Rough Draft on the Sociology of Sports

Sociological Observation of a Sporting Event Student Name: Connie Hutson Event: Basketball Game Date of Observation: September 09,2012

Characteristic	Observations/Comments
Setting or Environment	The setting for the basketball game is at the Oklahoma arena. This indoor setting is incredibly lively, and all the components, such as the lighting, sound systems and the seating are well organized.
Participants	There are two teams competing for the Western Conference title. There is a great disparity in the ages of the participants, with the youngest player being 19 years of age whereas the oldest is 31 years of age. Many of the players, approximately 75%, are black whereas the rest are either White or Hispanic. I have observed that the game plays a major role in bridging the racial gap between the players, because they work harmoniously and seem to understand each other exceptionally well, regardless of their racial differences.
Attendees/ Fans	There are many attendees (approximately 30,000). Most of them are energetic, and the mood is exceptionally electrifying. There are various entertainers that are dancing and amusing people, before the game starts and during the short intervals, when the teams break in- between the quarters. Most of the fans are male which are from all age brackets; there is also a substantial number of females, especially young females below the age of 30. There are also some media personalities who have come to provide coverage of the event.
Dress/Attire/ Style	The players have their matching shorts and sleeveless t-shirts. Most of the fans are dressed in casual sporting attire, most notably- tracksuits and t-shirts.
Behaviors Observed	The fans are very buoyant and intermittently resort to singing and chanting to motivate their team. There is also a high level of interaction, with fans supporting the same event. Through watching this sport, I have come to the realization that basketball is a unifying sport. The fans, although they do not know each other, interact with each other as they share the proceedings of the game.
Ambiance/ Atmosphere	The atmosphere is incredibly dynamic, with the fans cheering their teams, and singing songs of praise whenever their teams make a basket. Apart from the fans, there are also a number of female entertainers dancing and performing for the crowd during the intermissions.
Symbols	There are many symbols inherent in this basketball game. The referee mainly uses hand symbols, to inform the players and the fans of decisions unfolding, as the game continues. The fans have also come with many banners showing support for their teams.
Other Observations	There is some distinctive knowledge and/or language that characterize this sport. Most of the fans, as well as all the players, are familiar with the language, which includes a number of rules that govern the game.

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