The Sport Star: Modern Sport and the Cultural Economy of Sporting Celebrity (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society)

Why are sport stars central to celebrity culture? What are the implications of their fame? Proceeding from a broadly based discussion of heroism, fame and celebrity, Smart addresses a number of prominent modern sports and sport stars, including Michael Jordan (basketball), David Beckham (football), Tiger Woods (golf), Anna Kournikova and the Williams sisters (tennis). He analyses the development of modern sport in the UK and USA, demonstrating the key economic and cultural factors that have contributed to the popularity of sport stars, while examining issues such as race and gender, the impact of professionalization, growing media coverage, the role of agents and the increasing presence of commercial corporations providing sponsorship and endorsement contracts. This book situates the sport star as the embodiment of the various tensions of age, class, race, gender and culture. It argues that sporting figures possess an increasingly rare quality of authenticity that gives them the capacity to lift and inspire people. The book is a major contribution to the sociology and culture of sport and celebrity.

Why are sport stars central to celebrity culture? What are the implications of their fame?

Proceeding from a broadly based discussion of heroism, fame and celebrity, Smart addresses a number of prominent modern sports and sport stars, including Michael Jordan (basketball), David Beckham (football), Tiger Woods (golf), Anna Kournikova and the Williams sisters (tennis).

He analyses the development of modern sport in the UK and USA, demonstrating the key economic and cultural factors that have contributed to the popularity of sport stars, while examining issues such as race and gender, the impact of professionalization, growing media coverage, the role of agents and the increasing presence of commercial corporations providing sponsorship and endorsement contracts.

This book situates the sport star as the embodiment of the various tensions of age, class, race, gender and culture. It argues that sporting figures possess an increasingly rare quality of authenticity that gives them the capacity to lift and inspire people. The book is a major contribution to the sociology and culture of sport and celebrity.

David Beckham, Tiger Woods, Anna Kournikova - Over Recent Years Sports Stars, On Both Sides Of The Atlantic, Have Not Just Crossed Over Into The Mainstream Celebrity Scene, But Increasingly Dominate It. This Volume Offers An Analysis Of The Development Of Modern Sport In The Uk And The Usa. Heroism, Fame And Celebrity In The World Of Sport -- The Development Of Modern Sport In Britain And America -- The Professionalisation Of Modern Sport -- Media, Sponsorship And Sport Stardom-- Corporate Culture And The Branding Of The Sport Star: Nike, Michael Jordan And Tiger Woods -- Cultures Of Sport Stardom: David Beckham And Anna Kournikova -- Concluding Remarks: Sport Stars, Authenticity And Charisma. Barry Smart. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [200]-209) And Index. Cover ......Page 1 Contents ......Page 6 1 Heroism, Fame and Celebrity in the World of Sport......Page 8 2 The Development of Modern Sport in Britain and America......Page 26 3 The Professionalisation of Modern Sport......Page 49 4 Media, Sponsorship and Sport Stardom......Page 72 5 Corporate Culture and the Branding of the Sport Star: Nike, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods......Page 110 6 Cultures of Sport Stardom: David Beckham and Anna Kournikova......Page 151 7 Concluding Remarks: Sport Stars, Authenticity and Charisma......Page 198 References......Page 207 Index ......Page 217 Sport is now at the heart of contemporary culture and in the words of one commercially interested observer seems destined to 'define the culture of the world' (Phil Knight, founder and chairman of Nike corporation, cited in Katz 1994: 199).