Sport, Power, and Society Institutions and Practices A Reader [Paperback]

This comprehensive collection examines the culture of sport and its relationship with various social institutions. The editors first provide a broad overview of the field and describe the ways in which the concept of sport as a meritocratic contest is undermined by the powerful social structures within which it is embedded. Sections focus on political economy, violence, the media, education, politics, fans and community, and the body. Primary readings from noted scholars in each section address current issues such as the presence of big-time sports in educational institutions; the effects of corporate media; race and class relations; professional athletes' ties to politics; and how sports alter perceptions and practices regarding beauty and health. In addition, entertaining and provocative essays from journalists supplement academic readings and spotlight key issues. Section introductions from the editors connect the readings to a theoretical framework that explores the perspectives of new institutionalism, cultural hegemony, social capital, and symbolic interaction and cultural construction. Providing a cohesive foundation for a wide range of readings, Sport, Power, and Societyis a must-have resource for understanding the current issues and debates surrounding the interactions of sport and society.ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A NOTE TO THE READER INTRODUCTION: SPORT AS A MODEL OF MERITOCRACY PART I * Raiding the Public Treasury: The Political Economy of Professional Sports 1. PUBLIC DOLLARS, PRIVATE STADIUMS, AND DEMOCRACY, Kevin J. Delaney and Rick Eckstein 2. MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN: MAKING BASEBALL COMPETITIVE, Andrew Zimbalist 3. ROOTING THE HOME TEAM: WHY THE PACKERS WON'T LEAVE--AND WHY THE BROWNS DID, David Morris and Daniel Kraker 4. AMERICA'S FASTEST GROWING SPORT, Brian O'Keefe and Julie Schlosser 5. BUILDING A MINI METROPOLIS KNOWN AS THE U.S. OPEN, Bill Pennington PART I I * The Faustian Bargain: Big-Time Sports and the Media 6. MONEY, MYTH AND THE BIG lF