Jack Logan In The Novel Losers Take All By David Klass

Abstract: High school football in the state of Texas has become out of control. The sport is no longer played for the sake of the school but rather has become a Friday night ritual to these small towns in Texas. The players are no longer just high school kids inter acting in school sports but have now become heroes to these small town communities. Communities simply no longer support their local high school team but rally in pride of their hometown rivalry against another team. School administrators and coaches no longer are teachers and mentors for the kids but are the equivalent to what in professional football are team owners and "real coaches". Parents have become agents and sacrifice their jobs and homes so that their child

Almost all student athletes get butterflies before that Friday night football game, before the fans get to watch them compete, or even the to get the ability to practice. Many argue that high school sports are a distraction in the classroom or even cause career ending injuries. There are many different scenarios that prove that high school sports do the exact opposite of those. When it comes to high school sports, it keeps students fit, boosts a student’s academic performance, and enhances a student’s self-esteem. High school sports are very beneficial and for anyone who is looking to take on a new challenge to take on.

This novel develops characters that engage in sex, to teachers cheating so their high school football players can continue to participate on the football field. Many people have a major affect on football and society in this novel. One of the major characters was Boobie Myles. Boobie was supposed to be the star athlete on the Permian football team. In the beginning, Boobie was arrogant to his teammates and wasn’t a good team leader. All Boobie cared about was winning and getting to the next level of football to satisfy his athletic needs. When Boobie is injured, he realizes he took football for granted and would do anything to play again. The team needs Boobie and Boobie needs the team. Coach Gaines realizes Boobie was seriously hurt and gives an inspiring pep talk to the team about how the players need to put their heart in the game and how lucky they are to be playing for Odessa.

This quote shows how the importance of dictatorial power in a “savage” society. Power is the most important thing when there are no boundaries to society.

“The battle you are going through is not fueled by the words or actions of others; it is fueled by the mind that gives it importance” – Shannon L. Alder. The novel, Hoops by Walter Dean Myers, follows the life of Lonnie Jackson, a high school student from Harlem who has an unusually impressive talent for playing basketball. Lonnie’s goal in life is more than just being one of the best players to ever hit the court; for Lonnie wishes to create a new life for himself– one that is free from the struggles of Harlem streets. This goal along with his environment bring constant conflicts in Lonnie’s journey, which gradually develops his character from self-centered to compassionate. Lonnie’s professional relationship with Cal Jones as well as his bond with Paul and Mary-Ann guide him on how to both become a respected player and how to grow up into a noble man.

“‘Athletics last for such a short period of time. It ends for people. But while it lasts, it creates this make-believe world where normal rules don’t apply. We build this false atmosphere. When it’s over and the harsh reality sets in, that’s the real joke we play on people’” (Bissinger xiv). “Friday Night Lights” shows the darker side of high school football. Players are taught to play games to win, and thats all that matters. Football players are put under a tremendous amount of pressure, almost enough to be considered unfair. Even though football is a “team sport”, pressure on individual players is unnecessary. Some players have the burden of the team, the city, their family, and their future, resting on their shoulders. These players

Author Kris Vervaecke wrote an essay titled, "A Spectator's Notebook," for Writers in Sports. She talked about sports and how they affect different generations. Vervaecke supports her claim by showing how much she loves sports and by using her children as examples throughout the essay. Her son, Ben, represents strength, determination, and talent because of how successful he was in golf, and before he leaves for college he puts in Michael Jordan’s Air Time, that united Ben and Vervaecke. On the other hand, Vervaecke’s daughter, Emily, is a bench-warmer and was told she is only smart not athletic, so she was “benched” in the classroom. She then talks about her other son, Andrew, and describes him as the true athlete of the family because of how much people liked him. Vervaecke’s purpose is to show that sports are not just about something fun to do or watch, but can have a motivational impact that can affect someone's emotions, and she does this by developing an influential tone.  Although Vervaecke mainly talks about her experiences and her childrens throughout the essay, her experiences apply to many students across the country. Many student-athletes are very successful in their futures because of what sports have taught them. Students should be involved in sports because student-athletes learn responsibility, how to manage their time, and take care of their psychological

“Pain is weakness leaving the body.” Some kids play sports to have fun whereas others play sports to become elite athletes. The youth playing in the Texas Youth Football Association have no choice but to play and train like elite athletes. The film, Friday Night Tykes, illustrates how the youth are pushed passed their limits to become successful football players and successful teams.

In the novel Losers Take All by David Klass, Jack Logan, the main character, is a senior Fremont High School. Fremont High School is a New Jersey high school where importance is placed on sports success. When their old principal suddenly dies competing in a race, Mr. Muhldinger, the football coach, becomes principal and sets a school rule requiring all seniors to play a sport. The new principal unsuccessfully attempts to recruit Jack to join the football team, knowing that Jack’s father and brothers were successful football players at Fremont High. Jack joins a soccer team focused on having fun versus winning. The soccer team is made up of kids with no sports experience or interest and became known as “Losers.” With the players’ lack of experience, losing record and some strange on-field behavior, they attract national attention and develop a public following. This led to college scouts recognizing Jack has athletic ability. Jack savors this opportunity and continues to play well with the Losers but the team members do not support Jack’s efforts. Throughout the story, Jack has changed as a person as evidenced by his evolving relationship with his father, Jack’s new interest in contributing to his school, and Jack’s acceptance of his athletic ability.

All of the publicity that is attained by success, and the possibility of this success, places a great deal of pressure and stress on these young single-sport athletes. This stress and pressure takes the fun out of some sports. Youth sports are becoming serious and based more on winning than on having a great time and learning good sportsmanship. Adu points out the winning mindset of athletes in this day and age when he says, “Teams will do anything to win the game. My coach told me to expect that going in and that is exactly how it was. . .I felt like everybody was out to get me” (Goodall, 2003). This

The novel begins with preseason football in the heat of a Texas summer. The players and coaches practice over 4 hours a day in 100-degree weather. The media is affecting every player pushing for a state championship and college scouts at every practice. The boys who gave completely of themselves for their sport are unique personalities. From dedicated quarterback Mike Winchell to Harvard-bound Brian Chavez to the inscrutable Ivory Christian, the team was full of young men who were singular human beings, each one bringing something special and indefinable to their group. And that's just scratching the very surface.The book recounts the tragic story of Boobie Miles, team’s star running back who had been highly recruited by all of the major programs. He is expected to attend and earn a scholarship to a large state college. The community

Throughout the novel, the three main characters demonstrate each of the Freudian traits Jack the id, Ralph the ego and Piggy the superego. Jack the id will need to seek instance gratification of his primal needs. Ralph the ego will have to hold back the impulsiveness of the id until the time is socially acceptable. Piggy the superego is the close connection to a moral compass.

The main antagonist in this novel is Erik Fisher, Paul’s older brother;. He always gets what he wants, whether he deserves it or not. He’s a your basic popular, football star; athletic, self-centered and overly praised. But, Paul is the only one who sees him as he truly is. His parents coaches and peers perceive him as this amazing athlete, but that, by no means, defines his true self.

To any person who is from a small town in Texas, football is king. Everything is football or related to football, and in Odessa, Texas in 1988, football reigned supreme. Football became the escape for people’s problems and the town turned to the Permian Panthers for and saw hope in a successful football team when there was little hope to be found elsewhere. Each character in this story faces their own unique trials and tribulations during the football season. Each one of them turned to football as the key to solving their problems, much like everyone in their town does. Football masked the problems in the characters homes, the financial hardship that troubled the town, and covered up the large amounts of racism that were very prevalent at this time.

“Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser,” Vince Lombardi once said. This saying could be the unsung anthem of American sports for children and teenagers. Everyone loves to win. In sports there is always competition. Is there too much emphasis on “the win” for kids and teens? This issue is important because it essentially develops the way children and teenagers think and react; it will affect them later on in life. Too much emphasis on winning is a problem because there is extensive pressure from parents and coaches, and the consequences can be severe.