Category Archives: Blog

Should We Allow Doping In Sports?

Dopers are cheaters. They take drugs to enhance their athletic abilities, giving themselves an unfair advantage. However, some argue we should allow athletes to dope. They claim if everyone dopes, no one athlete has an unfair advantage because everyone has the ability to enhance their performance. Though arguments made in favor of doping point toward creating a level playing field, there is concern about the impacts of performance-enhancing drugs on the health and well-being of athletes. There is significant research that suggests steroids and various performance-enhancing drugs are detrimental to the human body.

In an episode of SCI TV, Dr. Gary David, Associate Professor of Sociology at Bentley University, discusses doping in sports and addresses the suggestion by Torbjörn Tännsjö of the Boston Globe, to “let all athletes dope.”

Trickle-Down Effect

A major concern for allowing athletes to dope is the possibility of negative impacts on young athletes who often attempt to follow in the favorite star’s footsteps. Young athletes who dope are at a significantly greater risk of health issues that could potentially cut their athletic career short. Gary David explains his concerns as a trickle-down effect.

“If professional athletes are doping then that’s going to trickle-down to college athletics, high school athletics and invariably it is going to end up in youth athletics.”

There is no single answer or solution to doping, but David suggests that we look at sports as a whole and understand how legal doping would impact all levels of athletes. We need to understand the impacts on the  He also points out that there are countless arguments made at all levels of sport that doping is “counterproductive to their overall wellbeing.”

Changing Values?

Joshua Gordon, host of SCI TV presents two important questions: Are we shifting what we value in sports? Or are we in love with innovation and the idea that we can think our way through how to advance the body?

Society needs to have an open discussion and determine what we value most about sports. David restructures the questions we need to ask by shifting focus from the innovation of performance enhancing drugs to the purpose of sport.

“Is it the winning and winning at all costs, which is really a part of American culture? Or is it the struggle of excellence no matter what the person’s innate ability is?”

Gary concludes by suggesting that if we value winning at all costs then praising that mentality “undermines the very value system that sports is supposed to have.”

Level Playing Field

It is debatable whether current bans on doping create a level playing field, as there are many athletes who break rules in an effort to gain an advantage.

SCI TV co-host, Ken Pendleton explains “there needs to be a much more open-minded discussion about these distinctions, what should be banned, what shouldn’t be banned, and at what levels?” Pendleton.

“There is a reason that rules exist in the first place,” David said. Rules exist in all aspects of society to maintain order and a level playing field. Before allowing athletes to dope there are many unanswered questions that must be addressed to ensure that all levels of athletics focus on health, fitness, and a level playing field for all athletes.

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NFLPA vs. NFL in Deflategate Controversy

Marc Greenbaum is a Professor of Law and Co-Director of Labor and Employment Law Concentration at Suffolk University Law School.  Professor Greenbaum is an experienced labor arbitrator and remains one of the most sought after neutrals for handling challenging cases. In addition to his own professional accomplishments, he has been instrumental in educating and advising his current and former students – developing an impressive portfolio of success stories along the way.

What Is Going On In Deflategate?

Mr. Greenbaum explains that litigation is pending and the Judge is very aggressively pushing a settlement option. However, Tom Brady and the NFLPA have little reason to settle because they do not have much to lose.

“There is not a huge incentive to settle for the union,” Greenbaum said.

Greenbaum notes that a major issue in this case with the NFL and Commisioner Roger Goodell is regarding “the role that the NFL’s general counsel played in helping Ted Wells ‘edit the report.”

“If the NFLPA is going to prevail anywhere it is on the theory that [Commissioner] Goodell violated something by hearing the case,” Greenbaum said.

Impact On The NFL

Greenbaum brings up an issue that the NFL should be extremely concerned with and that is how this on going case is going to impact the NFL and the start of the season. While making headlines over the last few years for the wrong reasons, Goodell and the NFL do not need to begin the season with another controversy being fought out in court.

“Something which I haven’t seen much discussion about, but at some point has to be within the consciousness of the league is the impact of an ongoing proceeding on the integrity of the regular season,” Greenbaum said.

Greenbaum adds that the reason this controversy is growing and making headlines is to benefit Roger Goodell.

“It may be that the commissioner views this as an opportunity to reclaim his credibility,” Greenbaum said.

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Examining High Visibility Incidents and Brand Damage in Sports

Sports are meant to be an escape from the stresses and conflicts of everyday life, but as major incidents occur in the sport industry we see an increase in brand damage that can significantly impact the industry and its’ various organizations. In an episode of SCI TV, Joshua Gordon of the Sports Conflict Institute and Duncan Fletcher of Game Change (gamechange.ca) discuss some of the implications around issues that arise in sports and where so many sports organizations seemingly drop the ball.

Power of Sports Brands

Sport branding has rapidly grown into a multi-billion dollar industry with the goal of developing relationships between fans and various products and services. However, the stakes are so high that when an incident occurs there are repercussions that can lead to significant brand damage and can cast a negative shadow turning away fans and potential sponsors and business partners.

“Sports brands are spontaneous in a way that few other entertainment industries are, it captures the imagination of folks that can relate to it because they have played these sports and followed them closely,” Gordon said. “And the stakes are high because all of this is operating in the public realm.” 

Any publicity is good publicity?

In some cases organizations and athletes welcome any publicity. However, major scandals and unlawful acts can be more damaging than helpful to the brand image of the organization or athlete regardless of the increased publicity. The cases of Lance Armstrong, the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, and FIFA corruption “are perfect examples in terms of that negative impact that can be brought upon an organization,” said Fletcher.

As sponsorships and endorsements deals skyrocket, there is growing concern about how a scandal can impact everything from ticket and merchandise sales to the support for organizations and their sponsors. 

“There is no tolerance for any bad behavior,” Gordon said.

Fletcher follows up by explaining that one of the greatest challenges leading to brand damage is that “even a hiccup, at a very low rate, has a massive impact not only for the individual athlete but the organization or the entity that they work for. That is one of the most frustrating things, in that its very difficult to reach athletes and have them understand that you may hiccup at a very small level, but how that gets magnified is often beyond the issue itself.”

The costs of scandals and controversies can negatively impact all parties involved — administrators, coaches, athletes and supporters — in a four main ways including brand damage, burning actually dollars, loss of viewership and the teams’ performance. 

Threats to Sports Industry

Athlete conduct and PED use are considered the biggest threats to the industry. Industry executives are viewed athlete conduct as an even bigger problem.

“Sports are a diversion from the many difficult things we have in our daily life, we are looking for something to take us away from that and if all it is is a mirror of the very problems in the world itself that defeats the purpose,” said Gordon.

Systemic Solutions?

“The key is you have to go through the process of driving change and addressing the culture,” Fletcher said.

The best possible way to drive change and prevent significant brand damage is to act using the following solutions:

  • Shift paradigm from investigation to assessment
  • Proactive vs. reactive
  • Align interests between sponsors, leagues, teams, athletes, agents, and others
  • Understand what data is missing / needed for better understanding of drivers
  • Conduct structural / organizational assessment of selectionn and development process
  • Examine CBAs in professional leagues

In conclusion, though there is no cookie cutter solution but it is best to look within your own organization to determine where changes need to be made. 

“What you really have to look towards is what are some of those behavioral triggers, how do we create a safe place for individuals to go when there is an issue, and how do we build the community more broadly around athletes so that the infrastructure is healthy and supportive,” Gordon said. “What you really need to think about doing is looking at what your own organizational cultural triggers and then shape something that deals with the systemic flaws within your organization.”

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Marc Greenbaum Discusses NFLPA vs. NFL in Deflategate Controversy

Marc Greenbaum is a Professor of Law and Co-Director of Labor and Employment Law Concentration at Suffolk University Law School.  Professor Greenbaum is an experienced labor arbitrator and remains one of the most sought after neutrals for handling challenging cases. In addition to his own professional accomplishments, he has been instrumental in educating and advising his current and former students – developing an impressive portfolio of success stories along the way.

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Sports Ethic | Alex Smolka

In an episode of SCI TV, Alex Smolka of Florida Atlantic University cross country and track & field discusses the sports ethic among his student athletes and the balance that today’s student athletes have to manage. Through his experience as a coach, Smolka addresses the norms and challenges that most high performing college athletes encounter.

Defining a Sports Ethic

From high school to college to the professional level, serious athletes often show similar behavior in their sport as initially researched by sociologist Jay Coakley.

These behaviors are 1) Dedication to the game above all else; 2) Winning as marker of achievement and one’s willingness to push limits; 3) Accepting risks and playing through pain to prove self worth; and 4) Avoiding all obstacles to success.

Usually these patterns turn into on field success, but if taken too far they can be damaging to both performance and overall life balance.

In Athlete Transitions

Athlete dedication is often tested in the first year of college, when team expectations are significantly more than in high school.

“The biggest issue is having people transition from high school to college in a responsible way without going down the wrong path,” Smolka said. “If you want to improve, if you want to do well then sometimes you have to make tough choices to maximize how good you can be.”

When to Miss an Event?

Given very a strong sports ethic for most student athletes, missing a practice or competition can be a big deal. For many, family emergencies and serious illness or injury are the only acceptable reasons. But even those can be pushed through, which is why at FAU athletic trainers have last say for participation in practices and competitions.

“I want them to look at their responsibility to the team very similar to taking a another class. Practices and competitions are like midterms and finals,” Smolka said. The message is that they are very important, but not above all else.

Striking a Balance

Smolka thinks the right balance for success at the college level is academics first, athletics second, and social life third. In reality, social life usually gets combined with athletics, making the connections on a team that much more meaningful.

“The lifestyle of a student athlete can be an amazing experience and can be the best four years of your life if it’s done in the right way,” Smolka said.

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Mental Strength Training | Matt Belair

With so much known about how to properly train the body, increased focus on the importance of mental strength and conditioning is only natural as athletes and coaches seek the next frontier for competitive advantage. In an episode of SCI TV, Matt Belair discuss “Above the Neck” sports performance. Belair, a sport psychology & mental strength coach, explains the importance of mental strength in achieving peak performance. He highlights the key elements athletes should use for optimum performance when it matters most.

Key Elements for Mental Strength 

Over the years, Belair has identified key elements for optimizing mental strength. The first main element is mental preparation and practice. Throughout an average day there are many opportunities to be consumed by stresses and pressures to succeed, whether it be at school, work or leading up to athletic competition. It is important to have the ability to relax your mind and visualize what you want.

“The key to everything is to relax your mind. So that’s where meditation can be very useful,” Belair said.

The next step is to pinpoint your internal dialogue; what you are telling yourself. This is where you should identify your perspective and any negativity that might be discouraging or hindering your ability to perform at your best. A wrong or negative perspective can lead to mentally spiraling out of control.

“The biggest thing for any athlete is to learn to master your perspective; what you’re thinking about,” Belair said. “It is very important to take that perspective from the negative of what could go wrong to exactly what you want to happen and focus there.”

The third element that Belair acknowledged as one of the most important is understanding “your own self worth, your self confidence and your belief in yourself.” This step is significant in altering your mindset and, as Belair explains, when you can come to that connection within yourself, then you can express yourself in your sport honestly and to your highest potential.

“What is it that you believe about your ability to be number one? That is the first thing we look at to figure out how much you believe that you have the capacity to win,” Belair said. “And then the next steps are to implementing the right mental programing, including visualization, dieting, training regimen, what your going to say to yourself and what your going to do for recovery.”

What is the Best Mindset?

Mental preparation requires the development of your mindset to prepare you for any given situation. It is important to put yourself in both positive and negative situations mentally. This will help you determine your mindset, or what you want to accomplish, so that when a situation arises you already know how to react.

“Putting yourself there mentally before it happens gives you a very string ability to prepare for that, because that is where that mental game kicks in,” Belair said.

In some situations, you also want to prepare your mind to compete, not against others, but against yourself.

“The goal is the achieve your best,” Belair said. “It is very important to compete against your self, and get the best performance out of yourself that you can and you can use competition as a catalyst to improve that.”

When to Start Mental Training?

Building mental strength is a process that can take some time, which is why Belair recommends that athletes begin mental training as early as possible.

“It should start at the youngest age for everybody. We put some much importance on the physical, but really 99% of sport is mental. All of the lessons that you learn from the mental game, that’s stuff that you can apply everywhere.”

Belair also points out that mental training can benefit all aspects of your life, no just as an athlete.

“Learning each of the tools of visualization, dedication, fitness, nutrition and meditation, you can apply that to daily life, your business, financially, and how you feel about yourself,” Belair said. “My hope is to bring it more into the forefront, where mental training is just like physical training and I hope that those two worlds meet as quickly as possible.”

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Leigh Steinberg Joins Documentary with In America on Sports Conflict

An upcoming documentary for public television by the Sports Conflict Institute and In America with James Earl Jones will offer a unique perspective on conflict in sports with guest speakers including pioneering agent Leigh Steinberg. Steinberg is one of several thought leaders from around the industry that will discuss challenges in competitive sports and how sports can be used to make a positive impact in society. The film is being produced by In America, hosted by industry veteran James Earl Jones, and made in partnership with SCI.

Leigh Steinberg: Sports Pioneer and Leader

Steinberg is known for being one of the most preeminent sports agents ever, and will bring a unique perspective to the documentary. During his decades long career he has secured over $3 billion for over 300+ pro athlete clients, and directed more than $750 million to various charities. Just as important, he has encouraged his clients to be role models in their respective sports, helping to positively shape the industry.

“Unresolved conflict leading to confrontation and deadlock produces destructive often unintended consequences at every level of sports,” Steinberg said. He cites the collective bargaining process in the MLB and hockey that lead to lockouts, alienating fans, losing millions of dollars and stifling the growth of the sport.

“Leigh is a tremendous addition to this project and will bring great insight to dealing with conflict in sports,” said Joshua Gordon, the founder of SCI. “His ability to help athletes become successful off the field is very needed in today’s sports climate.”

Character and Conflict Issues

The documentary will cover character and conflict issues in sports, how these issues are often addressed, and why effectively dealing with challenges in sport is a win for everyone: athletes, coaches, and fans. While incidents of negative off field behavior from athletes and coaches are nothing new, recent high profile incidents in the NFL and elsewhere make the timing of the documentary particularly relevant.

“My 40 years in sports has centered around a central concept–athletic careers are short, we don’t have the option of deadlock,” Steinberg said. “The key is putting myself in the other person’s heart and mind and see the world through their eyes. Then it is possible to craft win-win solutions. Conflict resolution techniques are an essential skill set necessary to navigate the world of sport.”

Steinberg will be one of several guest speakers for the episode that will include thought leaders from all aspects of the sports industry, ranging from respected coaches, agents, athletes, administrators and scholars. Guests have used their leadership both on and off the field to positively influence sports.

About the Production Team

In America specializes in producing high quality programming to public television stations nationwide on a wide range of timely, public interest topics. Episodes use key subject matter experts to illuminate the pressing issues on a variety of education, health, the environment, and business topics. Past guests include former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, President George H. W. Bush, and Barbara Moser of the FBI.

The segment will be featured on public television and distributed on ESPN. Filming is scheduled for June and July with an air date in the fall.

Issues in NCAA Compliance | Brad Barnes

NCAA compliance is an area of sports that most people are either unfamiliar with or see only during major headlines and negative media. In an episode of SCI TV, Brad Barnes, Assistant Director of Athletic Compliance at Texas A&M University, discusses issues in NCAA compliance and shares his perspective on where rules and governance within college athletics are headed.

Role of Athletic Compliance

Barnes has experience in NCAA compliance at several universities, from a one person show at Midwestern State University, to the larger but relatively quiet Iowa State University, to currently at powerhouse Texas A&M University.

So what goes into athletic compliance? Dealing major infractions makes headlines but is only one aspect. Eligibility concerns dominate the workload in smaller offices and aligning team and university values is important at every level.

“You have to convince people inside and outside that we want to win, but we want to do so within the rules, complying with our institution’s values,” Barnes said.

The Challenge of Fame

Barnes thinks that one of the greatest challenges in NCAA compliance for institutions is dealing with the consequences of success and winning.

Speaking about Texas A&M football star Johnny Manziel, Barnes says “Dealing with that level of fame and notoriety definitely increases the amount of issues the institution vis-a-vis the student athlete get exposed to.”

Future of NCAA Compliance

Beyond the daily compliance issues, the last year has brought significant attention to the NCAA itself and how college athletics are governed. Changes and legal challenges are in the works that rethink rules around everything from finances to recruiting.

“The NCAA is the membership, it’s not the death star hovering over Indianapolis,” Barnes said. “It’s largely speaking a democracy, so we can work towards changing it.”

He sees member universities wanting more latitude to make decisions, being able to make choices rather than following detailed rules.

“In many respects we are moving towards a more libertarian NCAA, but it’s a hard process when you have a tradition and history of people wanting a rule that said they had to say no,” Barnes says.

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