenalin in able to deal with the pressure of competition of the game. This pressure on the sports competition helps the athletes to perform better with their game, which at the same manner athletes are able to improve and develop their individual skill. By means of this competition in sports, the athletes are able develop their skills and capabilities as an athlete, which will lead them towards the success on their chosen field of sports. Moreover, competition and pressure in sports help the athletes to improve as a better person to manage different obstacles or challenges in both sports and real life. Moreover, sports competition is the major reason for the improvement of mental and physical toughness of the athletes as well as the common people who are engage with sports.
It is true enough that sports as field of fair and healthy competition has a profound role to improve the physical as well as the mental ability of an individual. However, despite of the positive effect of competition and pressure in sports in the life of the athletes, the fair and healthy reputation of sports in its competition is at risk on the issue of “ gambling and betting” in relation to the actual sports competition. It is clear to say this is a critical issue in which is in-need of proper solution to protect and maintain the essence of sports as well as its competition. Moreover, this issue of gambling and betting in sports had been around in the field of sports for quite sometime, which these issues on illegal sports gambling had accumulated as the threat to the credibility of sports. Furthermore, this issue of sports gambling is more evident in the collegiate sports or college level in which the young athletes or student athletes are the most common offender of this illegal practice in sports.
As considered one of the young individuals, student athletes should be safe from any threats or temptation in which they experience different illegal practices in sports. Moreover, the incident of sports gambling and betting is considered to be more rampant in collegiate sports, which this issue is alarming due to the fact that young student athletes must posses positive and legal practice in their sports in able to establish solid future goal. More than anyone else student athletes are the easiest to “ bribe” and get involved to – sports gambling, sports betting and game fixing. However, as a well-disciplined sports individual student athletes should prevent themselves to be involved with these illegalities in sports practices. Nevertheless, this issue on illegal gambling, sports betting, game fixing is considered one of the major “ ethical Issue”, which sports authorities, or managers must spend their time to properly address this increasing and alarming “ ethical issue” in sports. In general athletes involvement to any form of sports gambling, sports betting or game fixing is unethical practices, which create negative effects on the reputation of the certain sports as well as to the reputation of the athlete.
As long as the essence of a fair and healthy sports competition is concern this “ ethical issue” in sports gambling, sports betting or game fixing should be well address to prevent further deterioration of this “ ethical issue” of sports gambling, sports betting or game fixing and to protect the reputation of both sports and the athletes. On the other, sports as a reliable way of entertainment in which the huge number of sports fanatics are thrilled and entertained by the essence of sports competition. Sports authorities, managers and the players must take their share to battle this critical “ ethical issues” on sports gambling, sports betting and game fixing. In general, the fairness and equality is the essence of the competition of sports in which athletes must be honest and fair on their performance in the game.
One way to show ethical respect in the sports and its competition is through full dedication in the game, which requires the athletes to deliver full competitive potential to assure the level of competition in the highest rank of competitiveness. Hence, it is “ unethical” for the – athletes, sports officials and sports managers to get themselves involve with any form of – gambling, sports betting and game fixing to pursue personal objectives. Nevertheless athletes, sports authorities and sports managers can show their ethical respect in the game of sports and its competition by maintaining fairness as the fact which , justify the reputation of sports competition in the highest possible manner. These ethical actions will definitely serve as an assurance to the entire sports fanatic that their interests of fair and equal competition in sports are safe.
(Boxill p. 156)Nonetheless, it is fair enough to say that this “ Ethical Issue” – gambling, betting and game fixing in sports is significantly important, which is in-need of proper solution in able to be resolve. Sports gambling, betting and game fixing is an important due the fact that this “ ethical issue” is a serious threat to the entire reputation of sports in which this issue will definitely stole the essence of credibility and fairness of sports as a field of healthy competition. Furthermore, this “ ethical issue” on – sports gambling, betting and game fixing are consider to be illegal practices in which these wrong doing are punishable by law. Therefore, this significant “ ethical issue” of – illegal sports gambling, betting and game fixing must be properly addressed and handle by the sports officials, authorities and managers to protect the respect or interests of all the sports supporters and fans, which truly believe to the essence fairness and equality of sports competition. In addition, with the proper management of this “ ethical issue” will definitely maintain the reputation of the whole sports organization as well as the reputation of the athletes.
Based on the record of this unethical practice in sports, the most common form of gambling sports is the game fixing or fixing sports contest in which in this specific unethical practice in sports the common offender or violator is the athletes themselves. Sports record shows this unethical practice of game fixing or fixing sports contests had been around in the world of sports for a long period. The early signs or instances of game fixing can be track on the early years of amateur Olympics when the amateur athletes are bribe to reduce their performance on their game in ex change of large amount of money. Furthermore, early incidents of illegal game fixing can be trace its roots way back the 1919 when the professional baseball team “ Chicago White Sox” now the “ Chicago Black Sox” had manipulate the outcome of the 1919 World Series in exchange of the money, which was offered by the “ New York gambling ring”.
(Albanese p. 1951) In details that are, more specific the collegiate sport is the most affected of this “ ethical issue” in which involve – illegal gambling, sports betting and game fixing. In accordance to “ Jay S. Albanese” author of the book “ Contemporary Issues in Organized Crime”, specifically the collegiate basketball sport had suffered the most number of game fixing or fixing sports contest scandals. Data show that collegiate basketball sports had experienced the longest of struggle, which from the year 1951 up to the year 1985 the reputation and integrity of the United States athletic had faced scandals due to the fact that young student athlete in college level had reported its participation in the unethical practice of illegal gambling relating to game fixing. Moreover it can be argued, “ The National Athletic Association” or the “ NCAA” is considered as the most affected college sports organization by this “ ethical issue” of – unethical illegal sports gambling, betting and game fixing in which despite of the intensive campaign for this “ ethical issue” – illegal gambling or game fixing continuous to hurt the organization.
(Rogers p. 152)The series of the most alarming incidents of sports gambling, which relates specifically to game fixing that was recorded by the National Athletic Association (NCAA) had occurred in almost every generation of the collegiate basketball season. In the year 1997, two Arizona State basketball players “ Stevin Hedake Smith” and “ Isaac Burton Jr” had proven guilty on their involvement to the unethical practice of “ game fixing and point-shaving scheme”, which put these two National Collegiate Athletic Association players had suffered the corresponding consequences that affected their career as a basketball players. Furthermore, after this reported game fixing incident in the National Collegiate Athletic Association the next year 1998 the Northwestern basketball player “ Dion Lee” had recorded another violation after proven guilty on his involvement in game fixing and point-shaving scheme.
Just like the consequences “ Steven Hedake” he faced disciplinary actions in which created a major impact on his collegiate basketball career. For the latest incident of this “ ethical issue” had recorded when the Florida guard “ Teddy Dupay” was accused to be involve in the unethical illegal gambling or game fixing investigation, which was later on declared its ineligibility to play for whole 2001-2002 National Collegiate Basketball Season. (Peter p. 1) With all of this facts about the critical problem, which this “ ethical issue” can affect to the sports it is fair enough to say that this is a serious dilemma in sports that is the biggest threat on the integrity of sports. However, athletes are not the only responsible to sports gambling. School officials and sports administrator failed to look after their athlete and protect their right against the threat of sports gambling and betting.
At present time, sports officials, authorities and managers are in the active battle on this “ ethical issue” of – illegal sports gambling, betting and game fixing. With the fact that basketball collegiate sport is the main victim of this “ ethical issue” on – illegal sports gambling, betting and game fixing the National Collegiate Athletic Association or the NCAA, had been to through the years of active campaign to fight this dilemma. In the year 1996, “ William Saum” was assign as “ Director of Agent” on illegal gambling activities with the role to lead the staff member. The primary task of this staff is to advocate awareness among the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball players the policy of the board to ensure the proper observance of the student athletes on the policies in able to protect the essence of fair and equal competition in collegiate basketball.
Rogers p. 52) Moreover, this initial action of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and their – sports officials, higher authorities and sports manager is proper to address this “ ethical issue” of illegal sports gambling, betting and game fixing, which will definitely advocate the awareness among the student athletes and its audiences of the serious threat of the unethical practice of illegal sports gambling. Also, in able to effect more drastic improvement on this “ ethical issue” collegiate coaches, trainers and athletic staff should be monitored on their actions to prevent the involvement of these influential people in the collegiate basketball on the “ ethical issue” of – illegal gambling, betting and game fixing. As considered to be the mentors or superior who are in-charge to look after the student athletes, collegiate basketball coaches, trainers and athletic staff must do their share to battle the alarming “ ethical issue” – illegal gambling, betting and game fixing on colligate and serve as the role model as well as inspiration on their athletes. Nonetheless, to properly resolve or address this “ ethical issue” of- illegal sports gambling, betting and game fixing as the governing bodies sports officials and sports managers must be serious to their goal to battle this unethical threat on the reputation of sports.
Therefore, sports managers and higher officials must implement protective program, which will concentrate on this particular “ ethical issue”. With the proper application of this it is fair enough to say that “ ethical issue” of – sports gambling, betting and game fixing is under control and prevent its harm on the reputation of sports. In the end, with the proper understanding of the serious threat, which the “ ethical issue” of illegal sports gambling, betting and game fixing can cause on the integrity of sports this unethical action can be easily manage. With the consolidated efforts and participation of all the major personalities in sports, it is fair enough to say that “ ethical issue” of – illegal sports gambling, betting and game fixing will never get the chance to take away the true essence and integrity of sports and its competition.