Thousands of children across the United States dream of becoming
professional athletes, yet less than one in a thousand high school
seniors will go on to play in a major pro league. Of those select
few, many will find that after a childhood of full-time commitment
to their sport, their professional careers will likely be brief and
injury-ridden. Within each of the top professional leagues in the
U.S., the competition is fierce to not only get into the league,
but to stay there-the average career in the National Basketball
Association lasts less than five years, and in the National
Football League only three and a half. The Anatomy of Competition
in Sports: The Struggle for Success in Major US Professional
Leagues examines the role competition plays in each of the major
sports leagues in the United States: Major League Baseball (MLB),
the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball
Association (NBA), the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer
(MLS). In order to provide a comprehensive review of competition
within each sport, Christopher B. Doob scrutinizes the challenges
faced at the youth level, opposition encountered by individuals
competing to join a pro league, the obstacles pros must overcome
throughout their careers, and the history of each league.
Furthermore, Doob dissects competition across the sports by looking
at such common influences as family, school, colleges, the draft
process, coaches, and the playing conditions within the
professional leagues. An additional chapter examines so-called
"atypical pros"-such as disabled athletes, gay and lesbian players,
and two-sport pros-who must face competitive challenges beyond the
average athlete. A final chapter discusses life after the pros,
including the legacy of debilitating injuries many former players
face and the prospects of post-retirement jobs, such as coaching,
managing, and broadcasting. Highlighting the struggles many
athletes must face, The Anatomy of Competition in Sports features
vignettes about current and past professionals, including Mariano
Rivera, Earl Campbell, Candace Parker, and Sidney Crosby. Drawing
on diverse sources such as histories of each league, research
studies, newspaper accounts, and personal narratives, this book is
simultaneously thought-provoking and accessible for all sports
fans.
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