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Sports and American Jew (Hardcover, New) Loot Price: R1,465
Discovery Miles 14 650
Sports and American Jew (Hardcover, New): Steven A. Riess

Sports and American Jew (Hardcover, New)

Steven A. Riess

Series: Sports and Entertainment

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Loot Price R1,465 Discovery Miles 14 650 | Repayment Terms: R137 pm x 12*

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Aiming to debunk the stereotype that American Jews and sports are somehow alien to each other, this well-intentioned yet dry collection of essays often unintentionally underscores the myth that the "Chosen People" are the last picked when anyone's choosing up sides. In his introductory essay, Riess (History/Northeastern Illinois Univ., and former editor of the Journal of Sport History) notes that Jewish Americans "were considered the people of the book, rather than men and women of the bat." By covering such topics as "Tough Jews: The Jewish American Boxing Experience," "Jewish American Women, Jewish Organizations, and Sports," and "Our Crowd at Play, The Elite Jewish Country Club in the 1920s," the book's contributors bring overlooked facets of the sporting life - particularly the assimilative effect of sports - into the light of day. Unfortunately, however, Jewish athleticism is sometimes stridently defended by the authors, making the involvement of the casual Jewish athlete appear to be little more than dilettantism. More persuasive are the examinations of prominent Jewish professional athletes, and of anti-Semitism in the pro sporting ranks. In the essay "Hank Greenberg," William M. Simons explores the Bronx-reared Detroit Tigers slugger's significance to American Jews in the 1930s and '40s. Quoting another writer, Simons notes that Greenberg "belonged to a race of victors, not victims." While Greenberg is certainly worthy of attention and praise, the exclusion of other Jewish pros, such as Sandy Koufax (who heralded both more widespread Jewish cultural acceptance and the shift of American power from east to west), punches holes in the anthology's overall credibility. Further hampering its discussion of Jews in sport is the attention paid to Jews as team owners, sports writers, and promoters, without any discussion of the other side of the coin - Jewish sports labor pioneers, such as baseball's Marvin Miller. Despite such shortcomings, that this book's title sounds like a punchline is perhaps the best argument for the need for just such a study. (Kirkus Reviews)
This book debunks the conventional stereotype that Jews and sports are somehow anathema and clearly demonstrates that sports have long been a significant institution in Jewish American life. Jews were among the very first professional baseball players and the most outstanding early American track stars. In the 1920s and 1930s they dominated inner-city sports such as basketball and boxing and produced star athletes in virtually all sports. Many Jews were also prominent in the business, communication, and literary aspects of sport. These essays, written by leading contemporary sports historians, examine the contributions of Jewish men and women to American sports. Steven A. Riess's article on this topic is the most comprehensive overview ever written and will doubtless become a standard reference for years to come.

General

Imprint: Syracuse University Press
Country of origin: United States
Series: Sports and Entertainment
Release date: June 1998
First published: May 1998
Authors: Steven A. Riess
Dimensions: 234 x 158 x 25mm (L x W x T)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 360
Edition: New
ISBN-13: 978-0-8156-2754-8
Categories: Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > General
Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary > Interdisciplinary studies > Cultural studies > General
Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history
Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Ethnic studies > Jewish studies
Books > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history
LSN: 0-8156-2754-8
Barcode: 9780815627548

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