Do jocks feel the same emotions us mortals feel about a significant other? And, are they immune to heartache? I WAG I’m blinded by a stereotypical image, so I needed to ask the SDopers!
Thanks,
- Jinx
First of all, congratulations on your 1000th post.
To answer your question… I, as a jock, feel love/heatache/mournfulness/etc probably like any other person does. But, perhaps don’t express them like others do, or like others EXPECT me to.
I would suppose that some jocks(footballers, boxers, hockey players, and those of that ilk) do tend to turn their emotions inward and not express them openly as other people do. Probably because the emotions that are uppermost in those sports are more primal.
I have to ask… what are jocks?
I don’t know what jocks are but I do know that people like to catch them in traps.
Did I spell it wrong? Or, maybe it is NOT a universal term?
Hmm…I better be careful here: Jocks are the varsity-type dudes or dudettes; stereotypically self-absorbed and often proud of the hearts they’ve broken along the way, etc…
No offense meant here, but it’s just the stereotype which paints them in a certain light…
- Jinx
Jinx, don’t mind me, English is not my first language. I learn every day!
IANAJ, but I think this is a kind of weird question. Athletes are people, too, aren’t they? If you prick them, do they not bleed? If you tickle them, do they not laugh? I don’t want to sound like I’m flaming you, Jinxie, but I think your perception of athletes is a little short-sighted.
Much of the charity work professional athletes are involved in stem from just such an emotional spring. Doug Flutie has an autistic son, so he sells his Flutie Flakes and donates proceeds from those embarrassing long distance commercials he does with Bradshaw to an autism foundation. And he’s just the first one I can think of. I’m sure there are others who do similar things on a regular basis. I’ve seen coverage of New York athletes who were devastated emotionally when they first saw Ground Zero. They are not unfeeling sports machines. They’re people.
Many of the most inspiring moments involving athletes are coupled with emotions separate from a game situation. Thurmon Munson’s teammates wept during an on-field moment of silence after his death. Lou Gehrig became all choked up thanking his teammates and the fans for honoring him He was also a man who was devoted to his mother all his life.
Jackie Robinson was a loving family man and an outspoken advocate of civil rights. He was a man of passion on and off the field. His teammate, Pee Wee Reese, supported his right to play major league ball, despite the fact that Robinson was originally a shortstop, and was initially percieved to be a threat to Reese’s job.
I guess GrizzRich said it best. But once you start to really examine the lives athletes lead off the field or once they’ve retired, you’ll find there are many, many instances of their emotional sides.
Oh, sorry. As you know, as with any language, there’s the proper, formal “King’s English” taught in school - like living in a textbook. And, then there’s the “common man’s English” officially called “colloquial English”. This would include slang terms like “jock”. English teachers hate thier students to write essays in the “colloquial”, but we are bombarded by it daily - other than formal speeches, for example.
Mastering a language can be tough! Hang in there, Carine!
- Jinx
Yes, but what about the high school or college jocks? And, I do thank you and appreciate your reply to give me a broader perspective…
- Jinx
Haven’t you ever seen Brian’s Song? Neither have I, but I hear that it’s been responsible for many a tear.
That movie is about Chicago Bears’ running back Brian Piccolo, his battle with testicular (?) cancer and his friendship with Gale Sayers. It was an inter-racial friendship in the 60’s too, so I guess that’s supposed to add some significance to the story.
As for highschool/college “jocks” sure there are plenty of them that feel emotions. A lot of college jocks do volunteer work by visiting kids in hospitals. During high school when something bad would happen “jocks” would be just as upset as everyone else.
Of course there people in any segment of the population who “keep it inside,” so there are some jocks like that, but I think it’s a small minority.
Boomer Esiason started a charity to benefit cystic fibrosis research. His son has the disease. There was an office for the foundation in the World Trade Center. I believe the office space had been donated, but I can’t remember for sure.
Well, the high school and college jocks of today are the professional jocks of tomorrow. I don’t imagine Doug Flutie became a caring person when he got his first paycheck.
I can’t think of specific instances again, but plenty of athletes marry their high school or college sweethearts, or have younger siblings they care deeply about. And many pros maintain they wouldn’t have made it in their sports were it not for their dads or moms working with them throughout their school years.
In my own community, awards are given to student/athletes who volunteer their time to tutor, do work at an assisted living facility, or otherwise benefit the town.
You answered your own question. It’s a stereotype.
Jeez, what a silly question, though. Of course they feel the same emotions as you do. Do you think black people don’t feel emotions the way you do because of their “stereotypical image”?
Speaking as a jock, I’ve known just as many geeks and zeros who were heartless and self-absorbed. I don’t think you can make that broad a generallization.
I agree. And I have to say, I found this question very disturbing.
Being a white male, the jock stereotype is probably the only one I am subject to. I’ve ceased to be amused at people who find it hard to believe that in addition to being good at sports I also read books, do astronomy, hold a pilot’s license, am a published author, and… experience emotions just like “normal” people.
Down with stereotypes.
I knew this question might rub some the wrong way, but I needed to find out and ask! Glad to know “Jocks are people, too!”
Please feel fre to post most replies…I’m all ears!
- Jinx
I mean…
Please feel free to post more replies!
BTW, I’ll be having keys and porn for dinner… 
- Jinx