ABSTRACT

Since the nineteenth century the USA has served as an international model for business, lifestyle and sporting success. Yet whilst the language of sport seems to be universal, American sports culture remains highly distinctive. Why is this so? How should we understand American sport? What can we learn about America by analyzing its sports culture?

Understanding American Sports offers discussion and critical analysis of the everyday sporting and leisure activities of ‘ordinary’ Americans as well as the ‘big three’ (football, baseball, basketball), and elite sports heroes. Throughout the book, the development of American sport is linked to political, social, gender and economic issues, as well as the orientations and cultures of the multilayered American society with its manifold regional, ethnic, social, and gendered diversities.

Topics covered include:

  • American college sports
  • the influence of immigrant populations
  • the unique status of American football
  • the emergence of women’s sport in the USA

With co-authors from either side of the Atlantic, Understanding American Sports uses both the outsider’s perspective and that of the insider to explain American sports culture. With its extensive use of examples and illustrations, this is an engrossing and informative resource for all students of sports studies and American culture.

chapter 1|24 pages

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE UNITED STATES

chapter 2|24 pages

THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN SPORTS

chapter 3|34 pages

A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS

chapter 4|28 pages

THE RELEVANCE OF BASEBALL

chapter 5|32 pages

FOOTBALL GAMES

chapter 6|17 pages

COLLEGE SPORT

chapter 9|27 pages

FITNESS AND RECREATIONAL SPORT

chapter 10|22 pages

SPORT AND RACE

chapter 11|47 pages

WOMEN AND SPORT: THE LONG ROAD TO LIBERATION

chapter 12|38 pages

THE CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS HEROES

chapter 13|34 pages

SPORT, MEDIA, CONSUMPTION

chapter 4|14 pages

TEEN: SPORT AS BIG BUSINESS