Full Description
This book analyzes how sportswriters have discussed issues of race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual identity, age and class within professional baseball from 1998 to the present. Each chapter looks at the media representations of a specific controversy--the 1998 home-run chase, Alex Rodriguez's historic contract signing, Barry Bonds' home runs, Mike Piazza's "I am not gay" press conference, Effa Manley's Hall of Fame induction, the celebration of Jackie Robinson's legacy, as well as the various incidents involving performance-enhancing drugs. The author puts it together and reveals what messages are being conveyed by the issues.
Contents
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1 Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and the Politics of Race and Nationality
2 "Out" on the Field: Homosexuality and Our National Pastime
3 The $25 Million Man: Alex Rodríguez, Objectification and Money
4 Effa Manley and the Politics of Passing
5 Barry Bonds and the Pursuit of Dap
6 It's the End of the World as We Know It: Race and Forgiveness in the Era of Performance-Enhancing Drugs
7 Who Are We Celebrating, Anyway? Major League Baseball and the Honoring of Jackie Robinson
Conclusions
Chapter Notes
Suggested Reading
Bibliography
Index
