America's Obsession : Sports and Society since 1945

by Davies, Richard O.

• ISBN13: 9780030733321
• ISBN10: 0030733324
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1994-03-16
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

As the first in a series of books on America since 1945, Davies' book offers insightful historical interpretation as it examines sports as a microcosm of America's national life. From Americans' use of sports seasons (instead of weather seasons) to mark time?to the nation's propensity for neglecting its educational system in favor of putting resources into high school athletic programs?Davies presents facts and narratives that will provoke students to think critically about life in the United States.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
The Postwar Era Takes Shape	1	(34)
The Triumph of Jackie Robinson	7	(4)
A New Era Dawns	11	(3)
Sports Reflect Major Social Changes	14	(4)
The Crisis of College Athletics	18	(9)
The Ethics of College Recruiting	27	(2)
Sports and the Cold War: The Olympics	29	(1)
The Advent of Television	30	(2)
Conclusion	32	(3)
The Dilemma of Race	35	(28)
Racism's Reluctant Retreat	40	(5)
College Athletics and Integration	45	(4)
The Resilience of Racism	49	(6)
Black Coaches and Managers	55	(3)
The Saga of Henry Aaron	58	(2)
Can White Men Jump?	60	(1)
Conclusion	61	(2)
``The Thrill of Victory, the Agony of Defeat''	63	(40)
The Early Years of Television	70	(2)
An Economic Bonanza Beckons	72	(2)
The Power of the Tube	74	(3)
TV Spawns the Era of Junk Sports	77	(4)
The Lure of TV Lucre	81	(4)
Pete Rozelle and the Promised Land	85	(4)
The Vision of Roone Arledge	89	(2)
The Success of Monday Night Football	91	(2)
America's Special Holiday: Super Bowl Sunday	93	(1)
TV Discovers the Olympiad	94	(2)
In Quest of the Golden Egg	96	(2)
The Rules of the Game	98	(3)
Conclusion	101	(2)
Win! Win! Win!	103	(26)
The High School Powerhouse	109	(8)
Little League Baseball	117	(7)
The Special Case of Tennis	124	(2)
Conclusion	126	(3)
The Business of Sports	129	(28)
The Curious Case of Baseball	137	(6)
The Sports Bonanza	143	(5)
Urban Rivalry and the Quest for Major League Status	148	(7)
Conclusion	155	(2)
Women and American Sports	157	(28)
Women Challenge Discrimination and Prejudice	166	(5)
The Federal Government Intervenes	171	(3)
The Case of Pamela Postema	174	(2)
Gaining Acceptance---Slowly	176	(4)
The Potential of the Female Athlete	180	(2)
Conclusion	182	(3)
The Myths and Realities of College Athletics	185	(30)
College Sports as Entertainment	194	(3)
College Athletes	197	(4)
The Student-Athlete: Fact or Fiction?	201	(1)
The Continuing Dilemma of Recruiting	202	(5)
College Athletics as Big Business	207	(5)
Conclusion	212	(3)
Bigger Than Life: Sports and American Society	215	(38)
The Enduring Questions of Race	228	(2)
Sports and Real-Life Concerns	230	(8)
The Fitness Phenomenon	238	(6)
Betting the Line	244	(7)
Conclusion	251	(2)
Epilogue	253	(4)
Bibliography	257	(6)
Index	263