Pursuing Victory With Honor
Sportsmanship Campaign


Previous "You Make the Call" Polls:

 

You Make the Call

April 1-30, 2007

Should High Schools Curb Booing and Heckling?

Yes. Spectators, especially at youth sports events,
have become too abusive. Time to rein in bad
behavior and encourage respect. (65)
66%
No. Mandating what people can and cannot say in
public violates one of our fundamental rights. (9)
9%
It depends. It hinges on what's said, how it's said,
the context, the person saying it, etc. (24)
24%
I'm not sure. (0) 0%

Total Votes: 98


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You Make the Call

March 1-31, 2007

Is It Okay for Coaches to Teach Players How to Deceptively Foul or
Bend the Rules?

Yes. Bending the rules (not breaking
them) is part of the game. (16)
10%
No. Playing fair is more gratifying and
honorable than playing false. (122)
79%
It depends. The practice is so common,
teams that don't do it are at a
disadvantage. (13)
8%
I'm not sure. (3) 2%

Total Votes: 154


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You Make the Call

February 1-28, 2007

Should It Be Legal to Scalp Super Bowl Tickets Online?

Yes. Making extra money off tickets is basic economics.
No ethical concerns here. (23)
37%
Yes. If fans are willing to pay more than the face value,
then the NFL should charge more. (4)
6%
No. All profits from tickets should go to the NFL. Scalpers
should be punished for exploiting fans. (24)
39%
No. But I would still buy them. What’s the bidding at now? (7) 11%
I’m not sure. (4) 6%

Total Votes: 62


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You Make the Call

January 1-31, 2007

Is NBA Commissioner David Stern Too Autocratic?

Yes. He's practically been given quasi-
governmental authority on what is, in effect, a
corporate executive position,including the
power to suspend any owner (his own bosses)
who publicly criticizes the league. (3)

9%
No. He reversed course after players complained
about the new ball. Overall, his regulations have
done more good than harm and vastly improved
theimage of the game. (28)
80%
I`m not sure. (4) 11%

Total Votes: 35

 

You Make the Call

December 1-31, 2006

Should Justin Gatlin Be Allowed to Play Football?

Yes. His penalty effectively ended his track career, so
he should be allowed to start over somewhere else. (42)

44%
No. That`s all the NFL needs to try and counter its
steroid image than to bring in a known drug cheat. (50)
52%
I`m not sure. (4) 4%

Total Votes: 96

 

You Make the Call

November 1-30, 2006

Are Ethnic Team Mascots Okay If the Ethnic Groups Approve?

Yes. If the group depicted is honored and
proud of the images and approves of them,
what’s the harm? (31)
82%
No. Allowing a few regional groups to
demean an entire culture is wrong. (5)
13%
I’m not sure. (2) 5%

Total Votes: 38

 

You Make the Call

October 1-31, 2006

Is It Okay in Slow-Pitch Softball for the Umpire to "Sell," or Assertively Declare, a Called Third Strike?

Yes. The batter is already embarrassed enough.
Many clinics and umpire schools now discourage
this practice. (15)
19%
No. Punctuating the call is part of baseball and
fast-pitch softball. It emphasizes decisiveness
and can often prevent,rather than trigger,
controversy. (41)
52%
I'm not sure. It depends on how vociferously the
ump doesit. Too little or too much can make a big
difference. (23)
29%

Total Votes: 79

 

You Make the Call

September 1-30, 2006

Should Little League World Series players get paid?

Yes. Their parents have shelled out enough to
get them there. (10)
7%
No. The youth-sports industrial complex is
already out of control. (122)
88%
I'm not sure. Little Leaguers, like child actors,
are in the entertainment business. On the
other hand, paying kids just for playing may
be the wrong message. (7)
5%

Total Votes: 139

 

You Make the Call

August 1-31, 2006

Should student-athletes be expelled for posting questionable content online?

Yes. The image student-athletes project can
affect the integrity of the game and their
school much more than other students. (22)
27%
No. An educational institution is the last
place to be sanctioning censorship. (8)
10%
Maybe. It depends on the material and
circumstances. (50)
61%
I don't know. Until the NCAA adopts
legislation about the issue, the question
is in doubt. (2)
2%

Total Votes: 82

 

You Make the Call

July 1-31, 2006

Do schools requiring home fans to be respectful (while allowing opponent's fans to be rowdy) hurt their own players?

Yes, because it can negate the home-court
advantage. (5)
8%
No, setting an example is more important
than winning. (40)
67%
Not if all schools do it or if all fan behavior
is monitored. (14)
23%
I don't know. (1) 2%

Total Votes: 60

 

You Make the Call

June 1-30, 2006

Should professional athletes be penalized for high-stakes gambling?

Yes. It could tarnish the sport or tempt losing players to
recoup their debts on the field of play. (28)
38%
No. It’s their money. They can spend it as they wish. (11) 15%
Sometimes. Yes, if they bet on their own sport.
Otherwise, no. (35)
47%
I don't know. (0) 0%

Total Votes: 74

 

You Make the Call

May 1-31, 2006

Should professinoal golf outlaw souped-up balls and clubs?

Yes, it's about time. (34) 68%
No, what's the harm? (8) 16%

Sometimes (not for the pros, who don't needany
more advantages, but yes for weekend golfers). (3)

6%
I'm not sure. (5) 10%

Total Votes: 50

 

You Make the Call

APRIL 1-30, 2006

Should flopping in basketball be illegal?

Yes (82) 61%
No (36) 27%
I'm not sure (16) 12%

Total Votes: 134

 

You Make the Call

MARCH 1-31, 2006

Should future U.S. Olympic athletes take lessons in character?

Yes (141) 88%
No (17) 11%
I'm not sure (2) 1%

Total Votes: 160

 

You Make the Call

FEBRUARY 1-28, 2006

Should parents complain to the coach if their child almost always sits on the bench?

Yes (94) 39%
No (124) 52%
I'm not sure (21) 9%

Total Votes: 239

 

You Make the Call

JANUARY 5-31, 2006

Should coaches bear some responsibility for student-athletes' grades?

Yes (201) 86%
No (30) 13%
I'm not sure (2) 1%

Total Votes: 233

 

You Make the Call

DECEMBER 2, 2005 - JANUARY 4, 2006

Should pro athletes caught taking performance-enhancing drugs go to jail?

Yes (65) 56%
No (47) 41%
I'm not sure (4) 3%

Total Votes: 116

 

You Make the Call

OCTOBER 29 - DECEMBER 1, 2005

Should pro sport teams forbid fans from drinking at games, as most colleges do?

Yes (117) 58%
No (78) 39%
I'm not sure (7) 3%

Total Votes: 202

 

You Make the Call

OCTOBER 4-28, 2005

Is it all right to boo officials if you think they are biased against your team?

Yes (57) 19%
No (202) 68%
Sometimes -- it depends (36) 12%
I'm not sure (3) 1%

Total Votes: 298

 

You Make the Call

SEPTEMBER 2 - OCTOBER 3, 2005

Is it all right for sports teams to use Native American nicknames?

Yes (239) 64%
No (44) 12%
Sometimes (85) 23%
I'm not sure (7) 2%

Total Votes: 375

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