Basketball in America: From the Playgrounds to Jordan's Game and Beyond

by Hoffmann; Frank

• ISBN13: 9780789016133
• ISBN10: 0789016133
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781135419936
• Additional ISBN(s): 9781135419936
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2005-03-16
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Examine the social and cultural impact of basketball on America at the amateur and professional levels! Basketball in America: From the Playgrounds to Jordan's Game and Beyond is a pioneering analysis of the history of basketball and its effect on popular culture from the 1970s to today. The popularity of basketball is undeniable, and the subject allows for such a broad range of interpretations in popular culture. It cuts across economic, racial, and social boundaries, and its major stars cross over into other forms of popular entertainment more than any other professional sport. This book examines the entire scope of modern basketball history, from the playgrounds, where people first learn the fundamentals, to the college and professional levels. Basketball in America is a collection of essays that explores the intersection of basketball and popular culture in America. The contributors are an eclectic mix of writers, scholars, journalists, former players, coaches, and sports enthusiasts who all share an undying love for the game of basketball. The authors analyze the sport from a cross-cultural and historical perspective--digging deep into the profound popular cultural influences of basketball and exploring the scope and depth of its influence. This is the first book that examines the social and cultural impact of basketball on American society to reveal how tightly it is woven into America's cultural fabric. Also included are photographs and tables to enhance your understanding of the material. Topics covered in Basketball in America include: Elgin Baylor--the first modern” basketball player Chocolate Thunder and Short Shorts: The NBA in the 1970s Dr. J, Bird, Magic, Jordan, and the Bad Boys: The NBA in the 1980s The Jordan Era: The NBA in the 1990s LeBron James and the future of the NBA the Nike brand and popular culture lessons learned from legendary UNC coach Dean Smith professional women's basketball and much more! Basketball in America is a comprehensive analysis that will appeal to anyone interested in understanding how the sport has become an integral part of our national culture. It is an insightful read for sports fans as well as for sports historians. In addition, this book can be used as a textbook in sports history or sociology of sports classes. It will entertain and inform those who treasure basketball and the role it plays in the American consciousness. Make it part of your collection today!

Table of Contents

About the Editor	ix
Contributors	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction: Basketball in America	1	(16)
Bob Batchelor
PART I: BASKETBALL IN AMERICAN CULTURE
Michael Jordan: Icon	17	(20)
Bob Batchelor
Marvin, Marvin	37	(10)
David Davis
Nike and Popular Culture	47	(14)
Kelly McMasters
Hoosiers to Hoop Dreams: Basketball on the Big Screen	61	(20)
Kevin Grace
PART II: THE PLAYGROUNDS AND BEYOND
The Schoolyard Game: Blacktop Legends and Broken Dreams	81	(20)
Bijan C. Bayne
Fundamentals: Coaching Today's High School Player	101	(14)
Chris Burtch
Seventeen Things I Learned from Dean Smith	115	(28)
Peter Cashwell
Socks, Jocks, and Two Championship Rings	143	(22)
Michael Buchert
Foreign Players and the Globalization of Basketball	165	(12)
Renada Rutmanis
PART III: THE PROFESSIONAL GAME
Elgin Baylor: The First Modern Professional Basketball Player	177	(12)
James Fisher
Chocolate Thunder and Short Shorts: The NBA in the 1970s	189	(42)
David Friedman
Crashing the Boards: The WNBA and the Evolution of an Image	231	(12)
Lisa A. Ennis
Dr. J, Bird, Magic, Jordan, and the Detroit Bad Boys: The NBA in the 1980s	243	(16)
Lawrence E. Ziewacz
The Jordan Era: The NBA in the 1990s	259	(22)
Doug Fox
King James: LeBron James, Hype, Hope, and the Future of the NBA	281	(14)
Bob Batchelor
Conclusion: Basketball Is America	295	(12)
Bob Batchelor
Appendix: Selected Timeline	307	(4)
Bibliography	311	(4)
Index	315