Read Sports Geek’s argument that hazing does not add value to team sports and Bleacher Fan’s argument that it does add value to team sports.
There are three things that are guaranteed in life: death, taxes, and the hazing of rookies/freshmen. At my high school in Georgia it was fairly common for freshmen to get hazed by seniors. The main course of action was for a senior to give a wedgie to a freshman. It was just considered standard procedure. This Loyal Homer considers himself lucky. I was fortunate enough to have a good friend who was 300 pounds and a starting offensive lineman for my high school’s football team. He actually went to the University of Georgia on a football scholarship. He was also my next door neighbor, and believe me, I stayed pretty close to him for most of my freshman year. I was a 14-year-old, four-eyed freshman who was not interested in getting a wedgie! He definitely looked after me! Thanks Randall!
If you were in a fraternity in college, or if you are familiar with how the “system” works, then you know all about the hazing that new pledges have to go through to gain membership into that particular fraternity.
Hazing also goes on in sports. It has been going on for years and often provides funny situations. Maybe the rookies have to take the luggage of the veterans to the airplane at the airport. Maybe they have to make a quick run to Kentucky Fried Chicken to get buckets of fried chicken for the offensive lineman. Maybe they have to pick up the tab at dinner.
The reason we have chosen to debate the value of hazing is because of a recent incident involving Cleveland Browns rookie Coye Francies. Upset at being the victim of a prank, Francies stormed into the locker room after practice, bringing with him a full Gatorade bucket of ice, and began slinging ice at various players in the locker room. Francies then began to swing his arms towards safety Abram Elam before being separated by teammates. Francies was escorted out of the room as cooler heads prevailed. The Browns are trying to downplay the incident and head coach Eric Mangini has said that the incident was just a rookie overreacting and the players essentially said the same thing.
That situation leads to today’s debate question.
Is hazing necessary in today’s sports world? Does it provide value to team sports?
Bleacher Fan will argue that hazing provides benefits to a team and Sports Geek will argue that hazing really does not provide value to team sports.
The floor is yours. And, while you are at it, the judge wants a snack. How about stopping by Dairy Queen and buying me a large Oreo blizzard?
