The Center for the Study of Sport and Leisure in Society


The Triumph of the Human Spirit Over the Bombings at the Boston Marathon

In Fandom, Politics on April 17, 2013 at 11:53 am

By John Nauright

Yesterday’s tragedy struck at the heart of what it means to be human. In running, we express the ultimate freedom of bodily movement and the satisfaction that comes with setting a goal and achieving it. The bombs briefly struck at the heart of that freedom. Yet, despite being exhausted from the effort of running over 26 miles, hundreds of runners kept on running until they reached nearby hospitals where they could donate blood for the wounded. Sadly, any public event is a potential target for an attack of terror, however, the resilience of these athlete-heroes and the many others who responded instantly suggests that freedom, justice, and human kindness prevail over those bent on destruction.

We grieve for the victims, their families and friends, but no one act should ever extinguish the experience of what it means to be alive. The Boston Marathon should become an ever-brighter beacon for the celebration of those ideals of our common humanity and for the expression of our humanity through the joy of movement or the celebration of the success of others in achieving their goals.

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The NBA All-Star Game: An Example of the League’s Global Dimension

In NBA on February 19, 2013 at 1:29 am

By Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff

The West triumphed last night, 143-138, at the 62nd NBA All-Star game.  As Forbes noted, the global reach of the league’s All-Star game indicated how much the NBA has become an international brand.[1] While the media coverage was one worldwide highlight, another was the labor force.[2] Of the 24 players who had court time during the main game, two athletes—8.3% of the official team rosters—represent Les Bleus in elite international competition.

The NBA All-Star press release proudly boasted that nine “international players” would participate in the 2013 All Star Game activities.[3] The NBA’s definition of an “international player” corresponds to where one is born, and includes those with dual citizenship. Kyrie Irving, an “international player” listed on the 2013 East team roster, holds both Australian and U.S. citizenship. Tim Duncan of the 2013 West team, another “international player,” was born on St. Croix, a U.S. possession, and played for the U.S. national men’s team.  Of the athletes listed on the official team roster, four were considered by the NBA to be “international players”: Irving, Duncan, Luol Deng (Great Britain), and Tony Parker (France).  However, reconsider the definition of who constitutes an “international player” to instead be someone who has opted to represent another country in elite international competition—the term’s standard definition within global (and academic) sport circles.  Then re-examine the 2013 All-Star team rosters and you realize that only three have played for another country’s national basketball team: Deng, Parker, and Joakim Noah (France).[4]

Parker (San Antonio Spurs), perhaps more recognized in the United States than that other contemporary French great, Zinédine Zidane, concluded his fifth All-Star appearance Sunday evening. Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls), who first shot to fame as part of the 2006 NCAA championship Florida Gators, made his debut All-Star performance.

How did the French press cover the All-Star game?  On Monday morning, the website of France’s leading sports daily, L’Équipe, ran the NBA game as the second headline story.[5] The main game summary, (“The All Star Game Leans to the West”) carried the subhead, “The West imposes itself (143-138) in Houston for the third time in a row at an All-Star Game where Chris Paul was elected MVP and Tony Parker and Joakim Noah held their rank.” The story led with an anecdote of Joakim Noah. The sports section of Le Monde featured three stories devoted to the weekend’s football matches and the Pistorius affair. The paper’s basketball blog declared “All Star Game: The West of Chris Paul Outclassed the East,” and devoted the first three paragraphs to the game recap. Paragraph four turned to the real matter at hand: how French internationals fared, and noted that both Parker and Noah had ample playing time (22 minutes of game time for Parker and 16 for Noah). On Le Figaro’s

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Taft Wins!

In Baseball, Fandom on February 10, 2013 at 8:44 pm

By Ryan Swanson

William Howard TaftThe Washington Nationals recently announced that Howard Taft would become the fifth member of the wildly popular presidents’ mascot race that takes places during the 4th inning of baseball games at NationalsPark.  Responses to the selection have been mostly positive, with some journalists noting that Taft is often remembered for his weight, among other things.  Taft joins mascots Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Washington.  In terms of presidential prestige, it’s fair to say that Taft doesn’t quite measure up.  Taft isn’t Mt.Rushmore material.  But what about on a baseball scale?

Taft is widely credited with being the first president to throw out the first pitch at a professional baseball game.  Taft started the traditional in 1910.  President Obama will undoubtedly continue this rite at beginning of the coming season in a few weeks.  Additionally, Taft and Teddy Roosevelt were famously at odds.  Really, the selection of Taft should count as another loss for Mascot Teddy.  For these reasons alone, the Taft decision makes sense.  While I’ve argued that the Nationals never should have let Teddy win in the first place, now that the club made that misstep Teddy needs a fresh challenge.  Maybe TR will start a new losing streak soon, this one including losses to his portly political rival.  One might also consider, though, the fact that it’s very difficult to conceive of another easy fit for this strange blend of history, politics, and baseball.  I wasn’t privy to the high-level discussions on the topic that must have occurred at National’s headquarters, but the following points may have been made about these possible additions.

Andrew Jackson: Too violent, and what about his disturbing record regarding Native Americans? (this in the city that still allows “Redskins” as a team name)

George H.W. Bush: Played first base at Yale in the college world series, but only a singles hitter – a one termer.

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Deserving from a joining-the-pantheon-of-great American-presidents-standpoint, but how would one account for the fact that FDR spent most of his presidency in a wheelchair?

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