There’s more to sports than what occurs during games. Check your social media, listen to sports talk radio, or watch ESPN–there are daily stories of social issues in sports regarding concussions, playing hurt, gambling, Olympics and politics, athletes as social activists, paying college athletes, recruiting violations, academics, youth sports, diversity and gender issues, hazing, athletes’ mental health, disabled athletes’ rights, sportsmanship, and media coverage. How do these issues affect athletes, fans, and society? This book analyzes social and ethical issues in sports in a journalistic, non-academic, and entertaining manner. It has information, research, anecdotes, and quotes from journalists, columnists, sports talk hosts, athletes, coaches, athletic directors, and university professors. It includes the author’s opinions and observations on social issues in sports. The book will appeal to hardcore and casual sports fans. It shows pros and cons of how sports affect our daily lives and society. While sports inspire and excite us and lead to social change like the civil rights movement, Title IX, and rights of disabled people, controversies surrounding sports like violence, steroids, concussions, tanking, running up the score, and rule breaking can’t be ignored. While sports can be divisive, they are also a uniting factor in society.

Larry Atkins teaches journalism at Temple University and Arcadia University, where he also teaches social issues in sports. He has written more than 500 Op-Eds, articles, and essays for many major publications, including Newsweek, The Hill, Huffington Post, Washington Post, National Public Radio (NPR Commentaries), Real Clear Politics, The Progressive Magazine, Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, and Morning Consult.

Larry Atkins

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2023
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8621-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5099-9
Imprint: McFarland