The novel Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissinger,
should be a challenged book because of it uses excessive profanity, it
showcases school misconduct but exposes abuse of authority.
Coaches abuse
their authority over players when there personal benefit is available. In the
game against the Lamar Vikings Ivory Christian, the best defenseman for
Permian, was hurt the coaches took him to the locker room. To help his knee.
Bissinger writes, "it was was clear he was terrified. The IV bag contained
a solution of lactose; such a procedure was a common method of replenishing
depleted body fluids. It also had the psychological effect of making Ivory
think that some magical, power-packed supply of energy was coursing through his
veins, a miracle potion to get him through the second half of a game in which a
loss would mean the end of the season.” (Bissinger 223). The coaches
are giving Ivory a needle attached to what is supposedly an all natural formula
that will help relive the knee in the second half. Bissinger describes it as “a
miracle potion to get him through the second half of a game in which a loss
would mean the end of the season.” The coaches aren’t looking for the player’s
safety they just want to win the game. They can afford a loss because then they
would have no chance at state. The town is making sure they go to state and put
so much pressure on the coaches that they are putting winning before a players
safety. The coaches are forcing Ivory to do it. Ivory clearly doesn’t want to
take the needle because it says, “it was clear he was terrified.” This can all
be traced back to how Odessa lives. They make High School football the towns
centerpiece and everyone sits around worshipping it. The town goes as the
football team goes. If there bad the town is mean and nasty and the players are
normal. If they win though the players are gods and they can do whatever they
want. The coaches in this situation are actually thinking about how they can
best benefit the town. They think winning and putting this players career in
jeopardy is worth a state title chance. This happens in place all over and not
only in football but anything. This book, being a true story, is a perfect way
to get this horrible way of life and horrible act out in the public. It is a
great way to let people see the bad things that kids have to do because of
pressure. Adults should read this book because it brings up good points and
helps expose the terrors high school athletes and people in general go through
on a day-to-day basis.
I do not agree that book itself should be overall "challenged". The book seems to be giving insight of a team that goes too far in making sure they win. Though the book has its profanity and use of drugs present, such as the "magical potion", the book itself may relate to its audiences of players and coaches of all sports. The book is a great book for team sports because it allows players and coaches to understand and notice the right way to win but still be honoring the sport they play by protecting the safety of their players and the game. Though its a valid point that the town pressures, the team to win, coaches of all sports should understand that its the brains, the courage of an individual or a team that wins, that play the sport honorably instead of relying on drugs and other substances to risk a player's safety. Therefore, as coaches and players understand the situations that the story offer, they would be ready to protect themselves from the dangers of drugs, pressure, and address these situations accordingly in the sport each team plays so players can be aware of such dangers to their health and safety.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe that this book should be challenged because there is a bigger message behind all of the coaches actions. This book teaches high schoolers that although things may go on in a locker room or between the players, you have to let that go and play together on the field. This message may be taught to its readers at an extreme but it helps to show the reader what it is truly like to be on a team like that. In some places this is the truth and this kind of thing is going and that is something that high schoolers should be able to read and are mature enough to be sure it doesn't happen in their community.I think that this book shows kids that the world is not perfect and things don't always go the way want them to, but you have to keep fighting just like those players did. I don't think this book should be challenged because of things like and language and abuse because there is a bigger message and I think it is one that all high school students need to understand.
ReplyDeleteYour editorial gave the reader insight to what happened within the novel. Sure this book contains both abuse and explicit language, but there is a deeper message, which makes me want to believe that this book needs to be read. It is important for high schoolers, especially athletes like you and I, to read a story that relates to a real life problem. We can grow from the message!
ReplyDeleteGood Story Paul!
I agree with Gunnar. The abusive aspect of tand explicit language paints a deeper meaning. In other words, it isn't for nothing. Great editorial though.
ReplyDelete