Understanding American Sports

by Gems; Gerald R.

• ISBN13: 9780415443654
• ISBN10: 0415443652
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2009-08-24
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Co-authored by two of the world's foremost experts on sports culture, one American and one European, this book draws on both the outsider's perspective and that of the insider to explain American sports culture. With extensive use of examples and illustrations, the development of American sport from the 19 th century until the present day is explained with reference to political, social, gender and economic issues.

Author Biography

Gerald R. Gems is Professor of Health and Physical Education, North Central College, Naperville, Illinois, USA. He is past President of the North American Society for Sport History. Gertrud Pfister is Professor of Sport and Social Sciences at the Institute for Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She was President of the International Society for the History of Physical Education and Sport (1984-2000) and President of the International Sport Sociology Association (2004-2008).

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	p. vi
Introduction: or why do we need a book like this and what is it all about?	p. 1
An introduction to the United States	p. 13
The evolution of American sports	p. 37
A nation of immigrants	p. 61
The relevance of baseball	p. 95
Football games	p. 123
College sports	p. 155
Physical education and sports in American schools	p. 172
Professional sports: development and organization	p. 190
Fitness and recreational sport	p. 201
Sport and race	p. 228
Women and sport: the long road to liberation	p. 250
The Cultural importance of sports heroes	p. 297
Sport, media, consumption	p. 335
Sport as big business	p. 369
Glossary	p. 383
Notes	p. 390
Bibliography	p. 399
Index	p. 436
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