- Table View
- List View
A Brief History of the Martial Arts: East Asian Fighting Styles, from Kung Fu to Ninjutsu (Brief Histories)
by Jonathan Clements'If I had to pick a single general martial arts history book in English, I would recommend A Brief History of the Martial Arts by Dr Jonathan Clements' RICHARD BEITLICH, Martial History Team blogFrom Shaolin warrior monks to the movies of Bruce Lee, a new history of the evolution of East Asian styles of unarmed combat, from Kung Fu to NinjutsuFolk tales of the Shaolin Temple depict warrior monks with superhuman abilities. Today, dozens of East Asian fighting styles trace their roots back to the Buddhist brawlers of Shaolin, although any quest for the true story soon wanders into a labyrinth of forgeries, secret texts and modern retellings.This new study approaches the martial arts from their origins in military exercises and callisthenics. It examines a rich folklore from old wuxia tales of crime-fighting heroes to modern kung fu movies. Centre stage is given to the stories that martial artists tell themselves about themselves, with accounts (both factual and fictional) of famous practitioners including China's Yim Wing-chun, Wong Fei-hong, and Ip Man, as well as Japanese counterparts such as Kano Jigoro, Itosu Anko and So Doshin.The history of martial arts encompasses secret societies and religious rebels, with intimate glimpses of the histories of China, Korea and Japan, their conflicts and transformations. The book also charts the migration of martial arts to the United States and beyond. Special attention is paid to the turmoil of the twentieth century, the cross-cultural influence of Japanese colonies in Asia, and the post-war rise of martial arts in sport and entertainment - including the legacy of Bruce Lee, the dilemma of the ninja and the global audience for martial arts in fiction.
A Brief Time in Heaven: Wilderness Adventures in Canoe Country
by Darryl BlazinoWhat starts as a simple fishing trip becomes a cathartic experience in the untamed wilderness of Ontario’s northwestern canoe country. A nine-day fishing trip turns into a profound life-altering event and marks the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the untamed wilderness of Canoe Country in northwestern Ontario. Author Darryl Blazino describes how he became entranced by the beauty and wonder of a land that beckoned him back again and again.This collection of personal stories captures a range of experiences and emotions highlighting the very best and very worst of times gleaned from more than 12 years’ worth of adventures in the great outdoors. Incredible close-up, intimate encounters with wildlife, harrowing brushes with danger, the challenges of wilderness camping with small children, and moments of intense splendour and serenity are told in descriptive detail and illustrated with breathtaking photography.
Bright Path: Young Jim Thorpe
by Don BrownA Sac and Fox Indian, Jim Thorpe was born Wa-tho-huck ("Bright Path") in Oklahoma in 1888. His childhood was a mix of hard work on his family's ranch, wild days hunting and living rough in the outdoors, and a succession of dreary, military-strict "Indian Schools" that sought to impose white culture on Indian children. Jim hated them and frequently ran away, but it was at one such school, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, that his life would change. Watching some student athletes practicing the high jump, Jim asked if he might try. Wearing overalls and a work shirt, he effortlessly cleared the bar on his first attempt--breaking the school's high jump record. He was drafted onto the track and football teams by the school's coach, Pop Warner, and went on to lead Carlisle to victories over the best college teams of the time. At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, Thorpe won the five-event Pentathlon with a score that would never be beaten, and the even more grueling Decathlon with a score that stood for 20 years.
Bright Rivers: Celebrations of Rivers and Fly-fishing
by Nick LyonsBright Rivers chronicles the angling passions and frustrations of one of fly-fishing's greatest men of letters.A city dweller trapped in the complexities of modern life, Nick Lyons has always found solace in his pilgrimages to great rivers. It is there that he fishes for trout, and in Bright Rivers, Lyons recounts the sometimes moving, sometimes hilarious experiences of his expeditions to Delaware, Beaverkill, Madison, Big Hole, and Yellowstone rivers, sharing reminiscences of trout taken, released, and sometimes lost. No one writes better about not catching fish than Nick Lyons, and perhaps, no one writes better about angling, period. This edition will include a new foreword by the author.From a richly textured diary of a summer in the Catskills to moving recollections of fly-fishing in Montana, Lyons brilliantly captures the wonderful tension between gray streets and bright rivers.
The Bright Side: An AFL champion's story of redemption, fortitude, and positivity
by Jack RiewoldtIn his gritty and inspirational memoir, Jack Riewoldt reveals all about his remarkable AFL career and his personal journey of growth off the field. Jack grew up in picturesque Tasmania, playing sport with his family and admiring his older cousin Nick. When Nick was drafted in the AFL, Jack&’s focus shifted to footy, and that competitive drive helped Jack become one of Richmond&’s most beloved and prolific players.The Bright Side dives into every important win, including Richmond&’s recent premierships, as well as the losses that helped Jack learn and build resilience. Jack&’s positive attitude has helped him overcome a brush with cancer, the loss of his much-loved cousin Maddie – sister of Nick Riewoldt, with whom Jack remains a spokesman for the charity in her name – and the misunderstanding that has dogged much of his career. In The Bright Side, Jack finally corrects some of the misperceptions. From mischievous youngster to revered leader of the game, it&’s family and community that has pulled Jack through, and allowed him to become an AFL legend.The book includes a foreword by Gerard Whateley.
Bright Wampum
by Dorothy LyonsThe Big Sur region along the California coast was still untamed country when Meredith Moore and her family arrived one stormy night. Merry had always ridden and trained horses, and when--next morning--she discovered to her joyous excitement a band of Appaloosa horses running wild in the mountain meadows, she determined to gentle one of them. The beauty of the rugged coastal country, the warm friendships Merry made with their widely scattered neighbors, the fascination of learning about the Indians who had lived there in the distant past, stock riding and rodeo competitions--all these made Merry's adventure-filled first year in California a memorable one. And always in the background was the mystery surrounding the real owner of the Appaloosas--and Merry's secret yearning that one day Bright Wampum might be her own. Dorothy Lyons, a horsewoman of many years' experience, knows the Big Sur region intimately and has written a swiftly moving and compelling story that young readers will welcome eagerly.
Brilliant Orange The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer
by David WinnerBrilliant Orangeis a book about Dutch soccer that's not really about Dutch soccer. It's more about an enigmatic way of thinking peculiar to a people whose landscape is unrelentingly flat, mostly below sea level, and who owe their salvation to a boy who plugged a fractured dike with his little finger. If any one thing, Brilliant Orangeis about Dutch space, and a people whose unique conception of it has led to some of the most enduring art, the weirdest architecture, and a bizarrely cerebral form of soccer-Total Football-that led in 1974 to a World Cup finals match with arch-rival Germany, and continues with its intricacy and oddity to mystify and delight observers around the world. "In the hot summer of 1975 Wim van Hanegem was offered the chance to leave his beloved Feyenoord and join the French club Olympique Marseilles. . . He couldn't decide what to do. . . So he turned to his dog: 'We can't decide. It's up to you now. If you want to go to Marseilles, bark or show me. ' For several minutes the dog and Van Hanegem stared at each other. The dog didn't move. 'OK' said Wim, 'he doesn't want to go. We're staying. " The cast stretches from anarchists and church painters to rabbis and skinheads, and of course, to Holland's beloved soccer players, whose eccentricities are wryly detailed by David Winner through hilarious anecdotes that call to mind Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch. As idiosyncratic as its subject, quirky and provocative, Brilliant Orangereaches out to the reader from an unsuspected place and never lets go. "Occasionally a book comes along that you fall in or out of love with on the basis of nothing more than the contents page . . . Brilliant Orangeis one of those strangely informative books that will even entertain those who have little interest in either soccer or the Netherlands. " (The Economist)
Bring In the Right-Hander!: My Twenty-Two Years in the Major Leagues
by Jerry ReussOne of only twenty-nine Major Leaguers to play in four different decades, Jerry Reuss pitched for eight teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates twice. So when Reuss tells his story, he covers about as much of baseball life as any player can. Bring In the Right-Hander! puts us on the mound for the winning pitch in Game Five of the 1981 World Series, then takes us back to the schoolyards and ball fields of Overland, Missouri, where Reuss first dreamed of that scene. His baseball odyssey, dedicated to the mantra “work hard and play harder,” began in 1969 with his hometown team, the St. Louis Cardinals (who traded him three years later for mustache-related reasons). Reuss carries us through his winning seasons with the Dodgers, taking in a no-hitter and that World Series triumph, and introducing us to some of baseball’s most colorful characters. Along the way, as the grizzled veteran faces injuries, releases, and trips to the Minors, then battling his way back into the Majors to finish his career with the Pirates, we get a glimpse of the real grit behind big league life, on and off the field.
Bring It!: The Revolutionary Fitness Plan for All Levels That Burns Fat, Builds Muscle, and Shreds Inches
by Tony HortonCreator of the best-selling P90X® workout series, Tony Horton shows you how to Bring It! for the results you want. Over the past 25 years, Tony Horton has helped millions of people—from stay-at home moms to military personnel to A-list celebrities—transform their bodies and their lives with innovative workouts and cutting-edge advice. Now in his first book he shares the fundamentals of his fitness philosophy with millions more, revealing his secrets for getting fit and healthy and melting away pounds. One-size-fits-all diets and exercise regimens just don't work—that's why Tony creates unique programs for each of his clients. In Bring It! he shows you how to build your own diet and fitness plan tailored to your individual lifestyle, preferences, and goals. With a Fitness Quotient (FQ) quiz designed to assess your likes, dislikes, and current fitness level, you can choose the program that's right for you. In photographs and easy-to-follow instructions, Tony demonstrates his unique moves and exercise combinations that include cardio fat burners, lower body blitzers, core strengthening, plyometrics, yoga, and more. You'll also discover Tony's fat-blasting eating plan and detox tips, delicious recipes, and mental motivators. Whether you've never been to the gym before, are looking to get bikini ready, or simply want to take your workout to the next level, Tony Horton can give you the results you've been looking for. A better body—and future—is possible when you commit to change. Get ready to Bring It!
Bring Me the Head of Trevor Brooking: Three Decades of East End Soap Opera at West Ham United
by Ben Sharratt Kirk BlowsWest Ham United last won a major trophy in 1980, but the roller-coaster ride of the past three decades has produced enough twists and turns, heroes and villains and contrasting emotions to grace the script of the most thrilling TV soap opera.Since Trevor Brooking headed home the FA Cup final winner against Arsenal, the Hammers have experienced delight and despair in not so equal measure, with a cast of controversial characters - either adored or abhorred - playing the key roles in a tale of fact rather than fiction.The saving of the club by David Sullivan and David Gold, as West Ham stared into the financial abyss following the ill-fated Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson reign, is the latest chapter in a saga that includes numerous promotions and relegations, great escapes, contentious changes of ownership and management, internal feuds, bust-ups and power struggles, the Carlos Tevez affair and the passing of legends Ron Greenwood, John Lyall and Bobby Moore, as well as several false dawns in the endless quest for success.Including exclusive interviews with key protoganists, Bring Me the Head of Trevor Brooking tells - for the very first time - the inside story behind 60 of the most significant developments at Upton Park in the modern era. Whether examining the contributions of Paolo Di Canio, Harry Redknapp and Frank McAvennie or Gianfranco Zola, Marco Boogers and Iain Dowie, the book celebrates the good, the bad and the ugly of West Ham United.
Bring on the Heat (Bad Boys of Baseball #1)
by Katie RoseIn Katie Rose's irresistible battle of wits, a case of mistaken identity lands a female fan in bed with a sexy superstar--and in major-league trouble. House-sitting for a rich and famous friend has its perks, and Darcy Hamel isn't shy about enjoying them. Especially when it means scoring a ticket to an exclusive fashion show hosted by the New Jersey Sonics. An avid baseball fan, Darcy has always dreamed of meeting the team--especially the starting pitcher whose body is as hot as his fastball. But there's a catch. The gala is by invitation only. To get behind the velvet rope, mild-mannered Darcy will have to pose as party girl Lydia Logan. Schmoozing is one of the downsides of fame, but Chase Westbrook knows how to liven up even the dullest event. And nothing spices a night up more than a beautiful socialite with a naughty reputation. What Chase doesn't expect is a hint of sweetness beneath her sultry façade. Flirtation turns to seduction and leaves him aching for more. Chase just doesn't know who the real Lydia is: the spoiled tease crying foul over some missing diamonds or the alluring woman making a play for his heart.Praise for Katie Rose and Bring on the Heat "The plot is believable, and, by the way, this story sizzles! Lots of hot yumminess to brighten any summer night."--Library Journal"Charming, sexy, and smart, Katie Rose's Boys of Summer series will make you wish it went into extra innings!"--USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne"Chase is my kind of sports hero: dedicated, determined, and dangerously desirable!"--Wendy S. Marcus, award-winning author of Secrets of a Shy Socialite "What can I say about this book . . . It is amazing! I loved it."--Libby's Fun Books"Bring on the Heat was a fun, quick read that has just enough baseball to keep it in the genre, but not so much that you lose readers who don't live and breathe sports!"--Two Moms Reading "Bring on the Heat is one of those stories that I enjoyed very much: a heroine who is mistaken for her high-profile employer, a major-league pitcher on the brink of superstardom, and too much publicity for them both, leading to all kinds of interesting issues."--Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews "Bring on the Heat was, quite possibly, the cutest end-of-summer book. It was a super quick, light read with adorable characters. And, I might add, it has baseball players. Hello!"--Crystal Blogs Books "Humor is an essential part of the book. . . . Even if you aren't a baseball fan, it's a fun read."--Tangled Hearts and Boxer Briefs "A cotton candy summer sports-themed romance, great for a beach read."--The Naughty Librarians Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from other Loveswept titles.
Bring the Noise: The Jürgen Klopp Story
by Raphael HonigsteinJürgen Klopp's coaching career began in the German second tier at the unfashionable club of FSV Mainz 05, whom he steered to the Bundesliga for the first time in forty-one years. In 2008, he joined Borussia Dortmund, where he achieved back-to-back league titles and took the club to the UEFA Champions League final. He left Germany for one of the England's most challenging jobs: to manage Liverpool, a once-mighty club that had not managed sustained success since the 1980s.It was not a task for the fainthearted. Anfield, Liverpool's home, is a temple to flamboyant attacking soccer powered by passion. In Klopp, Liverpool finally found a manager who embodied the essence of the club. Klopp is dynamic, expressive, restless, driven-he feels every move and play, every tactical shift, every contact on the field. His eyes betray a wild ecstasy and agony as his team thrives or falls. His game plan demands relentless commitment-the famous gegenpress-and he is one of the great personal motivators in all sport.Raphael Honigstein, author of Das Reboot and Budesliga correspondent for the Guardian, has interviewed Klopp and followed his career since his early years, and better than anyone knows how to "bring the noise" to his subject.
Bring Your "A" Game: A Young Athlete's Guide to Mental Toughness
by Jennifer L. EtnierMental training is just as important as physical training when it comes to success in sport. And like physical fitness, mental toughness is something that can be taught and learned. Yet many young athletes have not learned the psychological skills needed to develop their best game. This book was written specifically for young athletes interested in improving their performance and reaching their potential in sport. Bring Your "A" Gameintroduces key strategies for mental training, such as goal setting, pre-performance routines, confidence building, and imagery. Each of the seventeen chapters focuses on a single mental skill and offers key points and exercises designed to reinforce the concepts. The book encourages athletes to incorporate these mental skills into their daily lives and practice sessions so that they become second nature during competition. Whether used at home by student athletes or assigned by coaches as part of team development,Bring Your "A" Gamewill help young performers develop a plan for success and learn to deal with the challenges of pursuing excellence in sport.
Bringing Home the Ashes: Winning with England
by Joe RootFully updated to include England's series victory over South Africa and the World T20 Finals. Joe Root is undoubtedly cricket's next superstar, adored by fans and the press alike for his incredible talent and his cheeky personality. At just 24 years old he has already scored nearly 3,000 Test runs, taken 12 Test wickets. Joe was the star of England's incredible 2015 Ashes campaign - his knock of 130 at Trent Bridge secured the series victory and saw him named by the ICC as the best batsman in the world.This is Joe's personal account of his speedy climb to stardom, from schoolboy cricket to early days with Yorkshire, culminating with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to an England team at the top of their game.A perfect gift for all England cricket fans, this gives the inside story to an historic Ashes victory from a player who is instrumental to the team.
Bringing Home the Ashes: Winning with England
by Joe RootJoe Root is undoubtedly cricket's next superstar, adored by fans and the press alike for his incredible talent and his cheeky personality. At just 24 years old he has already scored nearly 3,000 Test runs, taken 12 Test wickets. Joe was the star of England's incredible 2015 Ashes campaign - his knock of 130 at Trent Bridge secured the series victory and saw him named by the ICC as the best batsman in the world.This is Joe's personal account of his speedy climb to stardom, from schoolboy cricket to early days with Yorkshire, culminating with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to an England team at the top of their game.BRINGING HOME THE ASHES is the inside story of one of the finest young talents in world cricket, told with the intelligence, personality and determination that characterise Root's performances at the crease.
Bringing the Heat
by Mark Bowden“An ambitious, remarkably frank” story of the Philadelphia Eagles’ bid for the NFL championship by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author (Kirkus Reviews). In 1992, the Philadelphia Eagles—a team assembled in the image of their iconoclastic, controversial former head coach, Buddy Ryan—were known for their ferocious defense led by Reggie White, Seth Joyner, and Andre Waters, and for the otherworldly talents of quarterback Randall Cunningham. Now was the time for the Eagles’ campaign for the championship. But as the season progressed, it disintegrated into an ugly flurry of greed, racism, violence, personal and professional feuds, one tragic death, and a very wild face-off in the stands between a player’s wife and mistress. By midseason, the sentiment of fans and press was the same: “shut up and play.” A no-holds-barred account told through the personal stories of the teammates themselves, as well as the coaches, managers and owner, Bringing the Heat spares nothing—and no one—in “a phenomenal feat of reportage, perfect for football fans coast to coast” (H. G. Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights). “Overflows with stories of pro football dreams, of bravery in the face of injury. Yet it also unflinchingly tells of the darker side of life in the NFL: uncontrolled egos, ruined families, marital infidelity.” —The New York Times Book Review “There are now four mandatory books on football: Dan Jenkins’s Semi-Tough; George Plimpton’s Paper Lion; H. G. Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights, and the hilarious, incorrigible son of them all, Mark Bowden’s Bringing the Heat.” —Michael Bamberger, Sports Illustrated “Bowden pulls no punches . . . as thorough an account of a sports franchise as any fan, even Eagles fanatics, could want.” —Publishers Weekly
Bristol Dragway (Images of Sports)
by David M. Mcgee Kenny BernsteinBristol Dragway was carved into an East Tennesseemountainside in 1965. In the more than four decadessince, the track known as "Thunder Valley" has carved its niche as a world-class facility in professional drag racing. Located adjacent to Bristol Motor Speedway, the dragway's well-earned nickname stems from the unique acoustic experience fans get when the power of unlimited racing engines echoes off the nearby hillsides. Bristol Dragway retraces the track's early history, its role in shaping the sport, and its return to prominence after an $18 million renovation in the late 1990s. The book features images of drag racing's greatest stars and chronicles decades of the sport's most memorable moments.
Bristol Motor Speedway
by David M. Mcgee Sonya HaskinsWhen Bristol's race track opened in 1961, tickets were often given away to fill the 18,000 seats. Over the years, Bristol Motor Speedway has grown to 160,000 seats and legendary status among race fans. There is a fascination with the unforgettable moments that take place at the track, including rivalries that are hard to miss when fans can watch all the action around the half-mile track no matter where they are seated.
Britain and the Olympic Games, 1908-1920: Perspectives on Participation and Identity (Palgrave Studies in Sport and Politics)
by Luke J. HarrisBritain and the Olympic Games, 1908-1920 focuses upon the presentation and descriptions of identity that are presented through the depictions of the Olympics in the national press. This book breaks Britain down into its four nations and presents the debates that were present within their national press.
Britain’s Olympic Women: A History (Routledge Research in Sports History)
by Jean WilliamsBritain has a long and distinguished history as an Olympic nation. However, most Olympic histories have focused on men’s sport. This is the first book to tell the story of Britain’s Olympic women, how they changed Olympic spectacle and how, in turn, they have reinterpreted the Games. Exploring the key themes of gender and nationalism, and presenting a wealth of new empirical, archival evidence, the book explores the sporting culture produced by British women who aspired to become Olympians, from the early years of the modern Olympic movement. It shines new light on the frameworks imposed on female athletes, individually and as a group, by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the various affiliated sporting international federations. Using oral history and family history sources, the book tells of the social processes through which British Olympic women have become both heroes and anti- eroes in the public consciousness. Exploring the hidden narratives around women such as Charlotte Cooper, Lottie Dod, Audrey Brown and Pat Smythe, and bringing the story into the modern era of London 2012, Dina Asher- mith and Katarina Johnson- hompson, the book helps us to better understand the complicated relationship between sport, gender, media and wider society. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in sport history, Olympic history, women’s history, British history or gender studies.
British Asians and Football: Culture, Identity, Exclusion (Routledge Critical Studies in Sport)
by Daniel BurdseyIn spite of a great passion in the game and significant involvement at amateur level, British Asians are under-represented in professional football. This book asks how and why this situation has developed, using extensive interviews with British Asian football players to offer an insider’s assessment of the difficulties and conflicting demands faced every day. In addition, the book also critically examines the work of the anti-racist football movement, questioning the strategies and policies designed to eradicate racism and asking whether other approaches might be more effective or reflective of the views of the players themselves. Ideal for academics and students of the sociology of ethnicity, sport, youth studies or cultural studies, this innovative book will also be of interest to professionals in the field of equal opportunities.
British Asians, Exclusion and the Football Industry (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society)
by Daniel KilvingtonThis book examines the exclusion of British Asians from the football industry, drawing on a wealth of empirical work with players, coaches, scouts, managers, fans, anti-racist organisations, community officers, and key stakeholders. It adopts a critical race theory (CRT) perspective to offer a platform for excluded communities to discuss their experiences and offer their advice, guidance and criticisms. Notions of whiteness, intersectionalities and gender are explored and filter throughout. This book highlights historical and contemporary reasons for the British Asian exclusion from football, critically examines a number of tried and tested inclusion strategies, and offers recommendations for reform to help achieve equality and inclusion. The research aims to: dehomogenise British Asian football experiences offer the counter-narratives of British Asian male and females to challenge master-narratives comprehend the importance of intersectionalities understand identity shifts and cultural changes challenge socio-cultural stereotypes and racial myths highlight contemporary manifestations of racisms in football at all levels examine the role 'parallel football' environments have played in the exclusion cast a critical eye over inclusion initiatives promote recommendations for reform which are born out of empirical research As long as marginalized groups, such as British Asians, are excluded from a field of popular culture, in this case football, it is a topic that demands attention, deserves investigation and requires solutions. It is hoped that this book can be of use to students, researchers and policymakers who share an active interest in football, exclusion and equality.
The British Boxing Film
by Stephen GlynnThis book constitutes the first full volume dedicated to an academic analysis of the sport of boxing as depicted in British film. Through close textual analysis, production and reception histories and readings that establish social, cultural and political contexts, the book explores the ways in which prizefighters, amateur boxers, managers and supporters (from Regency gentry to East End gangsters) are represented on the British screen. Exploring a complex and controversial sport, it addresses not only the pain-versus-reward dilemma that boxing necessarily engenders, but also the frequently censorious attitude of those in authority, with boxing’s social development facilitating a wider study around issues of class, gender and race, latterly contesting the whole notion of ‘Britishness’. Varying in scope from Northern circuit comedies to London-based ‘ladsploitation’ films, from auteur entries by Alfred Hitchcock to programme fillers by E.J. Fancey, the boxing film also serves as a prism through which one can trace major historical shifts in the British film industry.
The British Football Film
by Stephen GlynnThis book constitutes the first full volume dedicated to an academic analysis of British football as depicted on film. From early single-camera silents to its current multi-screen mediations, the repeated treatment of football in British cinema points to the game’s importance not only in the everyday rhythms of national life but also, and especially, its immutable place in the British imaginary landscape. Through close textual analysis together with production and reception histories, this book explores the ways in which professional footballers, amateur players and supporters (the devoted and the demonized) have been represented on the British screen. As well as addressing the joys and sorrows the game necessarily engenders, British football is shown to function as an accessible structure to explore wider issues such as class, race, gender and even the whole notion of ‘Britishness’.
British Football & Social Exclusion (Sport in the Global Society)
by Stephen WaggThis book takes stock of British football at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It is written by a range of concerned academics and writers, all of whom have an active relationship with the contemporary football world. The book assesses the changes that have occurred in many areas of football culture and the political and academic debates that have accompanied these changes.English football in particular, it seems, is 'fat city'. The Premiership, now eight years old, has, via satellite television, become a globalised phenomenon: there are Liverpool supporters in Bangladesh, Chelsea fans in sub-Saharan Africa and Manchester United followers across the globe. Grounds are full. Top class football attracts people to bars and pubs in huge numbers. Hooliganism appears a thing of the past. Everyone seems to love football and/or to support a team. The British football media are generally euphoric in their rendering of contemporary football culture.However, the contributors to this book argue that the heavily commodified, PR-driven and cartelised British football world, with which so many contemporary politicians and other public figures rush to identify themselves, has either created, exacerbated or continued to ignore serious problems of social exclusion problems of class and community, race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality and age.