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It is clear to see that violence and controversy has continued to rise in sporting events as the years roll by us. In baseball, basketball, hockey, and especially football, these occurrences have happened more frequently than in the past seasons. The question is why? Why do these violent acts continue to happen with the fans in the seats and with the players on the field? Several factors are to be considered as influencing these acts in professional sports. 

Let’s face it; sports are life for many people living on this earth. I know from my experience that when I am watching a game on television or in the stands, the intensity of the action on the field encompasses my body. The thing that many people do not think about is the consequences for their actions and how to hold their emotions inside. With an increase in rivalry meetings between teams, there comes such a strong intensity that fans let their emotions run wild and commit acts that otherwise would not be committed. Sometimes, fans even run onto the field even in the nude and not only distract the players on the field and interrupt the fun of the game, but they end up in jail for the night or longer. Also, with many vendors selling alcoholic beverages in the stadiums or arenas, fans’ views can become alternated and they really do not know what they ended up doing. In one instance, a father and son charged onto a baseball field and beat up on a defenseless umpire who made a “bad” call on a previous play. The consequences of their actions ended up not only putting them in jail together, but canceling the rest of the game making the players and the fans suffer.

A second reason for such violence at sporting events is an ongoing case that continues to appear in the world of sports. The reason is steroids. Steroids are becoming a serious issue in all of the major sports and even in the Olympics. By using these performance enhancing drugs, players not only endanger the lives of themselves and their family, but they give players that extra power allowing them to hit the opponent harder and do things that they otherwise would not do. Such instances often end in season or career-ending injuries for the innocent player receiving the hit. Such as in the case with alcohol in the stands, the steroid user does not even think about the consequences of the hit or abuse he puts onto the opponent. Using steroids often causes unwanted violence and sometimes even hurts their own team and career, along with handing a heavy-weighted fine to the abuser. Not to mention that after officials find out about the steroid use, it jeopardizes the career of the user, which in turn causes unwanted violent acts from fans onto the player. 

The final and possibly the most important factor that goes into violence at sporting events is that sports are taken to serious in society. Sports are enjoyable to watch and can be very relaxing to watch after a stress-filled day. One play, however, can cause turmoil between friends, players, and the fans in the stands. An unwanted interaction occurs because of the human need for competition. From personal experience, I know that when two fans are at differences between two competing teams, violence, though not as serious, often occurs. Violence does not have to be limited to physical abuse, but it can also be considered as yelling and verbal abuse, sometimes ending in a broken friendship. Also, society encourages violence in sports. Often times, people cheer at the result of an opposing player being hurt on the playing field by a player from their team of choice. 

It is clear that something must be done to stop the violence in sports. If sports were taken as they were meant to be, than violent acts would be all-around more enjoyable for the fans and the players. Now that the question of why has been answered, the question still remaining is how long, if ever, before violent acts are non-existent in the world of sports? As a huge sports fan myself, I believe that the process will be ongoing for many years to come. I guess sports are that much influenced by society that the serious issue is receiving little thought in the minds of the respected commissioners of each league. Until a more serious consequence is levied upon the abusers, violence in sporting events will continue to meet the needs of society for years to come.