Sports can be violent.
Anyone who has watched professional football, basketball, or ice hockey knows that. Sociologist Michael Messner, a CSU, Chico alum, has been researching that question. He has written Power at Play, which looks at the dynamics of men's sports and violence and extends other research that indicates a higher likelihood of violence among male college athletes compared with other college males. In his book Power at Play, Messner interviewed a former NFL player known for hurting other athletes during the game. He was rewarded with status when he hurt others in high school games.