The varsity team in major sports often ranks among the social elite in schools and communities. Many non-athlete students often seek to identify with, or be identified with, the athletes. Community booster clubs often have specific varsity sports and their respective teams as their focus in terms of a fan base and financial support. It is no wonder, therefore, that varsity athletes in the major sports are socially important individuals in the school and community. An issue that is not often discussed is how athletes treat other students.
Violence is targeted, marketed and tolerated in our society.
Violence is targeted in media reports. Violence is marketed by the media, e.g., television shows and movie advertisements. Violence is an increasingly common theme in many computer games and toys. Violence is common and tolerated in several highly popular sports, e.g., ice hockey, football, and occasionally basketball and baseball. We even have theatrical violence in the form of professional wrestling.