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the moral reasoning of student athletes and athletic training students

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CHAPTER ONE<br />

Introduction<br />

What is it about sport that is so appealing to citizens all over <strong>the</strong> world? Is it <strong>the</strong><br />

opportunity to engage in an entertaining form <strong>of</strong> social interaction or <strong>the</strong> desire to participate <strong>and</strong><br />

belong to a sporting community? Is it a desire to escape from <strong>the</strong> every day life to which we have<br />

become accustomed, or is it something deeper? Perhaps, in addition to all <strong>the</strong>se things, <strong>the</strong>re is<br />

something inherently great about sport that continues to motivate <strong>and</strong> inspire people all over <strong>the</strong><br />

world. Sport seems to be rooted in a determination <strong>and</strong> drive for excellence satisfied only by<br />

victory <strong>and</strong> accomplishment. The astonishing grace with which elite <strong>athletes</strong> defy natural laws<br />

<strong>and</strong> continually surpass <strong>the</strong> performances <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir predecessors is an art. The intensity <strong>of</strong><br />

competition is not only entertaining, it’s addictive.<br />

Over 2000 years ago, ancient Greek Olympians competed under <strong>the</strong> motto Citius, Altius,<br />

Fortius which translates to swifter, higher <strong>and</strong> stronger (Eichner, 1997). The competitions were<br />

held to determine <strong>the</strong> best <strong>athletes</strong> in <strong>the</strong> world. “Victory goes to <strong>the</strong> <strong>athletes</strong> with <strong>the</strong> best<br />

combination <strong>of</strong> natural ability, stamina, courage, willingness to undergo intense <strong>and</strong> difficult<br />

<strong>training</strong>, <strong>and</strong> strategic cunning” (Catlin & Murray, 1996, p. 237). Giamatti, former president <strong>of</strong><br />

Yale <strong>and</strong> commissioner <strong>of</strong> baseball, argued that <strong>the</strong> beauty <strong>of</strong> competition lies in <strong>the</strong> ideal:<br />

To toughen <strong>the</strong> body <strong>and</strong> temper <strong>the</strong> soul…<br />

To emphasize integrity <strong>and</strong> develop courage…<br />

To be obedient to <strong>the</strong> letter <strong>and</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rules…<br />

So winning is sweeter still (Simon, 1985).<br />

And as Simon (1985) would argue, “Competition is a mutual quest for excellence through<br />

challenge.” In o<strong>the</strong>r words, ra<strong>the</strong>r than seeing rules <strong>and</strong> opponents as objects to overcome,<br />

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