Sport

I.   Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to become familiar with the different methods of determining the percentage of body fat, classifying bodyweight and assessing disease risk associated with obesity based on bodyweight and percentage of body fat.


II.  Results
a.   Frame size Large frame

Recommended weight range   64-188 lbs
BMI (kgm2)  (weight in lbs x 703)  height in inches2   (180 x 703)  72   24.41
HeightWeight Classification Large frame
BMI Classification Average
BMI Associated Risk of Illness Least Risk
Girth Measurement 28.6 body fat
WHR  Waist girth Hip girth  34  35  0.97
Disease risk Moderate
Skin fold  chest(mm)  abdomen(mm)  thigh(mm)  381  812.8  609.6  1803.4
Fat
FM  total body weight x fat
FFM  total body weight  fat mass
Ideal  Fat
Ideal bodyweight
   
b.  
   
c.
     
d.   My BMI classification was average or normal weight. I fall within the least risk of having associated illness since my BMI falls within the normal range. I feel that this is not an accurate classification since it simply classifies my bodyweight based on my height. It does not measure the percentage of body fat.
 
e.   My waist-to-hip ratio is 0.97. Based on WHR, I have moderate risk of having illness associated with obesity. This classification is a little more accurate because it considers the abdominal girth which is often where excess fat is stored. Although it does not directly calculate for the percentage of body fat, I believe it is a useful measure for assessing health risk associated with obesity.

The essence of any business operation is to ensure that profit is maximized as much as possible. As such, every business organization, regardless of the industry in which it operates, tries as much as possible to ensure that it is able to remain competitive and so profitable. Making a profit is in itself dependent on the ability of the organization under consideration to make sales of its goods andor services. In turn, sales are dependent on how good marketing campaigns are undertaken. The better the marketing, the higher the chances that customer will be convinced and turn up to obtain the goodsservices on offer (Bluestein et al. 2003). In essence, customer satisfaction is paramount in the process of marketing. In the area of sports, the issue is no different, with clubs using different methods to make sure as many fans as possible are attracted to stadia to watch matches. Customer satisfaction has many facets to it, and this chapter explores them in detail as they apply to the area of sports.

The Need for Customer Satisfaction
Every organization will readily admit that the satisfaction of the customer is paramount, and that as much as many other aspects of organizational strategy can and actually go a long way in contributing tom success of the organization, few can be as important as the need to satisfy the customer and in fact most of these other strategies work toward ensuring the organization is competitive enough be able to either retain its existing customers or to win new ones (John 2003). Customer satisfaction is very critical in that - as has been established over time and through repeated use of different customer satisfaction approaches - it is far much easier for an organization to retain its current pool of customers than to seek for others. In fact, past research also has indicated that not only is it very costly to seek new markets (in the form of new customers) but it is also very labor-intensive and time consuming (John 2003).

As John Joby (2003) notes in Fundamentals of Customer-Focused Management Competing through Service, getting the existing customers satisfied will go a long way in enhancing the performance of any organization, as long as there is no neglecting of other marketing strategies. He adds that the present business community has failed to embrace this time-tested truth and have instead concentrated so much on seeking expansion of their market base (John 2003). The result, he notes, has been the loss of a great lot of the customers already held, and even though the organizations are engaged in a lot of investing in market expansion, they always end up with negative financial statements because while focusing too much on seeking what they do not have, they have lost what was in their hand. He reiterates that although it is not always true that by trying to seek new clients the existing ones will be lost, it is paramount, wise, and even strategic to seek to retain the existing customers than to go for new ones (John 2003).

The value of customer satisfaction is emphasized by Gitman  McDaniel (2005) in The Future of Business The Essentials where they affirm it as a tool for survival for the organization that is in a very competitive industry. They cite customer satisfaction as among the key determinants of the continued successful operation of any organization, especially those that are operating in industries that are in a perfect competition type of market system such as in sports. According to them, it is only how well a club, a society, a union, or any other organization is able to keep customers satisfied that will determine whether or not they will be willing to remain or not (Gitman  McDaniel 2005). They are of the view that since markets are always full of competing firms, there being very few real monopolies, keeping the already acquired customers will go along way in enhancing the competitive edge of the organizations in question. Accordingly, in order to underscore the great value inherent in customer satisfaction, they point to its being one of the four main perspectives that constitute Balanced Scorecards (Gitman  McDaniel 2005).

The Sporting Arena
The field of sports has in the recent past become one of the most profitable ventures where even the most nave investors are now considering venturing after proving they are able to bring about great returns on investments (Beech  Chardwick 2007). The investment is sports in no less different from many other investments in other areas. There is much need to keep customers satisfied and yearning for more in order for them to be in a position to keep coming to watch other matches and sporting events. In sports, though, the main factor that will get people flocking to the stadium to watch matches is the nature of the sport as far as its popularity is concerned and, therefore, how the sport is able to bring good returns from the sale of tickets and from the sale of the rights to televise the matches. Football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports in the world, capable of drawing more than enough fans to a stadium at a given time (Beech  Chardwick 2007). As such, any football club might not need to really do so much in order to get its customers. This is especially so if the club in question is popular and has in its team players who have a big fan base (Kessler 2003).

Although in the recent past the popularity of players has depended to a large extent on the popularity of their local leagues and the way the international media covers the leagues, there has still been a tendency for football clubs to attract fans fairly well (Beech  Chardwick 2007). In seeking to satisfy customers and to make them remain glued to their seats in stadia, therefore, it is very important that these and other factors are considered and given priority. Unlike customers in other fields, sports fans in general and soccer fans in particular tend to flock to stadia which have their favorite teams or clubs playing and the level of support for a club depends on its competitiveness in the local as well international sporting arena. If a club is competitive enough both locally and internally, then the chances are that it will be in a better position to have a bigger fan base and the fans will tend to remain longer with the club. Although it has been noted in sporting events that some clubs have life members, this trend is fast changing, with allegiance to any given club by fans becoming purely dependent on the ability of the club to perform (Beech  Chardwick 2007).

In Europe, for instance, there are a number of clubs that have dominated the continents most competitive club football tournament, the UEFA Champions League, for a long time (Beech  Chardwick 2007). It might appear a little weird but the fact is that clubs from only five nations have had a historic appearance every year, and the winners have most of the time been from one of these five. These nations are England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Germany. Although others like Holland, Greece, and Turkey have been more or less regular, the five are rarely without a representative. Of the five, England, Germany, Italy, and Spain have some of the most competitive soccer leagues in the world (Beech  Chardwick 2007). As such, they have a lot of following throughout the world. This popularity has enabled the Clubs from these countries to perform extremely well as far as retaining fans is concerned and they are among the richest clubs in the world. In England, clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool have been able to retain fans for a long time, and each year more fans get added to them depending on their competitiveness. In Spain, Real Madrid and Barcelona are very competitive, and their customer retention ability has surpassed most other clubs in the world. Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, and Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, and AC Milan and Inter Milan in Italy, are also clubs with a huge and strong fan base (Beech  Chardwick 2007).

In order to understand how they manage to have such a huge success and so have an in-depth knowledge of the way to go to satisfy customers in the sporting arena (football in particular), an analysis of one of the clubs is important. Manchester United is a club which has a history of good performance, and it is known that it has very many faithful fans all around the world (Manchester United FC 2004). Its season tickets are usually sold out totally so that the club has no need of extensive marketing of itself to attract fans to its matches. The only marketing done by the club is in seeking to attract new talents, or to ensure there are more revenues from Television rights (Manchester United FC 2004). The club is therefore better positioned to offer the required insights into the art of customer satisfaction because for it to be among the oldest clubs in English football history and yet one with among the highest rate of following, it must have learnt to satisfy customers.

Manchester United FC Survey
A survey done by the club in 2004 to ascertain the level of customer satisfaction showed that a number of issues were key in determining customer satisfaction. Among them was the issue of player transfers both at the end of the season and during the mid-season transfer window (Manchester United FC 2004). Most fans were not happy with transfers of the clubs most adored players. Although such transfers were aimed at improving the clubs financial ability, it was cited as causing a slight dissatisfaction level in fans. The respondents in the questionnaire-based survey also cited the commitment of the administration of the club, including the manager Sir Alex Fergusson, and the other administrators, to the club and to the fans. The team has people who care about the welfare of the club more than even their own. And because the desire of any soccer fan is to see hisher team winning matches - it really does not matter how this is done  the fans have been moved by this attitude in the clubs management (Manchester United FC 2004).

The ability of the club to remain competitive and afford to win trophies has also played a great part in achieving high levels of customer satisfaction (Beech  Chardwick 2007). Every fan desires to be proud of the club one supports, and there is no greater pride in a club than that brought about by feelings of victory and triumph. Listening to fans was also a recurrent response in the questionnaires. Fans felt that at Manchester they have been given the chance to take part in making decisions affecting the club (Manchester United FC 2004). They have an understanding that before even a player is bought or allowed to terminate his contract at the club, they will have known of it and given their views. Therefore, in the light of this particular response, the ability to satisfy customers is so much a matter of involving them in affairs of the club (Manchester United FC 2004). Regardless of the performance of the club, it will be ideal for a club to care enough to keep its fans posted on the developments in the club. Just like in any other marketing endeavor or customer retention strategy in any other field, sports fans satisfaction has to be given priority and treated with importance. Customers are usually in need of being given a sense of belonging to a place  that is a certain marketer  in order for them to remain loyal (Manchester United FC 2004). This brings into play the issue of market segmentation.

Market Segmentation
The ability for a marketer to create segments within the general market is critical to retention of customers (Steenkamp  Ter Hofstede 2002). Every customer is able to be served uniquely when in a given segment of the wider market, and this contributes to hisher developing loyalty to the marketer. This is because the customer gets to be served in the way heshe requires and expects. It therefore keeps one from seeking similar services or goods elsewhere even if they are cheaper or better (Steenkamp  Ter Hofstede 2002). The driving factor here is the trust that the customer has in the marketer. This similar concept can be successfully applied to the sporting arena. In this case, every soccer fan will require to be assured that at the club heshe supports, heshe will be able to not only get entertained but also get the sense of having been taken good care of in order to have a level of satisfaction that one expected. Market segments also assist the marketer to be in a better position to know who among the customer are likely to stop using the services of an organization (or are high-risk), who are likely to remain for longer in spite of the possibility of other forces in the market, and who among the customers are worthy seeking to retain (Steenkamp  Ter Hofstede 2002).

In sports and soccer in particular, clubs ought to be wary of seasonal fans who keep moving from club to club based on factors that can be considered as trivial. As such, the clubs ought not to seek to retain such. Instead, a focus ought to be placed on those fans who have been consistent in using the services of the club over a long period of time. Steenkamp  Ter Hofstede (2002), writing in the International Journal of Market Research are full of support for segmentation of markets. In the article International market segmentation issues and perspectives,they advocate for the creation of market segments which will treat customers differently as society is naturally composed of people with differences and variety  some might love noisy stadia while others do not. Others are very enthusiastic with football while others are ardent fans of the NBA League Steenkamp  Ter Hofstede 2002. As such, it is extremely important that football clubs are able to understand this key customer retention principle, because unless a customer is served in accordance with hisher requirements, then it is very difficult to retain such. APOEL FC has so well managed to use this strategy of segmentation, and as such - at least as far as this particular area is concerned - it ought to only improve it a bit and manage it well to be able to retain fans (Steenkamp  Ter Hofstede 2002).

The segments in this case are in the form of different seating areas in the stadium, including the area for the disabled, the VIP section, among others Steenkamp  Ter Hofstede 2002. The manner in which season tickets are priced also goes a long way in determining the way a club is able to retain customers. APOEL FC ought to use this strategy to its advantage, by ensuring that pricing is based on the specific needs of the different segments in the market pool Steenkamp  Ter Hofstede 2002. There are usually soccer fans who have no problem spending money on a game as long as the game is entertaining enough. Such ones can be sold higher-value tickets especially during very competitive matches like the UEFA Champions League without having to worry that they will feel overcharged. Other fans in the same market segment will tend to watch all matches only if the tickets are affordably priced. In essence, as Johnson Michael et al. (2001) note in the article the evolution and future of national customer satisfaction index models carried in the Journal of Economic Psychology, such will still give a positive customer satisfaction report because at the end of it all they will really be satisfied (Johnson et al. 2001).

Satisfaction, notes the author, is the key to retention, but is far cheaper than seeking to bring on board new fans (Johnson et al. 2001). It is imperative to ensure the fans are part of the club as much as possible, whether it is during the main season of the league or not. Unlike other customers, soccer fans are never in need of so much searching for them to be found. Instead, they will come more as a result of what the club has become reputed for, and partly because they just want to have fun (Johnson et al. 2001). In soccer, therefore, the club must always be ready to ensure it does what is able to earn it  a good reputation as in so doing the huge number of fans who are never attached to a specific club can just as well sign up as fans of
the club (Johnson et al. 2001).

Gupta Sunil (2005), writing in Managing Customers as Investments, outlines some of the approaches that can be taken to ensure that customers are retained. This is only after the customers have been proved to be worthy retaining as indicated buy their consistency in using the services or goods of the organization (Gupta 2005). One of the approaches is to ensure the customer gets constant feedback in the form of appreciation for hisher continued support of the organization through constant use of its products. In addition, the organization ought to deliberately put in place programs that will allow the loyal customers to be rewarded through such means as commissions andor discounts on their purchases, after-sale services, and gifts. This will go a long way in encouraging the customer to remain (Gupta 2005).

As pointed out earlier in the survey done at Manchester United FC, having a sense of belonging to an organization or club goes a long way in making a customer or fan a faithful and loyal member. In soccer, the ability to have customers satisfied and therefore to retain them is much a factor of understanding their consumption behavior as it is that of being nice to them. Leaving out the seasonal, migratory ones who will move on regardless of the extent to which a club goes to retain them, fans will tend to be so much involved with the clubs they support that some end up acquiring stakes in the club. This brings in another strategy that can be used to retain customer  making sure they have a share in the club (Gupta 2005). Although it is not possible to have all fans being allocated shares, there have been instances where clubs have given priority to its fans in the issuance of shares (Gupta 2005).

Club Indebtedness
In the past, it has been noted that it is very hard to satisfy fans if the club in question is not able to stay free from debts. Although this varies from place to place and from club to club, this consideration is worthy noting as it is critical. Just like in other marketing fields, every soccer fan desires to do business with a club which one knows is headed for a better future. Every ticket bought by a fan is an investment in the club which, although the fan might not get any direct financial returns from, heshe will be able to watch the club improve through purchasing of new players who can in turn enhance the clubs competiveness. It is worth noting here that some of the most successful clubs are also heavily indebted, with their continued good performance being the only way they can hope to get out of debt. This has explained why there have been witnessed instances of clubs changing owners many times over in an attempt to free them from debt.

In essence, clubs with debts will always struggle to some extent to get support except if they are capable of remaining competitive to a level their financial misfortunes do not play into their performance. In England, Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC are among the most indebted clubs. Although they both have had a good support from fans until lately when Liverpool has lost a considerable lot of them due to poor results, their continued good performance is the only major aspect that has kept them going (Griffin 2007). On this basis, therefore, it is critical that soccer clubs ensure they are free from debts because fans do not want to feel that they are paying the money to help bail out poor clubs, or to get no return out of it. This is based on the truth that a club that is struggling under the burden of debts will most likely fail to get the kind of talent it desires, and even maintaining the current players will be more of a hurdle.

As Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, or Tiger Woods finish their game with a successful shot, their fans crowding around them are also playing an active role. Sports fans, throughout history, are considered to be an important element of each game played because of the support they provide to the players and the revenues created for the profit-generating purpose of sports. However, there is also an underlying function played by sports in the lives of the fans. The behavior and reactions of the fans can be categorized according to the personal functions that sports play in their lives, which include a) source of feelings of belongingness and social identification, b) socially acceptable outlet for the hostile and aggressive feelings, and c) cultural element to bring meaning to life. These personal functions of sports are observed and examined according to the telecasts of two major professional sports games aired online via YouTube. The two games include the 2006 FIFA World Cup final game between Italy and France and the 2008 Champions League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup trophy went to Italy after an exciting and heart-stopping show against France. Throughout the YouTube telecast uploaded by an individual with the user name lukaszwm (2009), it can be noticed that baseball fans are constantly heard at the background as the commentator narrates the highlights of the game. The same is true with the Champions League Finals where Manchester emerged victorious, which can be viewed through the series of YouTube videos uploaded by TheSportsman05 (2009). Though the audience appeared in relatively short clips, with the Champions League video having less shots for the fans than the FIFA World Cup video, the behavior and reactions captured can be used to show the personal functions of sports mentioned above.

Sense of Belongingness and Social Identification
While the FIFA World Cup and Champions League are classified as a series of sports games, it also entails competition between the competing countries or European teams who are qualified to participate in the games. The basis for participation in FIFA is the affiliation of the players in the team with a particular nation or a certain territory while that of the Champions League rests solely on the affiliation with the European region. Consequently, the competing teams carry the responsibility of representing their country or areas through their abilities as athletes. Though it is not explicitly said, there is the stigma of being superior in comparison to another country when a team is able to outperform another team in sports. In relation to this, the commentator for the Champions League game mentioned that the winners are heralded as the  European Champions  that shows the concept of supremacy of the winning team in comparison to the other. The perception of being regarded as better than the other team is also held by the fans because they share the same nationality as that of the athletes or they feel associated with the teams through their passion in sports. In addition to this, the need to support the athletes who are representing their nation or their passion is also created along with the perception of the need to prove their performance against other nations or teams.

The sense of belongingness is expressed by the fans through a variety of means during the game. First, the fans explicitly showed that they belong to a particular team in the game as they wore shirts bearing the same color with that of the official colors intended for their team. During the FIFA game, the stadium is filled with colors of blue, which is the color of the uniforms worn by Italian athletes, and white, which is Frances color. From the short clips shown, most of the people wore blue or white that is meant to be a sign of support for the athletes. Similarly, the clips shown for the Champions League showed people wearing either blue, which represents Chelsea, or red, which represents Manchester United. However, there are also other people who opted to wear different color of shirts but still incorporated something blue or red into their outfit. Interestingly, there is a group of people from the Army who exchanged shirts with the Chelsea players. By doing this, the fans from the Army associated their selves with Chelsea as they wore the color of the team. The use of color as a means of associating with a particular team is also supported by Duncan (2004), who states that color is a method used by the fans to show their connection with a particular team. Another observation with regard to color is that the bleachers in the FIFA game, as seen from a distance, is a mix of blue and white, which does not leave any dominant color for any area in the bleachers. The observation can be a manifestation of the ability of fans supporting one team to coexist with those who support their teams opponents. The absence of a division between the fans shows that they belong to a particular group sharing a common interest, which is football. Likewise, it is a representation of their social affiliations with one another as fans.

On the other hand, there are large areas in the bleachers of the Champions League game that are occupied by people who are wearing blue. On the other areas, there are more people wearing red. There are clear divisions among the fans as some sat in particular areas of the stadium. Through color, the spectators are able to join the group of individuals who support the same team that they wish to support even without engaging in conversations with regard to the teams they affiliate their selves with. Aside from clothing, fans in the Champions League game also made use of props, such as balloons and banners with messages that still bear the official colors of either Manchester or Chelsea.

Second, several individuals also used their national flags to be able to show that they belong to this game and that they belong to a particular team in the FIFA game. A handful of fans carried flags of varying sizes in order to show that they are affiliated with a particular country represented by the athletes. The fans usually waved the flags they carried with them during the times when their teams made it to goal or whenever there is a need for them to uplift the confidence of the athletes. Likewise, these are also used as a statement of oneness with the purpose of representing their countries. Even though the fans do not share the field with the athletes, they are able to contribute towards representing their country through their flags. As for the Champions League, the video did not show any fan carrying the official banner for either of the teams.

The relationship between reactions towards the performance of the team and the sense of identification with the group is directly proportional. The fans who have a high sense of identification with the team they are supporting, such as in the case of the fans who attended the FIFA World Cup and the Champions League, treat the team as an extension of their identities and give more attention to the performance of the team (Bain-Selbo, 2009). Throughout the game, the reactions of the fans towards every action committed by the players are evident which shows that there is a high level of identification with the teams. In fact, one of the fans in the Champions League game was caught biting his nail, which is most likely brought about by anxiety, tension, and nervousness. The behavior of this particular fan shows that his emotions are tied to the game, which is an evidence of a strong attachment for the sport and his regard for it as a part of his life.

Third, there are several shots taken in the Champions League showing people from the upper social strata as they watched the game. These group of individuals are placed in a separate section and are given a more secured and more comfortable area where they can view the game without the inconveniences brought about by the crowd. The presence of a separate section for those who can afford to pay for it showcases another perspective on the social affiliation of fans. During the football game, the division between the different social stratum is still evident. Most likely than not, the people who stayed in this section preferred watching the game from here because of the status symbol that is also associated with this area.

Hostility and Aggression
The games of football are often associated with a sense of violence or aggression among and between the fans and the athletes. Dean (2002) mentions that  violence is the sine qua non of the game football  and goes further into stating that the history of football is attached to a violent spirit despite the changes undergone by the other elements of the game (p. 148). Likewise, the game is also described to be  a violent, rigidly hierarchical, and highly gendered sport  (Duncan, 2004, p. 134). There are several sources of hostility and aggression in sports that include the highly active and physical nature of the game (Berger, 2005), the behavior and attitude of the athletes (Heitmeyer  Hagan, 2003), and the idea that it is a part of fan support (Fitch  Marshall, 2001).

As shown in the video clips, the fans did not display any highly aggressive or hostile behavior towards the players or other fans. However, there are notable behaviors, mostly verbal and gestures that proved to be aggressive and hostile in nature. First, the fans consistently screamed, chanted, booed, and hooted in different parts of the game. When a team is able to make a score, their fans either screamed, chanted, or hooted in favor of the athletes. The fans of the opposing team usually screamed indiscernible words that showed their disapproval with the success of the other team. There are also disapproving grunts heard from a number of fans whenever the opponents are able to succeed andor if their team is left behind in terms of score. Aside from this, fans also shouted whenever the players are given warnings. When listened to carefully, the audio reveals certain individuals shouting louder than the others especially during the times when the feelings are intense. In one of the shots taken after Italy made their first goal in the FIFA game, there seems to be a commotion at the upper part of the bleachers as a group of fans turned to stare at that direction.

Second, gestures are also used by the fans to show emotions of dismay or approval. There are instances where some waved their hands or pumped it in the air whenever their team succeeds in kicking the ball towards the goal. There are some who combined shouting and screaming with hand gestures to show how they felt despite the presence of people around them. When Italy made their first goal, their fans waved their hands and screamed while those in support of France either placed their hands at the back of their heads, as if being arrested, or violently waved their hands at their sides. In the Champions League game, a Manchester fan was shown holding his hand out at his side and shouting indistinguishable words. Likewise, one man was seen slapping the wood in front of him as an athlete was given a red card. Fortunately, there are no gestures that resulted to physical pain towards other people.

In one of the shots taken of the fans in the FIFA game, a girl, wearing either a lingerie or a swimsuit, is shown as she made violent motions with her hands after Italy earned a score. The use of a revealing type of clothing during the football game can not be considered violent but can be a form of aggressive behavior. In the definition of Olweus (1994), negative actions related to aggressive behavior include obscene gestures, verbal and non-verbal harm, or intentional avoidance of complying to an individuals wish. Thus, while the girl did not inflict physical injury to anyone, her outfit can be perceived as obscene depending on the level of acceptance of the other fans.

Violence exhibited through hostilities and aggressive behavior can be the method adopted by the fans in releasing their own aggressive impulses and serves as a  cathartic experience  (Raney  Bryant, 2006, p. 357). Sports, especially those involving a high level of physical aggression, can be used by the spectators to release the negative emotions they have, regardless if these came about due to the game or past experiences. As violent behavior is exhibited by the players, more specifically the behavior of Zidane and the commotion between the players in the Champions League, the fans are encouraged to do the same as it is seen to be a socially acceptable action within that specific social sphere. The ability of players to influence the behavior of the fans can not be discounted especially when former serves as role models to the latter (Bender, 2007). Though the behavior exhibited by the athletes are unaccepted in other areas and instances in the society, the need for aggression during the game can justify the actions they exhibited towards others and these are carried on to the fans.

Cultural Element to Bring Meaning to Life
Throughout the duration of both games, the spectators have expressed their enthusiasm and passion for the game. The fans have consistently showed that football has fulfilled a part of their lives and, to some, has become a way of life through a variety of means. First, the fact that the fans are there shows their great attachment to the sport and considers it as a part of the culture. Tickets to professional games such as the FIFA World Cup and the Champions League are often bought several months before the scheduled date. A person has to be dedicated enough to patiently wait for the tickets, make reservations for it, and spend a considerable amount of money. Aside from this, it would also entail clearing both professional and personal schedules in order to accommodate a game that is several months away. The game is also graced by the presence of important individuals in the society that shows how important the game can be to the fans for it to be attended by people from the upper echelons of society.

Second, the fans, who are mostly English, carry the culture of football with them. European countries are the forerunners in the game of football and the fans relate the historical significance of the game, especially so that it started in their region. Thus, their presence in the football games is a tribute to an aspect of their culture and history. Football, for most of the English people, is a tradition and serves a significant function in their society. Thus, it is considered to be a game where winning means a sense of supremacy and honor, as stated by the commentator in the video of the Champions League.

Third, the fans also used it to bring excitement and emotions to their lives. There are expressions and behavior observed from people that shows how the game brought about emotions that made them feel alive. In the FIFA game, both the fans of Italy and France poured out their emotions as Italy thrust the FIFA cup into the air. During the game, people felt alive as they screamed and carried out actions without much restrictions. Similarly, the Champions League game is filled with the excitement and emotions from the fans. In some parts of the video, fans were shown at the peak of their excitement as they sang out their chants. There are even spectators who are seen biting their nails or standing with their arms wide open.

The FIFA World Cup and the Champions League are two of the most important and sought-after games of football. Fans play an important role in the success of the games as they enhance the morale and confidence of the players through their support. Consequently, sports serve personal functions for the fans, which entail providing a source of belongingness or social affiliations, acting as a socially acceptable outlet for aggression or hostility, and serving as a cultural element that brings meaning to their lives. In both games, the fans are able to manifest the three personal functions that sports served in their lives. There are specific instances shown where sports is able to fulfill the needs of the spectators for belongingness, affiliation, hostility and aggression, and cultural fulfillment. Through these, it is shown that sports play a significant role in the lives of the fans as much as the spectators contribute to the success of sports.

Health and staying in good physical condition are considered as two of the most interesting and most discussed social topics, especially now that many people are getting more concerned with regard to living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of their body. As of the present, majority of the information regarding these topics are accessible and most are just one click away through the latest technological advancements such as the Internet.

In todays modern world, everyone could actually write an article or create an advertisement with regard to health and fitness, even without a reliable background on this field. A good Internet connection and a fully functional computer could already get an article done. Health and fitness are not just viewed as interesting topics but are also classified as highly sensitive subjects, wherein false or misleading information could result to severe and damaging outcomes in ones physical condition. Thus, this paper would primarily work on analyzing two recent articles posted in the Internet regarding the said topics. More so, this would also present a well supported critique with regard to the articles content and authors credibility to write in such subjects.

Trampolines - The Best Way to Exercise by Victoria Mistral
The article entitled  Trampolines   The Best Way to Exercise,  which is written by Victoria Mistral, is one of the two main articles that would be used for an analysis of this paper. Basically, Mistrals article tells about doing the right and most effective exercise in order to resolve physical problems, such as gaining weight.

Mistral, is an optic, vision and eye specialist. More so, Mistral is also a well experienced journalist who specializes in writing articles regarding contact lenses and other optic or vision subjects. Given that Mistral has a broadly different educational and professional background, it is evident that she is not qualified to write an article that tells about fitness and doing the right physical form of exercise.

In a sense, the claims and main arguments of Mistral in her article are far from being accurate or true. Though it is a fact that trampoline presents physical activity such as that of jumping up and down, it is still far from being the best or the most effective way of exercising ones body. Trampolines are risky and hazardous, more especially without the needed knowledge and safety precautions for using it. If not done properly, the use of trampoline, either for exercise or leisure purposes, could result to serious physical injuries and life threatening accidents, which could possibly lead to death or life long physical incapability.

According to the book entitled, The multiple ligament injured knee a practical guide to management,  which is written by Dr. Gregory G. Fanelli, a reputable Orthopedic Surgeon, trampoline could cause popliteal artery thrombosis or dislocation of the knee, caused by excessive jumping on trampolines (Fanelli). Indeed, Mistrals article lacks in terms of sufficient scientific references, which could  support her claims and provide accuracy in her writings.

Likewise, Mistrals article evidently present misleading claims, more especially that she argue trampoline as the best way to exercise, without even citing reliable scientific sources and failed to include the hazards attached in doing such physical activity. Thus, it is evident that the main motive of this misconception is to sell or advertise trampoline as a great equipment that people could utilize in keeping their body healthy and prevent the occurrence of massive weight gain.

Heart Patients Warned Against Using Meridia, An Anti-Obesity Drug
The second article is about a medical prescription for an anti-obesity drug and the health hazards associated in taking it. Natasha Singer and Andrew Pollack, both are staff writers to The New York Times, wrote this article on January 23, 2010. The content mainly tells about the recent issues regarding the hazardous side effects or complications for some users. The article claims that taking anti-obesity drugs, like Meridia, is not medically safe without the prescription of health experts, most especialy for those who have a history of uncontrolled high blood pressure and other heart problem.

The authors of this article, Singer and Pollack, are qualified to write such article that mainly tackles the most recent health and medical issues. Given that The New York Times, as a new publication company and a well respected player in media industry, has strict guidelines in dessiminating vital informtaion to the public, it is of great certainty that both authors have the credibility to tackle a significant health topic like this.

Likewise, the information and claims presented in article are accurate and are written in an impartial way. With the fact that the authors are also working news writers, the main content of the article is considered to be accurate and is written in good faith, as Singer and Pollack are just reporting current events that are based on facts, which have valid causes. More so, the authors have utilized and inlcuded all the necessary information regarding the said topic in order to support and strengthen their claims.

Lastly, Singers and Pollack have done a great job in researching their topic and using the most vital references, which could accordingly empower all the information they presented in the article. Positively, the inclusion of different views coming from health professionals and sectors have raised the quality and accuracy of the article. With out a doubt, the reference used by Singer and Pollack are accurate, more especially by citing the views of Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, who has been ver vocal in calling a total ban on most anti-obesity drug in the market (Wood).

I. Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to become familiar with the different methods of determining the percentage of body fat, classifying bodyweight and assessing disease risk associated with obesity based on bodyweight and percentage of body fat.

II. Results
See Body Composition data sheet and Hydrostatic weigh worksheet.
   
b.   Of all the methods used in the determination of percent body fat values, I feel that the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) gave the most accurate estimation of body composition since it uses several factors in determining percent body fat which is the percentage of bodyweight that consists of fat. It considers the skin fold technique which is based on the theory that half of the total body fat is located in the subcutaneous tissues of the skin and that the sites selected for measurement are representative of the overall subcutaneous fat. Another factor used in bioelectrical impedance analysis is the measure of the body resistance to low-level electrical current which allows for the calculation of percent body fat based on the poor electrical conductivity of fat compared to lean tissue. Although this method has some limitations, particularly the effect of hydration level of the body and the ambient temperature, I feel that the variations in the readings due to these factors are not significant and that BIA is still more accurate than the other methods
     
c. Based on the most accurate measurement that I consider for the entire activity, I fall in the obese category. Considering my diet, activity and lifestyle, I think that this classification is fairly accurate since I am not very watchful of my diet and do not engage in a lot of physical activity.
     
d.   My BMI classification was average or normal weight. I fall within the least risk of having associated illness since my BMI falls within the normal range. I feel that this is not an accurate classification since it simply classifies my bodyweight based on my height. It does not measure the percentage of body fat.
   
e.   My waist-to-hip ratio is 0.97. Based on WHR, I have very high risk of having illness associated with obesity. This classification is not too accurate for me because it considers the abdominal girth which is often where excess fat is stored. Although I do not have a very healthy diet and lifestyle, I still feel very healthy and that classification is a little too high for me.

2. Correlation was used to determine the relationship between bioelectrical impedance fat  and hydrostatic fat . The null hypothesis to be tested is that there is no significant relationship between bioelectrical impedance fat  and hydrostatic fat . The correlation analysis was conducted at 0.05 significance level. The decision is to reject the null hypothesis when the p-value of the correlation is less than 0.05 significance level. Otherwise, fail to reject the null hypothesis. After conducting Pearson correlation analysis, it has been found out that the Pearson correlation coefficient is equal to 0.79 with a p0.05. The correlation coefficient means that there is a strong increasing relationship between bioelectrical impedance fat  and hydrostatic fat . Since the p-value of the Pearson correlation coefficient is less than the significance level of 0.05, the null hypothesis is rejected. Thus, we are 95 confident that there is a significant relationship between bioelectrical impedance fat  and hydrostatic fat .

III. Closing Paragraph
After completing the lab, I have learned many things regarding my body. Specifically, I have learned to compute for body fat percentages using different methods. In addition to the body fat percentage, I also learned the risks associated to different body measures like waist to hip ratio. Overall, the lab taught me a lot about being conscious about my body with the help of bodyweight, body measurements and body fat percentages.

IV. Data
Calculations
HeightWeight
Weight kg  pounds2.204
 1802.204
 81.6696 or 81.67
Weight 81.67 kilograms
Height m  inches x 0.0254
 72 x 0.0254
 1.8288 or 1.83
Height 1.83 meters
Frame size
Elbow breadth  8 cm  2.54 cminch
 3.149 or 3.15 inches
Frame size (HeightElbow breadth) Large frame
Recommended weight range   164-188 lbs
Body weight classification weight is 180 lbs which is between 164-188 lbs
HeightWeight Classification Desirable
BMI (kgm2)  (weight in lbs x 703)  height in inches2   (180 x 703)  72   24.41
BMI Classification Normal range
BMI Associated Risk of Illness Average Risk
Girth  Fat  Constant A  Constant B   Constant C   10.2
         44.41  43.30 - 48.87   10.2  28.64  body fat
WHR  Waist girth Hip girth  34  35  0.97
Disease risk Very high risk
Sum of Skin Folds (SF)  chest  abdomen  thigh  25  32  24  81
Db  1.10938   (0.0008267 x SF)  (0.0000016 x SF)2   (0.0002574 x age)
Db  1.10938   (0.0008267 x 81)  (0.0000016 x 81) 2   (0.0002574 x 20)
Db  1.10938   0.0669627  0.0000000168   0.005148  1.037 or 1.04
Siri Equation  Body Fat  495 Db  450
       4951.04  450  25.96  Body Fat
FM  total body weight x fat  180 x 25.96
 46.728 or 46.73 lbs
FFM  total body weight  fat mass  180 lbs  46.73 lbs
133.272 or 133.27 lbs
Ideal  Fat 14.9
Ideal bodyweight FFM(1-ideal  fat)  133.27 lbs(1  0.149)
133.27 lbs(0.851)
156.603 or 156.6 lbs
Bioelectrical Impedance  16.5 percent fat
Hydrostatic Weighing
RV  0.24 x VC
 0.24 x (4.1)
 0.984
Dw  0.9937 gml
VGI  0.1 L
BMw  best underwater weight  tare weight  5.1 kg  3.6 kg  1.5 kg
Density (Db)   EMBED Equation.3  
 EMBED Equation.3  
Density (Db)  1.013507 or 1.01 gL
Body fat  (495Db)  450
(4951.01)  450
490.099  450
40.09901 or 40.1
Table 1

Pearson Correlation Results
Bioelectrical Impedence Fat Hydrostatic Fat Bioelectrical Impedence Fat  1.000 Hydrostatic Fat  .790  1.000  .344 critical value .05 (two-tail) .442 critical value .01 (two-tail)

Figure 1. Scatterplot of BEI and Hydrostatic Fat .
Body Composition Data Sheet

SubjectAge 20Gender MaleHeight (in) 72Height (m) 1.83Frame Size Large FrameWeight (lbs) 180Weight (kg)
81.67Recommended Wt Range (lbs) 164-188BMI 24.41HeightWeight Classification Desirable

BMI Classification Normal range

BMI Associated Risk of Illness Average risk

Girth MeasurementsSite A Right upper armSite B AbdomenSite C Right forearmSite A (in) 12Site B (in) 33Site C (in) 9Constant A (in) 44.41Constant B (in) 43.30Constant C (in) 48.87Fat 28.64
WHRAbdomen (in) 34Hip (in) 35Ratio 0.97Disease Risk Very high risk
SkinfoldsMENChest (mm) 25Abdomen (mm) 32Thigh (mm) 24Sum (mm) 81 WOMENTriceps (mm)Thigh (mm)Suprailium (mm)Sum (mm)Fat 25.96FM (lbs) 46.73FFM (lbs) 133.27Ideal fat 14.9Ideal body wt (lbs) 156.6
Hydrostatic  fatBioelectrical Imp  fat40.116.5

Saturday, September 11 2009. it is not Osama and the Twins Towers again it is Serena Williams at the US Open semi-finals against Kim Clijsters. But it was terror all the same. She faulted during a serve, the judge penalized her and the sensational tennis queen went on riot, literally. Wagging her racket, she charged at the judge and ranted Im going to shove this ball down your f------ throat (Associated Press 2009). The devils in her had earlier been enraged when she broke her racket after losing the opening set.

Since Zinedine Zidans head butting at the World Cup in Germany, anything rough, foul and physical has perfectly fitted the description of the masculine style of doing things. So they dominate high charged games like football, racing, hockey, cricket and rugby. The fairer sex, being fair, presumably, engages in the gentler version of sport swimming, tenniswhere strain, exertion, tear wear and the masculinizing effects of sport are limited (Griffin, 1993, 193). These games attract less media and audience attraction, less packages and athlete idolizing, like soccer did to Pele, Maradona and their male kind. Who doesnt know or has never heard of Ronaldo, Kaka and David Beckham Tiger Woods could be famous for the wrong reasons, but then whenever you hear Tiger, you see a Nike cape, a smooth face and a golf club on a green lawn in the woods. And for Serena- or any female athlete for that matter, the picture is never complete without a voluptuous breasts popping out of a thin bra, and a peeping g-string beneath a thigh-high mini. But in rare occasions, like the September 11 US Open, the female presence manifests itself in a more assertive and physical manner.
This is the quality of aggressiveness (Theberge, 2003, 504) that female athletes have acquired through sport, signaling a shift from feminine tendencies. Despite the odds and challenges associated with being female, coupled with the patriarchal attitude of a male dominated media industry, a number of female athletes have played their way into the center of the game, all the while shaping and defining the changing feminine social trends. This essay focuses on the exploits of the worlds most celebrated female athlete in recent times, tennis player Serena Williams.

Born on September 26, 1981, Saginaw, Michigan, Serena Jameka Williams is one of the best female tennis players in the world, currently ranked number one. She is the sister to Venus Williams, also a former world champion. She grew up in the poor violence prone suburb of Compton in Los Angeles. Together with her sister, she started playing tennis at the age of four on the public lawns of Compton, where they often had to duck gunfire. Perhaps it was from this harsh environment where one is always on the guard and physical agility is necessary for survival, that Serena nurtured her style of powerful game, tough determination, possessing hard ground strokes and superb athleticism (Answers.com, 2010). She first played her professional tournament in WTA in 1997 in Moscow in which she lost. She was later to defeat seventh ranked Mary Pierce, and then fourth placed Monica Seles, making her rise from the 403rd position to number 102.

She quickly established herself as a force in tennis, with successive wins in the singles title in 1999 US Open. The big break-through came in the 2002-2003 season, with the famous Serena Slam by winning all the four grand slam titles the 2002 French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles, and the 2003 Australian Open, before making another hit with the Wimbledon in 2003 and 2009, the Australian Open in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and the U.S. Open in 2008 (Answers.com, 2010).

Dealing with injuries at one time became her biggest challenge that often led to withdrawals from matches and defeats. The year 2000 in particular was rough for the then No. 22 player. Despite winning against Hingis to retain the Los Angeles Title and winning another one at Hanover, a ligament injury saw her lose in the Paris Indoor competition. She surrendered from a match against Hingis in the Canadian Open due to foot inflammation. It also denied her the US Open doubles semi finals. The last blow that sent her into recession was a meniscus tear during the second round of the Amelia Island Tournament (Answers.com, 2010).
 She was to wait until 2002 in the Australian Open to defeat the worlds top trio, comprising of her sister Venus, Hingis and Capriati to rise to second spot, behind her sister. She finally defeated her at the Wimbledon final and with the victory, became the worlds number one female athlete in tennis. The media hyper about the Serena Sensation sold her to the corporate world, which opened avenues for endorsement packages and inevitably, the celebrity status of stardom. It is at this point that Nike got into the game, with its sporting aesthetics of lingerie shows and flesh display entertainment. At the September 11 US Open, beneath a flesh hugging mini-dress whose design portrayed excellent knowledge of cloth economics, every body detail was nakedly prominent.

It has long been assumed that female contribution to sport is purely aesthetic..to decorate, feminize and soup it up for the indulgence of mens appetite and gaze since men form the majority viewing audience for womens sporting events (WS 240, Lecture x, Winter 2010).  Why else would they don skimpy and tight-fitting games kit It must have been an ingenious discovery by Nike that a little more flesh, more bum and butt are necessary to sex up the game. Without the bras and tale telling lingerie strings- which actually linger around the places they are supposed to cover, very few people (read men) would care about womens sport events and perhaps remember that anything ever happened at all (WS 240, Lecture x, Winter 2010).

Through the art of constructing the truth, Nike surely knows how to make the image click and stick in the minds of the audience. The female body, with its appealing feminine features, becomes an object through which the corporate sector packages and sells its products to the public. They introduce a constructed truth on how the ideal dress-code ought to be, and in so doing promote a social lifestyle ideology that infects the audience. The media plays its role of repackaging the female athlete image, by drawing attention to the parts that matter. However, Helstein (p 290) says that such constructions by Nike are not necessarily a way to progress to a more true self.

In the capitalist market, sports have been transformed into products that can be sold to the media. Marxist and Socialist ideologies argue that it is this capitalist commercialization of sports that has led to the exploitation of women by the media and corporate sector. It is a fact that dressed in any other way, Serena Williams (and other women as well) are truly gorgeous and uh, appealing. However, a generous display of flesh makes her appear a little more delicious in the eyes of men. Now, that is what every other woman wishes for herself the image that makes heads turn in the streets, unless the man she just passed has a very stiff neck. The media preys on their gullibility to sell this belief. As Birrell  McDonald, (2000, p.11) observes, The easiest way to get to ideology is through the media.  The advertising corporations generally target men, reason why sensuality and baser passions are strong factors in this regard. So it is the necessity to create this effect that Serenas on-the-court attire (like other female athletes) is scarce on all the wrong places the very ones that the media captures to feed their audience with. Nonetheless, her physique and power display deviate from popular belief that ladies should be gentle, vulnerable and fragile in the feminine way that makes them attractive to the masculine opposite. Threatening the judge for pointing out her fault is not a feminine nature. Similarly, her language sounded masculine and equally intimidating, contrary to their nature of silence in the game (Griffins 195). This suggests the de-feminization effect that sports has on female athletes, who toughen up and assume masculine qualities.note William Serenas words Im going to shove this ball down your f------ throat

In the Victorian times, women were allowed to engage in physical activities of a suitable kind, in moderation, without overindulgence or risk of strain, which were considered to enhance the health of their potential to conceive health children (Hargreaves, p 57 Cited in WS 240, Lecture_Outline_2, Winter 2010).
Kim Clijsters gave this impression, but Williams portrayed the exact opposite. One is made to believe that she can deliver a devastating punch with her powerful hands. Note that one feature that defines her playing styles is physical strength her ground strokes are hard and fast. This creates the impression that women can get as good as any man.

Nonetheless, what this implies, I think, is the fact that women are breaking into the world of men hard and furious. In the Grecian period, women were killed for the mere offense of watching men at play. Instead, says Lenskyj (1986), they were encouraged to focus on their natural and patriotic roles as wives (qtd by Griffin in Cahn and OReilly, 2007, 193). The patriarchal dominance upon women is evident from this early period, which the Marxists would argue is even more prominent in the capitalist world today. They were prohibited from physical aggressiveness, explaining their inhibiting but highly ornamental attire (Hargreaves 54). The ornamental attire, apparently, was intended to please men and feed their fancies. And when they overcame these restrictions by excelling in sporting activities long dominated by men, they became victims of their femininity they were commoditized into beautiful objects that could be packaged and sold to the media.
In conclusion, the place of female athletes in sports is gaining a new meaning that will perhaps become evident in the near future. Their femininity makes them objects of desire that the capitalist market exploits for a commercial gain. However, the physical strength and power displayed suggest that women are becoming more aggressive and ready to participate in physically charged games. Presently, we have womens soccer world cup games, previously considered too rough for their soft bodies. Defying the conventions and challenging men in sports is the one way through which they have empowered themselves in a male dominated world (Theberge, 203, p 500). They have changed the rules of the game in their favor, and it might not be long before they don skin tight shorts on a rugby pitch.

F.T.T.I. (Frequency, Time, Type, and Intensity) is one of the regularly followed frameworks for developing and monitoring an exercise Program. It is also commonly used in the strength and weight training. The standard recommendation is as follows
Frequency3 to 5 times per weekIntensityModerate to High Should focus on heart rateTime Anything from 20 mins to 60 minsTypeCombination of exercises which use the whole body or a group of large muscles
Frequency

Frequency is the first and foremost component of FTTI framework as it helps in building the basics of any fitness program and setting up the goals. Depending upon the fitness level of an individual it should vary from 3 to 5 times per week. For Mr Latif- Treadmill and Free weight exercise it is at least once per week. While for endurance exercise it starts from 2 per week in the initial stage to 4 per week. For Football training, a the major components, the frequency starts from nil in the first 2 weeks and increases to 4 times in the last 2 weeks.

Intensity
Another important aspect of FTTI and the hardest to measure is Intensity. The best way to judge the intensity is by monitoring the heart rate of an individual. The heart rate should be in the Target Heart Rate Zone depending upon the fitness level, age and strength of an individual. For low fitness individual it is 50 to 70 of their maximum heart rate while for high fitness individual like athletes it is 70 to 85.  Mr Latif has shown good intensity in Muscular Endurance and Flexibility with excellent sit ups (55 reps), while his intensity in speed and power exercises has been low. Also, his intensity in Grip Testing has been average with best being 46.5 kg and 50.3 kg in left and right hands respectively. His intensity in football training, which was 2 hours per session, has been noteworthy.

Time
Time spent on a particular exercise depends upon its type and target to be achieved out of that exercise. Time spent is also related to intensity as it is very important to maintain proper intensity for a sufficient time to get the desired effect. For cardio-vascular exercises like treadmill it should be around 20 mins which is appropriate too. For muscular strength exercise time is measured as sets. Here, 3 sets are being done by Mr Latif, which is in accordance with the set standards. Time spent on Netball, Football, badminton, Futsal comes out to be around 5.5 hours per week, while for the overall training it is around 7.5 hours per week.

Type
Type of the exercise is important as it basically decides the kind of results which are to be achieved. So, an individual should choose the types after properly deciding the goal of the training program. Here, Mr Latif has designed his training program keeping 4 goals in mind viz. speedagility, endurance, body composition and flexibility. The different types of exercises are treadmill run, cycling, Free weights (Leg curlsextension, Peck Deck, Chest Press, Bicep Curl, Arm Raises, Lat Pulldowns, Tricep Extension), Sports Training, Flexibility PNF training.

Specificity
As far as the relevance of the exercises in relation with the pre-set goals of Mr Latif is concerned, this program seems to be appropriate with sufficient focus on all the 4 desired goals. To achieve one of the desired aims and objectives Ability to play for more than 90 mins in any activity, the program has lots of football training in it. This increases to around 8 hours per week in the 5th and 6th week. Also, to maintain Body Composition, Free Weights training is regularly done with focus on overall body shape. Horizontal Jump has been specifically included for increasing power.

Progression of Training Program
The body of an individual goes through a process of rebuilding and repair after any exercise session. As far as frequency is concerned, it is absolutely perfect keeping the goals in mind and it progresses from 4 to 5 times per week. The overall total time spent has increased from 7 hours week to 9 hours week.
In the last two weeks the program becomes stable towards endurance. This could be termed as a bit overloaded and little bit over focused on only particular area of the program because out of 44 hours of total program around 36 hours is being spent on Endurance which comes out to be more than 80. While all the other exercises combined are only getting minor share of less than 20.

Reversibility
This aspect of training would mainly depend upon the inactivity of the individual and would result in a decline in the range of movement. Any adaptation which has taken place could be reversed if a particular activity is ceased. For example- In the given training program it is very important for Mr Latif to keep playing the mentioned sports like football to keep up the agility. Similarly, free weight exercise and cyclingrunning should be continued to keep up with the body composition.

Tedium
The program is innovative because it keeps sports (an entertaining activity) as one of the main mediums of exercise rather than just regular gym exercises. For example- Netball and Futsal are one of the innovations. This also helps given the sports interest of Mr Latif.  For flexibility training PNF and Isometric are appropriate too. The result sheet has been very nicely designed and gives a complete picture of the tests on each aspect.

Strengths
The key strengths of the program lie in its specificity and innovative design.

Speed  If we see the improvements in sprinting is from 8.47 secs to 7.54 secs.

Agility  Mr Latif is showing a better result on Illinois Test run after undertaking this program. His best result being 1916 secs.

Endurance training  This program is focusing maximum on Endurance Training. As we see the results Mr Latif is showing very good rating in press ups and sit ups. Moreover, his stamina and his ability to play football has increased. He is able to do 9 hours of exercise per week which is a remarkable achievement.

Body composition  It has improved due to various types of Free Weight training and running. His waist is smaller by 2 inches.
 
Flexiblity - Sit and reach test is also a good indicator and shows a best result of 13 cm. Also, PNF and isometric training are other good inclusions.

Weaknesses
One of the weaknesses this program is its inability to induce more speed and agility. Second weakness is its over focus on Endurance. Third weakness is lack of exercises like Hill Training, Parachute training, stair drill, ballistic stretch etc.

The sprint time has decreased but it is still poor according to the ratings.

Horizontal jump rating is poor too which implies lack of power training.

Leg Curl and Leg extension exercises should have been more intense. This adds to the muscle strength and hence a better speed.

Cycling has been included only once in the whole program which should be more. It should be at least twice a week.

Suggestions Improvements
Speed and Agility Improvement
Focus on treadmill  At least 3 times per week. On an average 20 mins per session.
Parachute training and hill training should be included along with sports exercises. At least 2 times per week.
 Stair Drill and resistance drill should be practiced to improve agility and leg strength.

Flexibility Improvement
Stretching exercises like Ballistic stretching should be included to improve flexibility. They could be done for 10 mins, 3 times per week before the start of any session.

Power and strength Improvement
Free Weight training should be included twice a week just like in the 2nd week. This would add strength to the muscles and help in showing better test results.

Sporting activities in the modern society are becoming a source of livelihood for many in the society. Unlike traditional sporting practices, modern sport is one of the most paying of almost all professional fields. Still clear from this is the fact that sporting has been received with much support particularly from the youth population (Morrow 13). It is because of this that sporting activities are seen as a source of role models to the young population. Sport brings with it cultural diversity thus creating a sustainable avenue for non-discriminative association for different members of the society. This essay is written as a discussion on the appearance of sports today. The author in particular gives an analytical discussion on the cultural meaning of sports and the role it plays in providing role models in the society. A discussion on the message sports sends to the youth today concerning being fit and healthy as well as its role in bring cultures and communities together is also given.

Sports today is evidently one of the most loved social activity in the world today. Such activities are used for sending cultural messages to other members of the community. A good example is the well known culture of short distance athletic and basketball excellence marked with the American citizens. Still on the question of bringing cultures together, our modern sports are marked with diversity of players. It is here to be noted that there are so many international sporting tournaments played annually. This gives sports the advantage of bringing together different cultures. Still to be noted here is the fact that even in local competitions, the practice of buying players from other clubs or nation is an indication of how sports respects cultural diversity. Such practices are quite good for the youth generation in the community as it instill in them a sense of understanding and respecting cultural diversity (Emmert and Michael 71).

Nevertheless, it is worthy noting here that with the increased interests in sporting activities, sporting activities have been converted into a source of income for many in the society (Emmert and Michael 43). First to be cited here is the highly paid sportspeople. Second is the fact that many have invested in providing sporting related assistant for the purposes of realizing profits. However, sports still remains an entertainment for the fans and develop role models for many in the society.

There has been a culture of appreciating some sportspeople while hating others. This is quite evident from the amount of cheering one receives while in the field. It is only the best and reliable sportspeople who win the ultimate support from fans (Emmert and Michael 51). The love to be associated with a successful sportsperson is a common practice among the youths in the community. Just to be cited as example is the fact that designs attributed to a particular successful sportsperson are usually received with much appreciation in the marketplace than any other.

Modern sporting has been marked with expression of fitness and healthy living. It is evidently clear that sportspeople are currently receiving much attention due to their economic value to their nations, clubs and families. This makes them to act as messengers of concern for being fit and healthy to the youth. It is here to be noted that given the strength found with all categories of sportspeople in the society, the fitness and healthy living is a strong signal sports give to the youth (Morrow 14).

How one understands sports depends on how one views it.  From an individual or personal perspective, sports can mean a form of recreation or pastime a means of making use of idle time in other pursuits aside from work or studies such as chess for intellectuals of all ages and horseshow throwing for senior citizens.  It can also be a form of physical therapy of exercise for several such as running, cycling or even weightlifting which is guaranteed to keep one in top physical form.  If there are sports for individuals, there are also sports for teams or groups such as basketball and football which not only is a pastime or exercise, but also an opportunity to bond with friends and relatives by playing together.  For some people, sport is treated more like a game or pastime for others, it is treated as an opportunity to advance oneself or make it their way of life.  The desire for competitiveness and the drive to excel is what makes athletes give it their best, whether as individuals or as a team.  If one were to look at it from a much bigger picture, sports can also be an influencing factor in ones culture.  To excel in a sport may be an individual achievement, but to represent ones country and excelling brings not only individual honor but instills a sense of national pride in ones country as well.  Major (international) sporting events provide the opportunities for these athletes to assert their superiority and victories help validate that notion.  In almost every summer Olympic event, the United States has virtually lorded over other international competitors to the point they almost have no equal.  This speaks a lot of the culture and attitude of the average American who are aware that they are a superpower nation not only in terms of military capability or economic prosperity but in sports as well (Dyreson, 1998).
If there is one thing that these achievements help contribute to sporting culture is that it provides role models.
Sports champions, to a certain degree, become superstars in their home country.  As superstars, they are idolized by many, especially the youth who would be inspired to emulate them and someday become champions and superstars themselves.  Going back again to American sports as an example, the likes of Michael Jordan (basketball) or Michael Phelps (swimming) has had many young people wanting to follow in their footsteps.  The media is partly responsible for promoting these iconic figures as their images appear virtually everywhere from cereal boxes to lunch boxes.  Big name companies would also sign up these starts to promote their products and even acquired the license to borrow their names such as the famed Nike Air Jordan line of basketball sneakers or the Roger Federer line of tennis shoes.  These companies have successfully capitalized on the strategy of identiying with the winners and somehow established a spiritual connection of the fans with their idols through these products as if they have also acquired a part of them.
Another factor that needs to be taken into consideration is the attitude instilled in every participant.  This is first developed at the grassroots level such as sandlot baseball or playing basketball in public courts.  It is here that future champions and stars not only play to stay fit and healthy, they also develop a competitive attitude.  This attitude is not limited to competing against another player, it is also a competition against oneself.  It is that attitude of giving ones best and to excel.  In addition, there is also the nurturing of other essential values such as observing fair play, magnanimity and even a chance to exercise leadership (for team sports). In the grassroots level as well, sports also provide opportunities to bring people together like playing football in family reunions and homecoming days in high schools and colleges.  These events help instill or reaffirm a sense of loyalty or affiliation though on a smaller scale but can be applied in a much larger scale when competing in international events when cheering for the home team or first team  (Dyreson, 1998).

In individualistic societies like the United States, money is also another motivator for promoting sports.  For some of the gifted athletes, the sport is not a mere recreation or exercise, it is their life and they have invested their talents and efforts in perfecting their game.  This has led to the creation of professional sports organizations such as the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Baseball (MLB).  Sports has also become a form of occupation for these talented athletes and this is what motivates them to be their best, not to mention well-paid.

Each country also has a chance to promote a sport that is unique to them and even attempt to export it.  If it is accepted by another, it is a sign that the sport has an appeal.  In the case of the Americans, it would be basketball and baseball which has acquired a large following in other countries.  In some European countries, it would be soccer.  From Asian countries such as China, Japan and Korea, martial arts such as wushu, karate and taekwondo which has also developed a large following worldwide.  These exported sports represent the best of what the country of origin has to offer and serves to promote it.  These sports have become so popular worldwide that international trournaments are held nearly on a regular basis that not only promotes the sport but foster friendship and cooperation among nations that no diplomat could possibly accomplish in an international summit.

In conclusion, it can be said that sports are more than just games and pastimes.  For some, it is a way of life, for others, a source of national pride and to a certain extent, a vehicle for promoting closer ties with ones neighbors whether local or global.

February 10, 2010 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

Introduction
 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is located at Capital Hill in the Washington DC. Its physical address is 2400 East Capital Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Stadium armory is the closet Metro station. The stadium serves as the home of the DC United in addition to being a hosting venue for music concerts, high school and college athletics and the other main events. The Washington Convention and Sports Authority are the current managers of the Robert F. Kennedy memorial stadium. The Authority also manages and owns the DC Armory, the Washington Convention Center as well as the Nationals Park and Festival grounds surrounding the stadium (Cooper, 2010).

History 
Robert F. Kennedy memorial Stadium was constructed in the year 1961 as the home ground venue for Washington Redskins, the National Football League as well as the Washington Senators, a Major League Baseball. Initially, the stadium was known as the DC Stadium but later renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in the year 1969 (Cooper, 2010). Since then. several changes have taken place in the stadium regarding the teams using the stadium as the home ground. For example, in 1971, the Senators relocated to DallasFort Worth area and in the year 1996, the DC United, which was the main League football team, made the stadium their home ground. Later in 1997, the Washington Redskins left the stadium for FedEx Field situated in Prince Georges County. After thirty four years time away, baseball resumed in the DC in 2005. The Washington Nationals that had in the past been based in Montreal returned to the DC. This prompted the RFK stadium to be modified in order to contain the team. During the spring of 2008, the new National Stadium was opened (Cooper, 2010).

Stadium specifications 
Some of the details of the RFK stadium include It has a three and a half acres of natural grass field. The stadium has seven entrances for even crowd movement in addition to having club rooms for group and private affairs. The stadium is metro accessible for orange and blue lines and has an arena (open air) for extensive civic events (Chang, 2010). The stadium has a maximum capacity of 45,016 for baseball and 55,672 for football. The architects behind the work of the stadium include George Dahl from Dallas, Ewin Engineering Associates from Washington and Osborn Engineering from Cleveland. Currently the stadium is owned by the District of Columbia government under the patronage of DC Sports and Entertainment Commission. The construction of the stadium cost US  24 million (Ballparks 2008). Its physical dimensions are 60 ft (backstop), 335 ft (right field), 380 ft (right center), 408 ft (center field), 380 ft (left center) and 335 ft (left field) (Ball Parks, 2008).

Stadium Parking 
RFK Stadium has ten thousand spaces that are available in the parking lot. During the major events the packing lot fills up and public transport is often suggested. There is often a free offer for free packing by the Washington Nationals in addition to free motor-coach from and to the National Baseball Stadium. The buses operate endlessly beginning from1 12 hours prior to the game time up to 1 12 hours after the final inning (Cooper, 2010). The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has come up with a Stadium Event parking control program in the area around the DC Armoury and RFK stadium. The regulations prevents vehicle owners without a legitimate Visitor Passes or Zone 6 parking permits from packing their vehicles on suburban streets whenever there is a event at the stadium or the DC armory. This is done to avoid any parking competition between the event goers and the residents. This is the reason why both venues are served by Metro bus and metro rail with their information being obtainable from WMATA website (District Department of Transportation, 2008).

Stadium Development 
In 2005, the Montreal Expos moved to the District in 2005 there was a feeling by many that the RFK stadium would be a temporary venue. At that time the stadium was creaky and old in addition to lacking enough facilities for player training, food preparation, premium seating and fan comfort. Finally the community came up with a  US 600 million funding plan which was mainly public financed with the aim of building a venue for a showcase team. It is this plan that gave rise to the National Park on 31st March 2008 (Sports Road Trip, 2009).

Revenue 
The stadium generates money from the charges of events that are held in the venue. For example, in 1999, the DC sports Commission used to charge the DC United US  60,000 per every season as rent. About ninety percent of the concession revenues collected also went to the DC Sports Commission (Brooke 1999). The stadium has had different tenants in different periods as follows 1962-1971, Washington Senators Redskins, 1961-1996 DC United, 1996- and Washington Nationals 2005- (Ball Parks, 2008).

Security Measures
Several measures have been placed to ensure the safety of those attending the events in the stadium. Some items that are not allowed into the stadium include containers (plastic, metal and glass), large bags, weapons, foods and drinks, professional cameras (video), whistles, pets among others. There are other strict rules that the fans must always adhere to. For example one can only get into the stadium through Gate A, B, Main, E and F and this should be 1  hours before the match begins (Bowl Committee, 2009).

Economic Impact 
In addition to the business owners who benefit from the activities that go on in the JFK stadium, the residents of DC are given more consideration when job opportunities in the stadium arise. The stadium has more than one thousand employees as supervisors grill cooks, runners, event attendants and staff as well as crowd management personnel (DDES, 2007). The RFK stadium site development will not only present an opportunity for commemorative and cultural uses that will attract visitors but will also address the needs (recreational) of the residents (National Capital Planning Commission, 2006).

Liverpool VS Everton 6022010 Barclays Premier League
Observation1st Half Tally2nd Half TallyTotalsPercentagePatternsNo of shots459Example shoot more in first half, shooting accuracy poor, etc..No of shots on target224Shoots on target were equal in both halfs.
Excellent shots from the Reds.No of shots off target235These were poor set pieces, No of shots from inside penalty area000No clear chances came the Reds way, poor ball control seemed to hinder this in the penalty boxNo of shots from outside penalty area369More chances with the shorts with most of them going wide.No of shot from strikers224Strikers had a poor accuracy on the shots they took on with more chances falling on them.No of shots from midfielders123More accuracy on the shots taken by the midfielders show more accuracyNo of shots from defenders112Great efforts from the defenders.  
         
Strength and Weakness of the Liverpool
Liverpool is known for playing on the floor and for making it very hard for teams to get on the ball this is because of their quality on the ball. The team plays its best with power strength and the work play. The Liverpool team is also strong in the air and they are able to nullify other teams play when it comes to this. One way that Liverpool gets to win their matches is through the team passing the ball on the ground and this is made possible by their style of play where there is only one holding midfielder not forgetting that they dont play to the opponents strength enabling them to take an upper hand in a match against many teams.

Weakness
There is need for the Manager Rafael Benitez to be more pro active and always field a team that is most likely to deliver a win against any one team baring in mind that a win is the most important element of a match. The midfield of the Liverpool team is weak when Lucas and Mascherano in centre midfield, this position should instead be taken by Steven Gerald alongside someone who can make a good play maker. The person should also be able to be string defensively since that does not seem to work well resulting to poor ball to feet possession for the team. One way for Liverpool regaining their winning ways is by the Manager Rafael Benitez making the right decisions since that is what he is paid for.

Improving Liverpool
Liverpool was lucky to win the match earlier in the day from the goal scored by the hardworking Dutchman Dirk Kyut. There is need to improve on the level of discipline rating from the send off, there is need to have clear tackles to reduce the chances of them being reduced to ten men.  As from the shots, there is great need for the ball control to improve to be able to achieve better and clear shots from the Liverpool side.  Shots off the target were as a result of poor ball control, had they been able to control the ball from the backside to the front lines there would have been more shots on target and possibly more goals for the Reds.
On the other hand, the need to instill security on the position of Rafael Benitez is paramount. This will result to him firing the best attack in terms of the start up line up as well as the moral support for the side. The more insecure he is on his job, the poorer the results the team is going to get, and this means that the Reds may end up slipping from the big four category and status that they have continued to thrive on.

The impact of professional athletes using steroids extends far beyond the personal lives of the professional athletes and the professional integrity of the professional sports leagues.  This is because professional athletes are public figures, because whether they like it or not they are portrayed as heroic figures and emulated by youth, and because steroid use by adolescents can lead to serious physical and psychological problems.  William C. Rhoden in a recent editorial argues that professional athletes are given a mere slap on the wrist when caught abusing steroids and that this sets a poor example for others.  His main criticism is that the professional sports leagues benefiting from these athletes continue to pretend that the steroid abuse has effectively disappeared when this is not the case.  This reaction paper will argue, built on the type of data derived from this study, that steroid use among professional athletes is a critical public health issue and that athletes and professional sports leagues should not be able to behind  assertions that enough is being done to address this public health crisis.

As an initial matter, the article clearly demonstrates that many athletes have abused steroids in order to obtain competitive advantages and that the media has profited handsomely from reporting on these scandals.  What emerges from even a cursory analysis of this trend is that fame and profits can be generated from steroids both directly and indirectly.  Professional athletes are allowed to offer too many excuses for cheating and for improperly influence impressionable youth.  Some of the stock excuses seem to be that the athlete didnt actually know he was using steroids, that he was merely compensating for an injury, or that professional athletes are paid to perform and not as role models.  These are all rather disingenuous defenses, or excuses, and they all skirt and thereby attempt to evade the fundamental issue.  The fundamental issue is cheating in a manner that is unethical, unhealthy, and that can possibly lead to negative psychological effects.  A tax cheat is not suspended from work for sixty days a tax cheat is indicted, afforded a trial, and sentenced to prison if found guilt.  Athletes using steroids are taking the money of fans and spectators under false pretenses this is, quite literally, a form of financial fraud.  The sale of tickets and the sale of merchandise, largely motivated by an appeal to the future aspirations of impressionable youth whom adore their sports heroes, are never refunded as a result of this type of fraud.  Fraud in sports is granted an exception from the normal principles of American criminal law for some reason.  The apparent reason is that the act of taking steroids only harms the athletes and the reputation of their teams and the sports leagues.  As this scholarly article demonstrates, however, the harm is much more widespread and the athletes and the professional franchises and leagues should be held accountable.

There is an additional troubling issue which is only indirectly alluded to in the scholarly article.  More precisely, the article implicitly notes the connection between mass media treatment of professional athletes using steroids for a competitive advantage and the influence on high school students.  This is important, if not mentioned enough, because high school boys may seek to use steroids simply to look stronger and more athletic without actually wanting to gain a competitive sports advantage.  This is a type of spill-over effect that can flow from the soft treatment given to professional steroid users.  The steroid issue therefore has much broader impacts than those specifically studied in the scholarly article.

In the final analysis, this article clearly demonstrates that both the use of steroids by professional athletes and the ways the mass media sensationalizes these scandals negatively impacts adolescent understanding of steroids and their decision-making processes meanwhile, Barry Bonds is probably sailing in his multimillion dollar yacht, Mark McGuire has been hired as a coach for the St. Louis Cardinal, and Alex Rodriquez is making more than twenty million dollars a year despite his admissions regarding steroid use.  Responsibility needs to be taken away from professional sports leagues, which have economic conflicts of interest, and this type of fraud and drug use needs to be treated in the same way as other frauds and drug crimes.  The youth deserve more than slaps on the wrist.