Vince Lombardi - Winning is the Only Thing That Matters :: essays research papers fc

Vince Lombardis contention that winning is the only thing that matters in sport, is one of the truths that atomic number 18 inherent in the world of sports. Athletes are willing to cheat to guarantee success, either through the use of performance-enhancing drugs, or through the act of injuring others. Lombardis statement not only applies to athletes, but it also applies to countries that athletes are representing. Events such as the Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey are a source of national reserve and some countries are willing to try anything to bring a little prestige back, while other athletes, who are representing their country will resort to unethical tactics. Judges and officials are bribed in order to win events. Lombardis statement also affects coaches, owners, and managers. They too place winning as their number one concern. mediocre play generally takes a back seat to the desire for winning that some will bend rules, while others will outright cheat. The corruptnes s of sports at present has lead to many methods of unethical behaviour. Winning is a very important thing not only to athletes, but winning is very important to countries as well. In the early 1960s drugs were used much frequently among the communist nations who wanted to enhance their national prestige through sports. Countries such as chinaware and East Germany have been guilty of using such practices as doping their athletes. The glory of winning a gold medal and what will follow after that is more important than anything else. It one of the major influences behind drug use in sports. The main concern now for athletes who are representing their countries is not just about the mirth of winning but the rewards for success. The rewards are staggering, as the dollar volume being showered on winners is second to none. The figures have become so mind-boggling that the interests of people snarly in this lucrative business is no longer centred around ethical and health-related conce rns. Athletes are willing to give up all that they have worked for their entire lives in order to win a gold medal. Athletes use performance-enhancing drugs to help break records or win gold medals. Blood doping is another example in which athletes plan of attack to improve performance. Drug related scandals are some of the major concerns with the Olympics. Drug testing was introduced at the Olympics in 1967, when at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Swedish cyclist Knut Jensen took abstruse drugs to compete in the road race during which he collapsed and died.