Column: Investigating stereotypes of athletes

Putting my own political correctness on the line, when I see someone as tall as FitzRandolph Gate, I assume he or she plays basketball. And when I see someone at Dillon Gymnasium who looks like he belongs in an Under Armour commercial, I assume he plays football and wonder if I would have trouble protecting “this house” if I had muscles that big. Curious as to what my fellow Princetonians thought of athletes in general, I spoke with multiple students to whom I promised anonymity.

Football players were consistently labeled as strong, tough and low-voiced. Style-wise they were summed up as being “relaxed, wearing over-sized sweatpants and a backwards baseball cap.” Their characters were described as being composed of “pure testosterone,” and apparently “people in their vicinity cower in fear of ’roid rage.”

Next up are the only other guys allowed to wear skin-tight white pants, at least on the field. Baseball stereotypes, regarding the players, were harder to identify due to the spectrum of players involved in the game: fat first basemen, tall pitchers and catchers wearing so much equipment that they barely resemble a human being. Even so, the consensus appears to be that they are a superstitious, tobacco-chewing group of guys that worship a man who enjoyed being called “Babe.”

Time for the ballers. Basketball players, in every interview, were immediately classified as “tall.” “They normally have an athletic build, but they’re not terribly big.” Several people commented on their choice of clothing. “I don’t understand why their shorts are so long. After a certain point you’re basically wearing pants.” Others commented on the abundance of diamond earrings that “ballers” tend to wear. “For guys who spend half their time overemphasizing their masculinity, diamond earrings seem to be a strange addition to their wardrobe.”

Saving the best for last, Princeton students had so much fun describing the stereotypical lacrosse player that, on several instances, I had to tell them that the material they provided was more than sufficient. And still they rambled on about the many, often humorous, stereotypes that surround the sport of lacrosse.

“Lax bros,” one student said, “are preppy guys with limited vocabularies.” With this supposed limited grasp of the English language, “they confuse chill with a personality trait instead of an aspect of the weather.” In terms of personality, there was unanimous agreement that they are easygoing people, but many students commented on how they talk too much about how “lacrosse is the most underappreciated sport in America.” There was also a general agreement that most lacrosse players are from the East Coast.

When asked whether or not Princeton athletes fit these stereotypes, most said, “Yes, but to a lesser extent than athletes at other schools.”

Though stereotypes can be employed humorously, the overwhelming presence of athletes in the Princeton community helps students recognize that their stereotypes are rarely accurate. Every student interviewed for this article is either friends with, or has had contact with, a Princeton athlete. While their stereotypes are brutal, their compliments are incredibly warm. I have never seen conversations change from criticism to praise so quickly.

“I don’t know how they do it!” one student exclaimed. “Princeton workload, athletics and a social life. They are incredibly committed to their teams and their sports.”

“Some of the nicest people I know on this campus are athletes,” one student added. “Also, most of them are really hot.”