Abstract
This paper examines how athletes as a collective group are becoming harder and harder to admire and how there are many factors contributing to the demise of the sports hero. It looks at how there are three main contributing factors to the destruction of the sports hero, the media portrayal of the athlete, the exploitation of the athlete's personal life and the monetary value and salary focus of today's athletes.

From the Paper
"It has been reported by Children Now that 90% of American boys watch televised sports. The media exploits this fact. Athletes and advertising agencies cater to a younger generation. There are athletes in movies, TV shows, and some even have produced albums. They endorse apparel, fast food, sports drinks and video games. Many marketed strictly to children and teenagers. These athletes therefore become familiar; they are everywhere and the child wishes to become just like the athlete that is so popular thus buying the products and the athlete becomes an instant hero. Many children do not know the specific stats of their sports hero, or even their greatest accomplishments. All they know is that they want to be like the player that they see everywhere as well as own the merchandise that they endorse."

Tags:athletes, endorsements, media, salaries, traditional

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of a neuromuscular training program that is designed to decrease the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in adolescent female soccer players, as well as lower body injuries in general. It looks at how a neuromuscular training program consists of exercises that aim to improve the balance between the muscles of the body such as the hamstring and quadriceps muscle as well as improve techniques in cutting and landing which place an athlete at high risk for injury in a game situation.

Outline
Abstract
Method
Hypothesized Results

From the Paper
"Female Participation in recreational and competitive sports has increased over the last twenty years and along with this, there has also been an increase in the number of women sustaining knee injuries including tears to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Female athletes who participate in sports such as soccer and basketball which involve quick directional changes while running as in pivoting and jumping show a four to six times higher incidence of knee injury over their male counterparts involved in the same sports (Hewett, 2000). Julie Agel and her colleagues (2005) found that despite the mechanism of injury, the rate of ACL injury was higher for female athletes at the collegiate level than male collegiate athletes. In this study, it was also found that more female athletes sustain ACL injuries that occurred through non-contact mechanisms. "

Tags:knee, exercise, muscles

Abstract
The paper describes Roy Tarpley's professional basketball career with the Dallas Mavericks. The paper then identifies Tarpley's drug and alcohol problems that led to him to being permanently banned from the association. The paper discusses the labelling theory and primary and secondary deviance as theories that explain Tarpley's behavior. Finally, the paper looks at the argument that professional athletes can become icons and so they must behave accordingly.

From the Paper
"Roy Tarpley was born on the 28th of November 1964 in New York NY. At seven feet tall, Tarpley was the seventh pick in the 1986 NBA draft out of Michigan [1]. He started his professional basketball career with the Dallas Mavericks, playing as a center-forward [1]. In the five seasons that he played for the Mavericks, Tarpley averaged 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds [3-4]. With a combination of great running, jumping, shooting, and rebounding skills [2], Tarpley was easily one of the best Maverick players ever. In 1988, just two years after starting his professional career, Tarpley was awarded the all-time NBA sixth man award [5]."

Tags:alcohol, drugs, social, deviance, athletes

Abstract
This paper discusses early mountain recreation in Canada with a focus on the activities on Hollyburn Ridge, British Columbia. It first describes the effects of climate, geography and natural resources on the history and development of recreation in Canada. The paper then argues that the activities of the pioneers of recreational sport run parallel to national historic highlights in the establishment of Canada as a nation and therefore are key in the building of the nation. The paper contains a map and photographs in an appendix.

From the Paper
"In conclusion, the scenic beauty and natural wonders of snow covered mountains have long been to people a compelling force. The development of Canadian mountain recreation parallels the development of Canada as a country. This is evident specifically in the areas of economics, the role of immigrants and women, the Canadian Pacific Railway, The Cold War, The Great Depression, and the emerging environmental movement. Participation was a quest for freedom and spiritual renewal. The activities of everyday Canadians from coast to coast who participated in mountain climbs, skiing and cabin building played a role in Canada as it made the complex climb to become a nation."

Tags:climate, skiing, sport, ski-jump

Abstract
This paper explains that mountaineering, as depicted in Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", can be a set of goals and ideas that need to be achieved using your experience and skills to further your ambition, similar to what drives the mountaineers to reach the top and return safely. The author points out that the perils of the mountain that challenges the climbers can be perceived in direct relation to today's market, where there is much uncertainty and fluctuation in the business cycle. The paper stresses that, in order to overcome the challenges, it is strategic to resort to teamwork and team spirit.

From the Paper
"If we analyze the challenges faced by the author in his expedition we begin to see parallels to that of the challenges that the manager face in today's business world. All the aspects of a manager's business ordeal are encompassed in his climb to the top and his descent. A good manager seeks to minimize costs while not affecting quality. Hence, we see the exploitation of human resources in the example of the Sherpa porters, who are paid an insignificant bare minimum amount to risk their lives which is a direct parallel to the cost minimizing decisions made by managers of multi national companies of today that take advantage of the third world countries to produce their products cheaply and efficiently. Such efficiency combined with advertising takes us into the realm of branding."

Tags:branding, resources, skills, perils, team

Abstract
The paper gives a brief history of the many great sporting moments that all Canadians will remember, while showing some of the blunders which have given hockey and Canadians a black eye.

From the Paper
"Throughout Canada's history, there have been numerous great and not so great hockey moments. Canada's domination in this sport is something that many, if not all, Canadian's take great pride and joy in. For the past century or so, Canadian families would gather together by their radio or television and watch or listen to their homegrown hockey stars take to the ice. Unfortunately there are also some blemishes on Canada's hockey history. There have been many moments in which some were disgraced to be known as a Canadian hockey fan. Nevertheless, Canada has always been, and always will be a large piece of Canadian culture."

Tags:pride, trophey, medal, cup, Russia, mob, fans, riots

Abstract
As the title implies, this paper evaluates both the history of womens' involvement in sports and the recent developments. The author blames the media for the present imbalance citing many specific examples and causes. She examines sports on the High School level as well as the professional.

From the Paper
"I have decided to look into the issue of media coverage and the imaging of female athletes because it is an area of popular culture that I am not only interested in, but have become intensely aware of as a spectator of sports programming. I have also watched and noticed over the years that sports coverage of women is another means by which the media sexualizes women. Mass media, which has long been transmitting negative stereotypes of women, portrays female athletes with these same stereotypes on place."

Tags:media, sports, women, sexuality, athletics

Abstract
The paper looks at multi-ethnicity in Canada and at what unifies this nation. It focuses on the sport of hockey as an important component of the country's national identity. It looks at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and its struggle for identity, claiming that when it broadcasted its first "Hockey Night" in Canada, it found it's "true being". The paper explores the origin and importance of CBC's "Hockey Night" to national unity. It explains how the program crossed the boundaries of young and old, rich and poor, urban and rural, French and English, east and west. The paper also discusses the controversial aspect of the program's time slot, overlapping the national news. The status of the program as a source of education is mentioned and the paper concludes with a review of the contribution of CBC's "Hockey Night" to the national identity of Canadians.

From the Paper
"Canada is comprised of many different cultures, spread over a vast geographical region. The only way for all these different types of people all over Canada to create a cohesive united nation to dwell on the similarities, which are shared amongst the majority. Cultural identity, it could be said can found when a whole nation can share in and care about a similar subject. For Canada this sense of national identity is represented by the sport of hockey. In any social or academic setting where the topic of discussion is Canadian identity the lists always begin with peacekeeping and multiculturalism and always come back to hockey. Some may say hockey is only a symbol of Canadian identity, and is no different then a moose, a beaver, or long winters. Hockey however has more then a symbolic animal because hockey gives a spirit of unification and it is here where our country has celebrated some of its greatest victories and most horrifying defeats. The love of the sport of hockey may not be shared by all Canadian citizens, but it is certainly been loved and adored by many since its beginnings in Montreal in 1875."

Tags:unity, origin, imoprtance, time, slot, education, canadian, Foster, Hewitt, Ron, MacLean, Don, Cherry

Abstract
This paper explores the issues behind the 2004 NHL lockout. It is an unbiased essay providing viewpoints from both the owners and the players. It also looks at the effect the lockout will have on fans and the general sporting community.

From the Paper
"The National Hockey League's players are locked out and it seems that the 2004-05 season is in real jeopardy. It is a battle between the players and the owners, and a controversial question is who is responsible for the lockout? The owners, lead by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, are concerned with the rapid increase of player salaries and the subsequent loss of revenue. The players are represented by Bob Goodenow, the executive director of the NHL's Player's Association, and feel that they are not responsible for the current situation. It is the owners that have set their salary expectations. The athletes are willing to compromise on issues such as revenue sharing and initiate a luxury tax model; however, they are refusing to negotiate with the owner's about a salary cap. These conflicting sides have both contributed to the dire state of the game, but the owners and the players must also consider the impact the lockout will have on their fans and the sporting community."

Tags:athletes, community, economy, fans, hockey, negotiate, owners, players, salaries, sporting

Abstract
This study was undertaken with a purpose of analyzing and making recommendations based on the analysis of situation and strategy identified within the mountain bicycle industry. In particular, close attention is paid to Cannondale Corporation, the leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance aluminum bicycles and its immediate rivals. Assessment of the nature and strength of competitive forces in the mountain bike industry is based on the five factors analysis and allow to identify key success factors that are a must for survival and profitability of any company that operates in the mountain bicycle industry. A graphical representation of current rivals allows to judge strength of the competition in the industry and influence the choice of alternatives and eventual recommendations for Cannondale corporation.

From the Paper
"The global bicycle industry, including bicycles, parts and accessories, is estimated to have total retail sales in excess of $20 billion. The bicycle-manufacturing segment of the industry produces approximately 100 million units per annum. The global market for bikes is reported to be dominated by just a few big players, many of whom seem to bounce from owner to owner, and from cash crisis to cash crisis, on a distractingly regular basis. (bikebiz.com). Even though people seem to be "saturated" with bicycles and the mountain bike boom is proclaimed to be over (bikebiz.com), comments of the cyclist community allow to conclude that the industry's and segment's decline is not likely. It was also noted that the worldwide cycling industry is waiting for the "next big thing" in cycling which will likely shift position of major players in the industry if they can't keep up with the trend."

Tags:analysis, bicycle, cannondale, corporation, driving, factors, forces, group, industry, key, map, market, mountain, penetration, strategic, strategy, success