The book explores the impact of sports on urban identity in Chicago, utilizing historical and sociological methods. It delves into the city's evolution as a center for immigration, transportation, and entertainment, highlighting how these elements intertwine with the development of community and identity through sports.
The book delves into the historical significance of sport as a remedy for mental and physical health issues, particularly focusing on neurasthenia in the late nineteenth century. Gerald R. Gems highlights how participation and spectatorship in sports like baseball, boxing, cycling, and football offered both physical benefits and psychological relief amid societal changes. Notably, cycling empowered women to challenge traditional gender roles and restrictive norms, positioning sport as a catalyst for feminism and a response to subsequent health epidemics in modern times.
Bats, Balls, and Bayonets
Focusing on the intersection of sport and colonialism, this interdisciplinary study explores how athletic activities were leveraged by American authorities during the occupation of the Philippines to further their political and social objectives. It delves into the connections between sport and various societal factors such as race and religion, and posits that these strategies have persisted in shaping U.S. foreign policy over time.
This is a fundamental text for the study of sport history. It answers the 'why, ' 'how, ' and 'what' questions, introducing the key principles and practices of sport history and walking the reader through the fascinating stories, debates, issues, and national and international narratives that constitute the history of sport. The book provides an overview of the field and the various professional roles assumed by practitioners, such as researchers, academics, and public historians. It is brief, crisp, and to the point. The main general topics of interest within the field - gender, race, nationalism, religion, sport and leisure, and megaevents - are covered with introductory vignettes, stories of interest, a wide variety of theoretical frameworks, and relevant historiography in the most current and timely text of its kind. Each chapter provides a list of further readings for more in-depth study. Students are taught how to conduct research and present their findings in a variety of mediums, and teaching and publication tips are offered for educators. Sport History: The Basics is essential reading for any student on a sport-related degree course or with an interest in social and cultural history. It is also fascinating reading for anybody with a general interest in sport.
This book provides a succinct yet comprehensive coverage of boxing history, recounting its ancient roots, evolution, and globalization. Gems describes important events and individuals, illuminating their impact on the boxing world, and addresses not only boxing history but also issues of race, religion, rivalries, and the growth of female boxing.