Sports in Video Games

Video games have been growing tremendously in the past two decades. It’s estimated that 500 million people play video games every single day for at least an hour. As there are many different games to played, one genre always seems to be in the top 10 year, after year, after year.

A recent web-broadcasting network called “Twitch” has, perhaps, changed the game for sports video games forever. Twitch allows video gamers to watch other video gamers play any game available, so it becomes a more personalized film experience that’s different every single time for the viewer. Now you can watch the NBA playoffs, play the video game “NBA2K”, and watch other gamers NBA playoff tournaments that they are playing themselves.

It may sound like this is taking sports entertainment over the top with Twitch, but the public doesn’t think so. Twitch has already beat out Netflix and Hulu with online viewers, and Twitch is only a few years old. Video game spectator “sports” is growing and has already sold out the Staples Center multiple times.

As sports and video games become more intertwined, health studies on the topic have grown. The UnitedHealth Group has already launched a weight loss program for kids that are overweight or obese to lose weight in a fun and exciting way. The latest Xbox One platform with the Kinect attachment gets kids active by engaging them in a type of virtual reality. The Kinect has a camera that views the gamer as they physically have to kick, throw, punch, jump, or any other movement to play the game. The best part is, these kids lost more than 2 times the weight playing these simulation sport video games than their original weight loss program followers.

(Warning: Intense language in video)

2014, Racism is Still Here

Sport organizations have faced a variety of disasters over the years that require serious work and repair. A crisis will appear over the worst of circumstances such as: child abuse, banned drug use, skewed gambling, scandals, rape and other sensitive subjects. Often times it comes as such a shock to the public when a star athlete (like Kobe Bryant or Tiger Woods) is portrayed as something unthinkable. The public puts these super star athletes at such a godlike level that it’s hard to comprehend these accusations on someone they look up to. Unfortunately, these events still happen to this day.

Last April, the NBA banned Donald Sterling (the LA Clippers Owner) for life over racist comments that enraged millions of athletes, fans, and sponsors. In fact, the NBA fined Sterling a small $2.5 million for the offensive comments. This isn’t the only racist remark from Sterling as well. Years ago, Sterling was involved in a lawsuit for discrimination against African Americans and Hispanics from one of his many housing properties.

Only the best, can say it the best, and that is Michael Jordan. Jordan, the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats said,

"As an owner, I'm obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views. ... As a former player, I'm completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA -- or anywhere else -- for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed."

Sterling’s comments even brought the attention of, arguably, the most powerful man in the world. President Obama commented,

"When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything, you just let them talk. That's what happened here,"

This crisis proves that racism is still here, even in sports organizations that have been diminishing that very line for years. It’s miserable to watch a single man kill faith in humanity, especially in the growing culture of sports.