Digital Commons Network^™

On Sport And Society 01-07-2003, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Cub fans are a unique species. Attachment to losing is taken to a level of religious fanaticism by the Cub faithful. Of course the charm of the Cubs is not simply that they lose, but that they are lovable losers. This is what inspires undying devotion in their fans. Indeed if the Cubs were to do the improbable, nay the impossible, and win a World Series, Cub fans would risk losing the essence of their Cubness.

Winona Currents, University Advancement-Winona State University

Winona Currents

This magazine published by Winona State University’s University Advancement was intended to inform WSU Alumni, students, faculty, staff and the greater community about Alumni and the university. It also includes an Annual Report published in December of each year.

Ua19/16/1 Western Kentucky Hilltopper Soccer, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Media guide for the 2003 soccer season.

2003 January-May, Morehead State University. Office Of Athletics.

Morehead State Athletics Press Release Archives

Morehead State Athletics press releases from January to May of 2003.

An Evening With Cub Fans In Scotland: The Craigs Of Rockford, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Cub fans are a unique species. Attachment to losing is taken to a level of religious fanaticism by the Cub faithful. Of course the charm of the Cubs is not simply that they lose, but that they are lovable losers. This is what inspires undying devotion in their fans. Indeed if the Cubs were to do the improbable, nay the impossible, and win a World Series I suspect Cub fans would lose the essence of their Cubness.

Roone Arledge: A Tribute, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

The death of Roone Arledge this past week marks the passing of one those remarkable figures in recent history who had a major influence on mass culture in America. He changed the viewing habits of Americans, transformed the way in which television covers sport, altered the nature and character of American sport, and transformed the way in which television presents reality to the American public. For all of these reasons Roone Arledge cast a large shadow over America in the second half of the twentieth century.

The Masters Of Hypocrisy: Hootie, Tiger, Cbs, And The Corporate Sponsors, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Could there be an issue more emblematic of the Bush Era in domestic affairs than the smoldering muck pile being stoked at the legendary Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Master’s and seat of hypocrisy in the “New” South? Maybe there is, but until it comes across my laptop this will do.

Baseball: Labor Peace And Great Play In The Post-Season, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It was a baseball season to remember for a multitude of reasons. Just a year ago Luis Gonzalez denied the Yankees the hardware when his bloop single over a drawn-in infield sent the Diamondback fans partying into the night.

Hockey In Sweden And Finland: The European Game Is Better, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It was just about a year ago that I sat in a bar in Halifax and listened to a former Canadian hockey player explain that the European game, sans red line, was not a more open offensive style of hockey than that played in North America. After watching the tremendous hockey on display at the Olympic games last February I doubted the validity of the analysis. Over the last week after seeing two games, one in Sweden and one in Finland, I am even more skeptical of those defending the red line.

Central Florida Future, Vol. 35 No. 18, October 17, 2002

Central Florida Future

The gloves come off; New senators new priorities for SGA; Professors moonlight with OPO.

The English Primeirship: My Introduction To The Beautiful Game In England, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Outlined on a blue-gray October sky, or was it a September sky? Actually it was both and it was football. The four horsemen of Notre Dame were nowhere to be seen nor was Grantland Rice. It was English Premiership football and now after attending two games and watching others on television I am beginning to get a feel for this sport that makes Americans yawn and the world go into a frenzy.

The Protest Against Fox Hunting - A Report From London, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Over 400,000 people marched through London yesterday in the largest protest ever seen in the English capital. They were not here to say no to the war with Iraq, they were not here to protest the crisis in the National Health Services. Believe it or not they were here to say no to the Blair government on plans to ban fox hunting.

Baseball's Collective Bargainng Agreement: A New Era?, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It is difficult from this distance and without adequate Internet access to know precisely what happened to produce the settlement in the collective bargaining process between the owners and players in major league baseball. London is a major metropolitan area of the world with no lack of communications with the outside world, but quite frankly the level of interest in baseball is minimal. So it is with some trepidation that I try to comment on what has happened in the world of baseball over the past few weeks.

Minor League Basketball Organizations: Making Them Work, Derek Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Minor league basketball organizations have wilted under the competition's spotlight. These leagues tried to present fans with an entertaining alternative to professional sports.

Minor league basketball's efforts to entertain fans have been unsuccessful. This study examines why these organizations have not succeeded. Through interviews, research and survey results potential solutions have been discovered.

Eighty surveys were distributed to teams and executives from basketball organizations. The surveys obtained information on ticket prices, attendance and reasons why minor league basketball has struggled.

The study revealed that minor league basketball suffers from a lack of leadership, fan interest and financial stability. Suggestions were …

Jeremy Bloom, The Ncaa, And Hypocrisy, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It was reported yesterday that Jeremy Bloom one of the top mogul skiers in the U.S. is seeking an injunction against the NCAA. Bloom wants to play football at the University of Colorado this year but NCAA regulations will not allow it because Bloom has received money for personal appearances, endorsements, and modeling. These are related to his skiing skills, not his football prowess. Although the NCAA will allow an athlete to sign a professional contract in one sport and compete in another sport, NCAA bylaws allow them to receive money from other pro sports only if that money is …

The Athlete As Hero: Changing Models, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Like it or not sports figures have become high profile role models and heroes in contemporary popular culture. From the first days of the sport and media mix, sporting heroes were either created or emerged by some natural or unnatural mixing of need and admiration.

The Williams Sisters Dominate And Redefine Tennis, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Last weekend at Wimbledon the traditional fortnight at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ended with a victory by Serena Williams in yet another all Williams Ladies Final. This was the third Williams sister meeting in a Grand Slam final, and the second win in a row for Serena who defeated her older sister just a few weeks earlier in the French Open final. Venus won the first of Grand Slam sister events at the U.S. Open in 2001.

The Cursed All-Star Game In Milwaukee: Bud Lite Makes The Bad Worse, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

From the beginning the omens were bad. At the home run hitting contest Sammy Sosa ran out of gas in round three and could only get one out of the park. Then it started raining and for a brief moment ESPN showed that beautiful waterfall coming off the roof. Was this part of the construction flaw at the brand new Miller Park, Bud Selig's monument to himself extorted from the people of Wisconsin?

Death Of Ted Williams: A Tribute, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Ted Williams is dead at 83. A simple sentence that most American sports fans have seen or heard in the past twelve hours. What follows for each person will vary by age and background. For me it is one of those moments when you are aware that something that has been a constant throughout your life is no more.

Deaths In Baseball: Jack Buck And Darryl Kile, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

The loss displayed on the faces of his teammates was palpable. At the extraordinary gathering in St. Louis Wednesday afternoon Darryl Kile's teammates, past and present, together with family, friends and fans paid tribute to the pitcher who died last Saturday of heart failure at the age of 33.

Title Ix Turns 30, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the passage of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 whose section, Title IX, transformed sport in America. After thirty years the achievements of Title IX are impressive, while the controversy over it has been growing steadily especially over the last few years.

Phil Jackson And Scotty Bowman In The Coaching Elite, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

This past week both Phil Jackson and Scotty Bowman won a record ninth championship in their given sports. These two coaches now join the elite in the coaching fraternity and just in their own sports. Bowman and Jackson have become two of the great coaches in the history of professional sport in North America. When the names of the great coaches like Lombardi, Auerbach, McCarthy and Blake are cited, the names of Scotty Bowman and Phil Jackson must now be listed with them.

Cheerleading Cheating - Jesus And Baseball In Georgia - The U.S.Open Golf- Coin Flip At Fifa, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Over the past several weeks a number of small stories have been floating in my head. The most instructive involved cheerleading which some people are now claiming is a sport. If sport is defined as anything done in competition, something that colleges give scholarships for, and something that leads to cheating, then cheerleading qualifies.

Steroids In Baseball: Say It Might Not Be So If You Can, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

I am shocked! There may be crying in baseball, but certainly not steroids. Say it isn’t so Bud, Mark, Sammy, Barry, Ken, Jose and all the rest!

Baseball Labor Negotiations: A Strike Or Lockout On The Horizon?, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Here it is not even Memorial Day the traditional first marker in the baseball pennant races and the talk of a baseball strike is already in the air. What a lovely thought as spring moves on towards summer. Last week the news came that Donald Fehr and other Player's Association executives have been telling players to prepare themselves for a possible strike.

Sexual Abuse Of Players In Junior Hockey, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

On Tuesday I was listening to the "Jim Rome Show" while driving into the campus and I heard a painful and astounding interview with Sheldon Kennedy. As some of you will remember Kennedy was the NHL player for the Boston Bruins who revealed in late 1996 that as a young boy and then young man he was subject to repeated sexual abuse by his hockey coach Graham James.

Formula One: Is Winning Always The Goal For All Competitors, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Which is more important, the team or the individual? A rather simple question which seemingly should have a simple and easy answer. Of course not all team sports are purely team sports. Some team sports are as much or more individual sports than team sports. The mix varies. Some team sports are only marginally so. This can confuse the issue.

2002 May-December, Morehead State University. Office Of Athletics.

Morehead State Athletics Press Release Archives

Morehead State Athletics press releases from May to December of 2002.

Head Hunting In The Nhl Playoffs: Not The Beautiful Game Seen In The Olympics, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Is it just me or does headhunting in the National Hockey League look to be on the rise in this new playoff season?

The Bad And Ugly: Cell Phones Invade The Arena, Canadian Athem Booed, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It has been one of those weeks when the good, the bad, and the ugly have appeared on my television screen - In sports, not in the news. In two cases, the bad and the ugly, fans are at center stage.