Idols of the Game: A Sporting History of the American Century - Hardcover

Lipsyte, Robert; Levine, Peter

2.75

8 ratings by Goodreads

9781570361548: Idols of the Game: A Sporting History of the American Century

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1570361541 ISBN 13: 9781570361548

Publisher: Turner Pub, 1995

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

A columnist for The New York Times and a historian explore the impact of seventeen great athletes on American history and culture, in an illustrated volume published coincidentally with a documentary on the TBS cable-TV network. TV tie-in. 30,000 first printing.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly:

Lipsyte, a columnist for the New York Times, and Levine, a professor of history at Michigan State University, here compile profiles of 16 prominent American athletes that explore the cultural significance their careers had on American society. The authors start with boxer John L. Sullivan, "America's first great sports idol," who would come to epitomize the young, rough-and-tumble America of the 20th century. Babe Ruth was big, boisterous and could hit the long ball?the apotheosis of the Roaring '20s. Jackie Robinson, the one-man civil rights movement: "It was the first time a black man shook a stick at a white man," said comedian Dick Gregory, "and 50,000 white people cheered." Vince Lombardi, football coach extraordinaire, "who was packed and sold by the NFL... as a teacher of life, a prophet of piety and patriotism, and a social engineer." And Michael Jordan, basketball icon and ultimate pitchman, takes us up to the '90s. Also profiled are Jack Johnson, Jim Thorpe, Knute Rockne, Babe Didrikson, Joe Louis, Mickey Mantle, Arnold Palmer, Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Martina Navratilova. A diverse, if not particularly insightful, look at the American athlete as symbol.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review:

Idols Of The Game: A Sporting History Of The American Century is packed with biographical profiles that reflect the promise and problems of 20th century American life. Demonstrated is the phenomenon of empowerment through sport (individual and collective); sport as part of a leisure/value/communications revolution that marks the transformation of America from a producer to a consumer culture; and the pull of sports, its transcendent beauty and spiritual fulfillment in the best thing anyone can do with their body in public -- the reason why sports idols have such resonance in ordinary lives, why we pay for autographs, why star athletes can earn millions to sell sneakers and junk food -- and why they invade our dreams. Idols Of The Game is fascinating reading, certain to provoke discussion and provide a fresh perspective on our American sports culture. -- Midwest Book Review

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.