Sport and American Society: Exceptionalism, Insularity, æImperialismÆ

A special issue of the International Journal of the History of Sport , this collection of provocative essays explores the many faces of sport in America. Drawing upon insights from anthropology, history, philosophy and sociology and with reference throughout to politics and economics, the contributors outline the story of how American sport has contributed to a climate of insularity, exceptionalism and imperialism, from a symbolic rejection of British rule and British sports to the current status of all-American sports such as baseball and basketball in the face of globalization.

1. Benevolent America: Rural Women, Recreation , Sport and Health Reform in Antibellum New England 2. Aggressive America: Media Nationalism and the '¬~War'Over Olympic Pictures in Sport's Golden Age 3. Insular America: The NBA Began in Akron? The Midwest Conference in the Thirties 4. Integrated America: Baseball Black and White - Jackie Robinson , Critical Events, Race and Nation 5. Non- Integrated America: Baseball not Black and White '¬" Jackie Robinson, Decolonization and World Baseball 6. Reformist America: The Oberlin Experiment: The limits of Jack Scott's'Athletic Revolution' in post 1960s America 7. Community America: Who '¬~owns' Wrigley Field? 8. Exceptionalist America: American Sports Fans' Reaction to Globalization 9. Rejected America: Adolfo Lugue, Anti Americanism and Cubanidad 10. Challenged America: China and America- Women and Sport - Past, Present and Future