Sport in a Changing World

Book excerpt: In a stressful, turbulent world, sports can be an escape from reality. Yet sport actually mirrors the issues and problems of our world today, bearing the imprint of powerful forces of social change. This book offers a sociological perspective for seeing and understanding the place of sport in society and how it is affected by big business and by demographic, cultural, organizational, economic, political, and technological change. Nixon's main focus is "big-time" commercialized and corporate sport, from Little League Baseball, Inc. to youth club sports, high school and college athletics, and professional and Olympic sports. He writes vividly of the making and unmaking of heroes and celebrities. Throughout he shows how the combined influence of networks of major sports organizations, media corporations, and corporate sponsors is shaping sport around the world.