ABSTRACT
Past studies have offered evidence of an oppositional relationship between academic and athletic achievement rooted in popular culture and enhanced by media representations (Beamon & Bell, 2006; Harrison, 2009). Overwhelmingly, the influence of media messages and images of African American males is cited as an important contributing factor in this conflict (Beamon & Bell, 2006). Effects of repeated exposure to these portrayals of African American males who participate in intercollegiate athletics is said to cause an overidentification with athletes and sports, an overvaluing of other physical performance activities, and an undervaluing of academic performance and academic identity.
