You probably had a childhood idolthat one special person who meant the world to you. It might have been a family member, a teacher or a coach. Its also quite possible you were first drawn to a professional athlete you saw on television or read about in a magazine or newspaper. Many of us once dreamed of becoming a pro athlete just like our first childhood hero. But, do the athletes we idolize have someone they considered to be extra special when they were kids? In Sports Idols Idols, nearly 150 past and present athletesincluding dozens of Hall of Famersshare stories about their very first childhood heroes. They discuss what it was like the first time they met their idols. Many experienced euphoria. However, a few were crushed when their encounters did not go as anticipated. In this oral history, some of the most well-known sports figures from yesterday and today tell you about their idols and about special moments in their lives and careers. Go ahead! Reach for the stars! In Sports Idols Idols, sports fans of all ages will learn about the heroes of their heroes.

Explores the impact of sixteen great athletes on American history and culture

On the court and on the field they are the world?s winners, exhibiting a natural grace and prowess their adoring fans can only dream about. Yet so often, off the field our sports heroes lose their perspective, their balance, and ultimately their place. In a work as timely as the latest fracas on the basketball court or the most recent drug-induced scandal in the dugout, Stanley H. Teitelbaum looks into the circumstances behind many star athletes? precipitous fall from grace. ø In his psychotherapy practice, Teitelbaum has worked extensively with professional athletes and sports agents?work he draws on here for insight into the psyche of sports figures and the off-the-field challenges they face. Considering both historical and current cases, he shows how, in many instances, the very factors that elevate athletes to superstardom contribute to their downfall. An evenhanded and honest look at athletes who have faltered, Teitelbaum?s work helps us see past our sports stars? exalted images into what those images?and their frailty?say about our society and ourselves.

On the court and on the field they are the world?s winners, exhibiting a natural grace and prowess their adoring fans can only dream about. Yet so often, off the field our sports heroes lose their perspective, their balance, and ultimately their place. In a work as timely as the latest fracas on the basketball court or the most recent drug-induced scandal in the dugout, Stanley H. Teitelbaum looks into the circumstances behind many star athletes? precipitous fall from grace. ø In his psychotherapy practice, Teitelbaum has worked extensively with professional athletes and sports agents?work he draws on here for insight into the psyche of sports figures and the off-the-field challenges they face. Considering both historical and current cases, he shows how, in many instances, the very factors that elevate athletes to superstardom contribute to their downfall. An evenhanded and honest look at athletes who have faltered, Teitelbaum?s work helps us see past our sports stars? exalted images into what those images?and their frailty?say about our society and ourselves.

America loves sports. This book examines and details the proof of this fascination seen throughout American society—in our literature, film, and music; our clothing and food; and the iconography of the nation. This momentous four-volume work examines and details the cultural aspects of sport and how sport pervasively reflects—and affects—myriad aspects of American society from the early 1900s to the present day. Written in a straightforward, readable manner, the entries cover both historical and contemporary aspects of sport and American culture. Unlike purely historical encyclopedias on sports, the contributions within these volumes cover related subject matter such as poetry, novels, music, films, plays, television shows, art and artists, mythologies, artifacts, and people. While this encyclopedia set is ideal for general readers who need information on the diverse aspects of sport in American culture for research purposes or are merely reading for enjoyment, the detailed nature of the entries will also prove useful as an initial source for scholars of sport and American culture. Each entry provides a number of both print and online resources for further investigation of the topic.

Examines the intersection of sports and American popular culture from the early 1900s to the present.

This high-interest series for young readers profiles six of today s most exciting athletes. Each book traces a sports star s career from childhood through the current day and features full-color pictures, a glossary, an index, and a link to a list of relevant web sites.