A leading psychologist explores the phenomenon of athletes across the sports world who engage in high-risk behavior that often destroys lives, bodies, and reputations. From sex and drugs to violence, gambling, and wholesale conspiracies, scandals are everywhere in sports. Each of these problems is its own issue, and every case is separate, but taken as a whole this criminal pathology is indicative of a widespread problem with athletes and responsibility. In this wide-ranging and deep-seeking investigation, psychologist Stanley H. Teitelbaum asks why elite athletes take enormous risks with their lives and careers. Teitelbaum analyzes and diagnoses this culturally resonant set of problems with an honest, critical eye, looking at everything from baseball's steroid abusers to gambling scandals in the NBA to the steady stream of athletes arrested for domestic violence to the murder trials of O.J. Simpson and wrestler Chris Benoit. A concluding chapter holds sports commissioners and others to task for hiding behind a façade of ignorance and duplicitous naïveté in attempting to cover up or defuse brewing scandals.

Sports are inspiring and uplifting. They can also bring out some of the worst characteristics in human nature: narcissism, prejudice, greed. This book looks at the major sports scandals in modern American history, from the Black Sox fix of 1919 to the current concussion crisis in the NFL. With today's digital media and the tremendous amount of money involved in sports, scandals are becoming more frequent and more damaging. How should a sports league respond to a scandal, act to protect the integrity of their organization, and address their many audiences—the fans, the media, and other players—when things go wrong? This book covers the big three sports—football, baseball, and basketball—to illuminate some of the biggest scandals in the history of American sports, using case studies to explain the scandals and the organizations' responses to crises. The work examines the major sports scandals in the 20th and 21st centuries, including the Black Sox fix of 1919, the institutional racism faced by Jackie Robinson in the late 1940s, the point-shaving scheme in 1950s-era college basketball, and unresolved crises that continue to damage sports today. Author Edward J. Lordan describes the historic conditions surrounding the scandals and administrators' responses to identifying, addressing and, when possible, resolving these crises.

The book explores the changing landscape of anti-doping investigations, which now largely centre on the collection of intelligence about doping through processes such as surveillance, interviews with witnesses and interrogation of athletes. It examines why and how investigative processes, hitherto typically reserved for serious crimes, have been co-opted by anti-doping agencies into a situation where their potential for harm has received little or no critical consideration. This book highlights the opportunities and threats inherent in adopting new investigative processes. It is expected that many of the same problems that have engulfed forensic investigations over the last two decades, such as miscarriages of justice, are likely to surface in future anti-doping investigations. Drawing on empirical research and theory from a range of disciplines, including: forensic psychology, criminology, policing, law, sports management and policy studies, this book fills a scholarly vacuum on the investigation of doping through non-biological detection methods.

The essays in this book arise from the premise that Tiger Woods is not simply a phenomenal player but is also an Everyman who has displayed all-too-human foibles and weaknesses. The first half of the collection focuses on Tiger's superman game and how he has affected, and been affected by, the golfing world. Works on the sport that examine this supreme golfer cannot capture the full significance of the Tiger Woods phenomenon, however. Unlike many other talented athletes, Woods has transcended his sport, becoming a cultural icon. In the second half of the book, scholars examine everyman Tiger, illustrating how his life reflects significant and often contentious issues within American culture and the world.

In Smart Money, Dr. Teitelbaum conveys how to identify and overcome our emotional roadblocks that interfere with successful investing, and he explores ways for people to develop greater trust in their ability to navigate their own investment decisions and to reduce their reliance on financial advisors. We all have personality issues that can become impediments to successful investing in the stock market and lead us into pitfalls, like buying high and selling low, following the herd, and searching for the next guru. Dr. Teitelbaum explains how addressing and overcoming our personal obstacles and implementing a set of guidelines such as distinguishing luck from skill, leaving your ego out of investment decisions, recognizing the value of self-discipline, avoiding self-deception, taming your inner con man and inner critic, and tuning out the media “noise” will enable investors to achieve a greater degree of success. Praise for Smart Money “In this painstakingly researched and well-written book, the clinical psychologist Stan Teitelbaum has applied his craft to something all investors know too well—our emotions, and human foibles often diminish our portfolio results. He takes you through countless cases of common mistakes using markets and the heroes of the past. As you read it, you will personally identify with some of his examples and find yourself saying, “That’s me!” As a result, you are likely to learn some important money-management lessons along the way.” Byron Wien, vice chairman of Blackstone Private Wealth Solutions Group “Stanley Teitelbaum’s disciplined approach to investing is a wise path for individual investors to build wealth over time. His understanding of the stock market’s volatility, its cyclicality, its inherent risks, and its history of performance informs that approach. Dr. Teitelbaum illustrates clearly how our own behavior and our very human impulses often lie at the bottom of our disappointing investment results and how recognizing and controlling our behavior can lead to successful investing.” Al Messina, managing director, Silvercrest Asset Management Group “This is quite an engaging book about psychological perceptions of risk and its relation to stock investing. It should appeal to both financial types and a general audience.” Edward N. Wolff, professor of economics, New York University

Elite level sport lends itself to a highly competitive environment that encourages players to seek a competitive advantage in order to win. Since competition is an inherent condition that is also considered desirable in this setting, it may at first glance seem as if cooperation does not have any room in elite level sports. Sustainable cooperation can be mutually advantageous for players, but it only has a chance of coming into fruition if it is also in line with individual players’ self-interests. In order for morality and self-interests to align with one another, investment in the conditions is required. Alicia Bockel analyzes ways that players can invest in the conditions of sustainable cooperation for a mutual advantage despite a highly competitive sports environment.

This book explores the deeper meaning of sports. Drawing on contemporary research, the author makes a strong case for why we should see sport not only in terms of religion but--more importantly-as a possible location for spiritual meaning. Taking this a step farther, she considers how gene editing, robotics, and other biomedical technological enhancements affect not only sports performances but experiences of sport as sacred. In addition, the author explores what difference it might make to the enhancement debate if sports’ spirituality is taken seriously. The author is not afraid to explore the issue in all its complexity. Yet, the argument she presents is both meaningful and accessible. This investigation applies insights from Christian theology, applied ethics, psychology, and sports studies. From lightweight tennis racquets to anabolic steroids, athletes have long used technology and science to improve their performances. But, until now, no one has asked how biomedical technological enhancements might affect the undervalued spiritual dimension of sport. This book presents rich insights into the connection between sports, spirituality, and human enhancement technologies. It will appeal to researchers, athletes and sports followers, and undergraduate and graduate students in ethics, sport, religion or theology.