Master basketball coach Mark Jerome speaks candidly about social emotional complexities in sports culture and how his own ethical sensitivities have evolved over his decades of playing, coaching, and parenting. Mark describes enormous inequities in schools’ sports resources and discusses bullying and abusive parental behavior, as well as what he loves about basketball.
Overview
00:00-00:41 Intros
00:42-01:33 Why sports help so many students make it through high school
01:34-02:18 Similarities between sports and arts
02:19-05:03 Fostering individualism within a team structure: “like jazz”
05:04-07:11 Coach’s role in creating the team
07:12-10:42 Why parents find team sports compelling
10:43-14:40 Balancing winning and a culture where winning isn’t everything
14:41-24:53 Helping players cope with anxiety and embarrassment
24:54-27:15 Should a player help an opponent get up from a fall?
27:16-32:28 Bullying and abusive parents
32:29-35:28 Teachers v. professionals as high school coaches
35:29-39:20 Funding and facilities disparities for sports among schools
39:21-41:32 Commodification of sports and role of corporations
41:33-43:00 Outro
Transcription
Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.
Credits
Photo by Markus Spiske / Unsplash
Soundtrack by Podington Bear
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