Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2023 -

This is a very readable global overview and updating of doping and anti-doping in amateur and professional sport: testing, scandals, and suggestions for improvement. Henning and Dimeo (Univ. of Stirling) discuss amphetamines--both military use during World War II and postwar by high school, college, and professional teams, particularly in cycling--correcting and clarifying the story that Danish cyclist Knud Jensen's death reflected doping. They offer a brief history of the use of anabolic steroids in the Olympics, challenging the definitions of doping by comparing notions of "natural" versus "artificial," i.e., tailored diet, vitamin and protein supplements, specialized equipment, training techniques, etc. According to the authors, East Germany actively promoted and managed steroid use between the mid-1960s and late 1980s; it was also widely assumed that the Soviet Union had a similar national system to monitor doses and excretion rates ahead of competition, as exposed in 2016. The important message is that athletes should be respected and empowered to share their views, participate in collective bargaining and policy making, and receive legal and financial aid. In terms of testing, less invasive methods--i.e., hair analysis--should be considered. Numerous black-and-white photographs as well as the helpful "Further Reading" section enhance the text. A glossary would have been helpful. All told, this is a must-read.Summing Up: Essential. All readers.

Riess (emer., Northeastern Illinois Univ.), who previously authored The Sport of Kings and the Kings of Crime (CH, Jan'12, 49-2887), considers the story of both harness and thoroughbred racing within the context of political influence and misdeeds during the Windy City's growth. Given that turf sport is the oldest organized recreation in the US and gambling arguably a characteristic of the national spirit, Riess assesses how both functioned in Chicago, despite religious and Progressive campaigns against them, from the city's incorporation until the fifth election of Mayor Carter Harrison II. Riess underscores social differences between middle-class trotting and elitist pacing, explaining how wagering spurred spectators' interest--and owners' profits. For general readers, Riess helpfully defines the jargon: heats, sulkies, parimutuels, and bookmaking. Specialist readers will appreciate the author's statistical support and details regarding the legal status of racing (as compared to boxing). Racing and gambling venues were usually places for showcasing male chance-taking, but women too were racetrack spectators and gamblers, albeit in gendered betting facilities. All readers might enjoy descriptions of quintessential personalities such as Alderman "Bathhouse" Coughlin, "Blind John" Condon, "Big Ed" Corrigan, and one of the highest paid athletes in the 1880s, African American jockey Isaac Murphy. This is a sourcebook for Chicago as well as sport history.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. General readers.

Brown (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison) has revised her 2017 dissertation on Althea Gibson into a highly readable book. Gibson was a natural athlete who excelled in multiple sports and became the first African American (man or woman) tennis winner at the Wimbledon, French Open, and Forest Hills tournaments during the 1950s. In addition to facing racism, she also encountered sexism and questions about her sexuality before she was married. She was scrutinized at a preposterous level and was subjected to criticism in the press and elsewhere for every imagined breach of convention. Brown provides excellent documentation. Her method of interweaving Gibson's life story with contemporary events that were occurring in the fight for civil rights is especially enlightening. Only amateur players could play in the major tournaments during Gibson's time, so she never received the level of remuneration for her tennis prowess that professional women players could obtain once the so-called Open Era began a decade later (c. 1968). Gibson's later career endeavors included performing as a singer, public speaker, professional golfer, and instructor. This stellar biography stands as a tribute to the bravery and perseverance of a pioneer.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

This is an international collection of fifteen inspiring stories of successful aging, as recounted by different educator athletes in response to a protocol of fifteen questions designed to elicit their personal histories in sports. Gems (past president of the North American Society for Sport History) provides an introduction covering the background to aging and sports, and a concluding summary. More female than male athletes are represented in the population, characterized by diverse gender identities and coming from England, Denmark, Germany, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, and the US. Americans describe parents and other relatives who emigrated from, e.g., England, Italy, Poland, and Mexico. These contributing authors reveal different physical education opportunities and experiences with individual and team sports, discuss training and the lack of female coaches, and attest to the value of higher education and financial security, quality medical care, access to international travel, long-term partnerships, and cherished teammates. Some contributors note that Asian cultures appreciate the wisdom of elderly people and thus expect adult children and grandchildren to visit and look after aged parents, while western societies build senior care housing that few families can afford. Some note that access to different kinds of sports can be limited by particular situations. Survey questions are listed in an appendix.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.