dixon

Question 1

referee errors

Answer 1

can lead to the worse team winning, even if the other team performed better

if followed the rules correctly, the better team would’ve won

Question 2

winners

Answer 2

thought of as superior competitor

outcome doesn’t always align w skill

Question 3

counter arguments against referee errors

Answer 3

1. ref’s authority: decision is final
   - not necessarily right
2. great teams should overcome errors: smetimes ref can still prevent team from winning
3. the idea of no victory: if a team wins thru ref errors, then they technically didn’t win at all
   - technically still won, even tho unjust victory

Question 4

victory based in cheating

Answer 4

is NOT winning, and doesn’t show athletic superiority

goes against constitutive rules

some argue that cheating is a skill…if it were a skill, then it STILL undermines the lusory goal
- cannot determine who is athletically superior

Question 5

gamesmanship

Answer 5

uses tactics that push the limits of the game w/o breaking rules i.e. trashtalk, pro fouls, slowing pace of game

morally dubious

can undermine an athlete’s athletic superiority

exploit rules instead of showing skills

Question 6

professional fouls

Answer 6

intentionally foul to prevent opponent from scoring, can lead to unjust victory

Question 7

psychological gamesmanship

Answer 7

trashtalk, settle opponents emotions

mental toughness is a part of athletic excellence
- if distracted, shows poor skill and didn’t deserve to win

Question 8

bad luck

Answer 8

can lead to undeserved victories, esp in low scoring games like soccer

i.e. weather, hit posts

loss bcs of luck, not bad skill

counterargumnet: good teams make their own luck…still accidents can happen

Question 9

operational defintions

Answer 9

winning can be an operational definition of athletic superiority

not accurate if luck comes into play

Question 10

how athletic contests don’t always show athletic superiority

Answer 10

1. bad days and luck: can be superior and lose
2. playoff system: US, can lose in a single game and be kicked out…what abt consistency?
3. comparison w other sports: other countries, champions are determined by whole season

Question 11

failed athletic contest

Answer 11

when the team with superior skills does not win

bcs ref error, bad luck, cheating

Question 12

when superior athletes don’t win

Answer 12

though the winner was not the superior athlete overall, they deserved to win that day bcs of their performance

Question 13

why are playoffs bad

Answer 13

a team can lose in one game and be finished for the season

dixon says teams should be evaluated based on their performance over the season
- minimizes impact of bad luck, ref errors, cheating, and gamesmanship

if win the playoffs: assumed to have athletic excellence and mental toughness, able to perform under high stakes