Football And American Identity (Contemporary Sports Issues) (Contemporary Sports Issues)

Learn the value of football to American societyNo sport reflects the American value system like football. Visitors to the United States need only watch a game or two to learn all they need to know about the American way of life and the beliefs, attitudes, and concerns of American society. Football and American Identity examines the social conditions and cultural implications found in the football subculture, represented by core values such as competition, conflict, diversity, power, economic success, fair play, liberty, and patriotism. This unique book goes beyond the standard fare on football strategy and history, or the biographies of famous players and coaches, to analyze the reasons why the game is the essence of the American spirit. Author Gerhard Falk, Professor of Sociology at the State University College of New York at Buffalo, examines football as a game, as a business, and as a reflection of the diversity in American life. Football and American Identity also addresses the relationship between football and the media, with much of the game's income generated by advertising and endorsements, and examines the presence of crime in football culture. The book discusses the development of the gameand those involved in itat the Pop Warner, college, and professional levels, examining the social origin of players, coaches, cheerleaders, and owners. In addition, Football and American Identity analyzes the game's fans and their devotion to their teams, examines why Pennsylvania is considered the mother of American football, and looks at the National Football League and its commissioners. Football and American Identity examines: how individualism and achievement can lead to mythological status why a person's occupation is the most important indicator of prestige in the United States what the consequences are of earning more in a year than most Americans make in a lifetime why equality is vital to the ethnic make-up of American football teams why teamwork is important-in football and in industry how freedom is essential for taking the risks necessary for success and much more! Football and American Identity is an inside look at football as an American cultural phenomenon. Devoted and casual fans of the game, as well as academics working in sociology, will find this unique book interesting, entertaining, and thought-provoking.

No sport reflects the American value system like football. Visitors to the
United States need only watch a game or two to learn all they need to know
about the American way of life and the beliefs, attitudes, and concerns of
American society. Football and American Identity examines the social
conditions and cultural implications found in the football subculture,
represented by core values such as competition, conflict, diversity, power,
economic success, fair play, liberty, and patriotism. This unique book goes
beyond the standard fare on football strategy and history, or the
biographies of famous players and coaches, to analyze the reasons why the
game is the essence of the American spirit.

Author Gerhard Falk, Professor of Sociology at the State University College
of New York at Buffalo, examines football as a game, as a business, and as
a reflection of the diversity in American life. Football and American
Identity also addresses the relationship between football and the media,
with much of the game s income generated by advertising and endorsements,
and examines the presence of crime in football culture. The book discusses
the development of the game and those involved in it at the Pop Warner,
college, and professional levels, examining the social origin of players,
coaches, cheerleaders, and owners. In addition, Football and American
Identity analyzes the game s fans and their devotion to their teams,
examines why Pennsylvania is considered the mother of American football,
and looks at the National Football League and its commissioners.

Football and American Identity examines:

how individualism and achievement can lead to mythological status

why a person s occupation is the most important indicator of prestige in
the United States

what the consequences are of earning more in a year than most Americans
make in a lifetime

why equality is vital to the ethnic make-up of American football teams

why teamwork is important-in football and in industry

how freedom is essential for taking the risks necessary for success

and much more!

Football and American Identity is an inside look at football as an American
cultural phenomenon. Devoted and casual fans of the game, as well as
academics working in sociology, will find this unique book interesting,
entertaining, and thought-provoking.

Learn the value of football to American society No sport reflects the American value system like football. Visitors to the United States need only watch a game or two to learn all they need to know about the American way of life and the beliefs, attitudes, and concerns of American society. Football and American Identity examines the social conditions and cultural implications found in the football subculture, represented by core values such as competition, conflict, diversity, power, economic success, fair play, liberty, and patriotism. This unique book goes beyond the standard fare on football strategy and history, or the biographies of famous players and coaches, to analyze the reasons why the game is the essence of the American spirit. Author Gerhard Falk, Professor of Sociology at the State University College of New York at Buffalo, examines football as a game, as a business, and as a reflection of the diversity in American life. Football and American Identity also addresses the relationship between football and the media, with much of the games income generated by advertising and endorsements, and examines the presence of crime in football culture. The book discusses the development of the gameand those involved in itat the Pop Warner, college, and professional levels, examining the social origin of players, coaches, cheerleaders, and owners. In addition, Football and American Identity analyzes the games fans and their devotion to their teams, examines why Pennsylvania is considered the mother of American football, and looks at the National Football League and its commissioners. Football and American Identity examines: Football and American Identity is an inside look at football as an American cultural phenomenon. Devoted and casual fans of the game, as well as academics working in sociology, will find this unique book interesting, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Learn the value of football to American society No sport reflects the American value system like football. Visitors to the United States need only watch a game or two to learn all they need to know about the American way of life and the beliefs, attitudes, and concerns of American society. Football and American Identity examines the social conditions and cultural implications found in the football subculture, represented by core values such as competition, conflict, diversity, power, economic success, fair play, liberty, and patriotism. This unique book goes beyond the standard fare on football strategy and history, or the biographies of famous players and coaches, to analyze the reasons why the game is the essence of the American spirit. Author Gerhard Falk, Professor of Sociology at the State University College of New York at Buffalo, examines football as a game, as a business, and as a reflection of the diversity in American life. Football and American Identity also addresses the relationship between football and the media, with much of the game's income generated by advertising and endorsements, and examines the presence of crime in football culture. The book discusses the development of the game#x97;and those involved in it#x97;at the Pop Warner, college, and professional levels, examining the social origin of players, coaches, cheerleaders, and owners. In addition, Football and American Identity analyzes the game's fans and their devotion to #x93;their#x94; teams, examines why Pennsylvania is considered the #x93;mother#x94; of American football, and looks at the National Football League and its commissioners. Football and American Identity examines: how individualism and achievement can lead to mythological status why a person's occupation is the most important indicator of prestige in the United States what the consequences are of earning more in a year than most Falk (sociology, State University College of New York) explores the social conditions and cultural implications of American football, and discovers that, "football is the essence of the American spirit which has made the United States the leader of the world." He examines the college football athlete and coach, football as a profession, the psychology of the fan, the role of the media in the sport's popularity, and the revenue generated by the football business. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) The School And American Football -- College Football--the Professionals' Minor League -- Football As A Profession -- Football And Social Stratification -- They Also Serve -- Fanatics -- Football And The Media -- The Football Business -- Crime And American Football -- The National Football League. Gerhard Falk. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 245-265) And Index.