Journal Entry - Soccer Video
This journal entry started with a 15-minute video showing Manchester United's improbable last minute victory over Bayern Munich in the 1999 European Champions' League final. Down to a 6th minute goal, Manchester United scored twice in injury time (91 and 93 minute marks) to win the game.
After viewing the final 10 minutes of the game and the ensuing celebrations, students brought up a number of interesting topics, including:
Perseverance
Overcoming adversity
How it would feel if you were one of the fans who invested about $1000, give or take,to go to Barcelona to see the game
Agony and ecstasy - so close, yet so far away
What creates success? Failure?
Confidence and momentum
Does sport imitate life?
The two major issues that most students wrote about were the following:
The supernatural - the final was played on what would have been the 90th birthday of Sir Matt Busby, the man credited with making Manchester United the international phenomenon it is today. Both Manchester United goals were officially scored at the 90 minute mark. Additionally, with that win, the current Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, had completed his 15th year as manager of the team. His medals haul for that time was 5 English League Championships, 4 Football Association Cups, and 1 European Champions Trophy - the exact same medal haul for Busby after 15 years in charge.
Is it fate? Is it mere coincidence? Many students chose to tackle the notion of unknown forces in this journal entry.
Other students went to the root of the issue; is too much emphasis placed on sport in our society? Students pointed out that ours is a society that puts people on pedestals because they can kick, throw or shoot an object better than most. Many are labelled as "good people" because of these skills, and not because of any socially redeeming quality. Others are allowed to behave inappropriately because of athletic ability.
Students also addressed the topic of athletic salaries. The average player in any of the major North American sports makes in excess of one million dollars a year - enough money to easily afford many excellent doctors at our local hospital. Does it make sense that those who save lives make a tiny fraction of those who can skate or run fast?
Students
were expected to write a full page, single spaced response to those, or
any other issue they felt relevant.