Fair and Foul: Beyond the Myths and Paradoxes of Sport, 4th edition

Stan Eitzen explores America's love of sport just as he reveals sport's darker side-the influence of big business, corruption, price gouging, political maneuvering, parental meddling and media grandstanding. Expanded and updated throughout, the fourth edition explores America s love of sport just as it reveals sport s darker side-the influence of big business, corruption, price gouging, political maneuvering, and media grandstanding. A new prelude draws students into the book by looking at the multiple levels (individual, organized, and professional) and meanings of sport. An entirely new chapter examines children s play and the emergence of adult-centered play as the primary sport experience of children with some undesirable consequences. Other chapters incorporate new information on the participation of women and minorities in coaching and management, new data on the economic inequalities that pervade sports, new information on the ties between businesses and college sports, and new developments in the global recruiting of coaches. Eitzen draws his examples of famous and lesser-known events from professional, college, and school sports, including depictions of well known coaches and players, to give us a deeper understanding of what sport means to us and how it affects our everyday world. Ideal for sparking classroom discussion, the first three editions were widely read and enjoyed by students of sociology of sport, American society, and other courses. Expanded and updated throughout, the fourth edition explores America's love of sport just as it reveals sport's darker side_the influence of big business, corruption, price gouging, political maneuvering, and media grandstanding. A new prelude draws students into the book by looking at the multiple levels (individual, organized, and professional) and meanings of sport. An entirely new chapter examines children's play and the emergence of adult-centered play as the primary sport experience of children with some undesirable consequences. Other chapters incorporate new information on the participation of women and minorities in coaching and management; new data on the economic inequalities that pervade sports; new information on the ties between businesses and college sports; and new developments in the global recruiting of coaches. Eitzen draws his examples of famous and lesser-known events from professional, college, and school sports, including depictions of well known coaches and players, to give us a deeper understanding of what sport means to us and how it affects our everyday world. Ideal for sparking classroom discussion, the first three editions were widely read and enjoyed by students of sociology of sport, American society, and other courses.

This book explains America's love of sport just as it reveals sport's darker side--the influence of big business, corruption, price gouging, political maneuvering, and media grandstanding.

Booknews

Taking a sociological approach to the phenomena of professional and academic sports, Eitzen (professor emeritus of sociology, Colorado State U.) examines nine particular contradictions of American sports. Among these are breaking down social barriers yet reinforcing them, the commitment to fair play versus the selfishness of some sports professionals, the commitment of higher education to sport at a cost to good education, and the image of social mobility contrasted with the number of opportunities actually available. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"Americans have long cherished sport for its display of superb skills, heroic efforts, selfless teamwork, uncanny strategies, exuberance, spontaneity, and loyalty. This book moves beyond the myths and media hype to take a closer look at America's love of sport and how it so often comes in conflict with our most basic values. With reverence yet a sharp eye for the influence of big business, corruption, price gouging, political maneuvering, and media grandstanding, Eitzen portrays famous and lesser known events from professional and college sports, including well known coaches and players, to give us a deeper understanding of what sports means to us and how it affects our everyday world."--Publisher's description. "Americans have long cherished sport for its display of superb skills, heroic efforts, selfless teamwork, uncanny strategies, exuberance, spontaneity, and loyalty. This book moves beyond the myths and media hype to take a closer look at America's love of sport and how it so often comes in conflict with our most basic values. With reverence yet a sharp eye for the influence of big business, corruption, price gouging, political maneuvering, and media grandstanding, Eitzen portrays famous and lesser known events from professional and college sports, including well known coaches and players, to give us a deeper understanding of what sports means to us and how it affects our everyday world."--Résumé de l'éditeur