Reading Sport

In this groundbreaking anthology of essays on sport, experts from a variety of disciplines analyze power relations, especially as they are constructed along the axes of gender, race, class, and sexuality.The volume begins with an insightful introduction by the editors that provides theoretical frameworks and analytical tools for reading sport. The selections that follow critically examine how the complexities and intersections of power are reflected in particular high-profile incidents and celebrity athletes. Included are such figures as Dennis Rodman, Nolan Ryan, Michael Jordan, Nancy Lopez, O.J. Simpson, Renee Richards, Cal Ripken, Jr., Nancy Kerrigan, and Tonya Harding.Taken together, the essays demonstrate that sports events and personalities exist within broader cultural, economic, historical, and political realms. The work makes a valuable and timely contribution to the emerging field of sport study and sets the stage for further discussions of power and representation.