The sporting world of the modern South / edited by Patrick B. Miller.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Miller, Patrick B.

Series:

Sport and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sports--Southern States--History.

Sports.

Sports--Social aspects--Southern States--History.

Sports--Social aspects.

History.

Southern States.

Physical Description:

x, 355 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, [2002]

Summary:

Engaging a medley of perspectives and methodologies, The Sporting World of the Modern South examines how sports map the social, political, and cultural landscapes of the modern South. In essays on the "backcountry" fighter stereotypes portrayed in modern professional wrestling and the significance of Crimson Tide coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant for white Alabamians, contributors explore the symbols that have shaped southern regional identities since the Civil War. Other essays tackle gender and race relations in intercollegiate athletics, uncover the roles athletic competitions played in desegregating the South, and address the popularity of NASCAR in the southern states. Pairing the action and anecdotes of good sports writing with rock-solid scholarship, The Sporting World of the Modern South adds historical and anthropological perspectives to legends and lore from the gridiron to the racetrack. This collection, with its innovative attention to the interplay between athletics and regional identity, is an insightful and compelling contribution to southern and sports history.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0252027183

0252070364

OCLC:

47297568