The Meaning of Sports
by Michael Mandelbaum
The Meaning of Sports by Michael Mandelbaum is written with the subtopic of Why Americans Watch Baseball, Football, and Basketball and What They See When They Do. However the book focuses on the economic aspect of the games as well as the history of the sports. The author has divided the book into four chapters, each devoted to a different sport from its humble inception to its current form. Although this book was printed in 2004, its topics are of current interest. This book is written for the avid sport watcher in an easily understandable dialect that will appeal to most.
The idea behind this book is a good one. It gives the reader another point of view about specific teams and players. The author also includes background information on the different sports, such as how modern law is carried over into sports. The referee or umpire is seen as a judge wearing black and white and show impartiality and enforce the rules of the game. Even the evolution of technology has impacted upon the sports franchise. With the creation of airplanes, trains, and buses has come the ability to bring teams together from various parts of the country to compete against one another. Timing also plays an interesting part in sports. Some sports, baseball for example, have no time limit, while others have set times. The author explains that watching baseball is a reminder of childhood, where one has little responsibility and is a temporary escape from everyday life. Sports with a set time limit remind the watcher of today�s society. Everything has a set time, place, and we are constantly on the go.
Another topic of interest in this book is Mr. Mandelbaum�s writings on the popularity and economic profitability of athletes from the different sports. For example, the reader is exposed to the popularity of Michael Jordan in basketball and the economic impact he made on the sport. During his reign in the National Basketball Association he helped to increase revenue to over $10 billion dollars. In baseball the great Babe Ruth is reflected upon. His impact on the sport helped to bring in more fans and interest to the game, which in turn would have been profitable for the different teams.
The topic of women in sports is also discussed in this book. Women�s basketball is gaining popularity as well as soccer for women. The author reasons that the rise in popularity of women�s sports is not due to strength but more because of the players� abilities. More people watch women�s basketball today than in the past thanks to its charismatic players.
This book�s strength relies on sharing with the reader a history of the different sports it covers. Mr. Mandelbaum�s easy to read writing allows the reader to think about how the sport you love and cheer for has primary roots and is constantly continuing to evolve. In this trend, sports will continue to change in the future. The big players may change over time, but the basic rules and format will continue.