Combining theory with practical application, this collection of real-life, provocative case studies on social issues in sports provides students with the opportunity to make the call on ethical and professional dilemmas faced by a variety of sport and communication professionals.
The case studies examine the successes and failures of communication in the corporate culture of sport intersecting with social issues including race, gender, religion, social media, mass media, public health, and LGBTQ+ issues. Topics include the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, sexual abuse scandals, domestic violence, cultural appropriation, and mental health. Each chapter contextualizes a specific issue, presents relevant theory and practical communication principles, and leads into discussion questions to prompt critical reflection. The book encourages students to view the evidence themselves, consider competing ethical and professional claims, and formulate practical responses.
This collection serves as a scholarly text for courses in sport communication, business, intercultural communication, public relations, journalism, media studies, and sport management.
Part I: Introduction to Sport and Social Issues
1. Sport and Social Issues: The Touchdowns and Strikeouts
Terry L. Rentner
Part II: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
2. "The Rooney Ruse": Systemic Racism and Hiring NFL Head Coaches
David P. Burns and Chris B. Geyerman
3. When Fandom Stains Your Team: Evaluating the effectiveness of the Utah
Jazzs organizational responses to racist incidents
Nicola A. Corbin and Anne Bialowas
4. Concussion settlement and racial norming: The NFL fumbles into a crisis
Cory Young, Terry Rentner and Annemarie Farrell
5. Major League Soccers Navigation of the 2019 Iron Front Crisis
Caleb Bills
6. Protecting the Brees brand: How Drew Brees Said "Sorry" for his National
Anthem Protest Comments
Steph Doehler
7. Kicking Hate Out of Our Game: San Diego Loyal Soccer Clubs Stand
Against Racism and Homophobia
Jeffrey W. Kassing, Isaiah D. Utley and Steffanie M. Kiourkas
8. Issues and Crisis Management in Athlete Activism: Colin Kaepernick and
Take a Knee
Lillian Feder
9. Reputation Management Strategies at ESPN
Kevin Hull and Denetra Walker
10. From Les Esquimaux to The Elks: Addressing Social Responsibility in the
Canadian Football League
David J. Jackson and Lori Liggett
11. In the Space of Indecision: Social and Cultural Challenges Facing Major
League: Soccer NEXT Academies
Saleema Mustafa Campbell and Erin E. Gilles
12. #WeAreAllMonkeys: Eating Bananas as the Intersection of Hashtag Activism
and Anti-Racist Solidarity
Pratik Nyaupane
13. The Milwaukee Bucks: Professional Athletic Labors Position in Racist
Late-Stage Capitalism
Kevin G. Thompson
Part III: Gender Equity, Identity, and Sexual Misconduct
14. Conquering a Boys Club Using an Issues Management Approach: How Womens
Soccer May Pioneer a Path to Pay Equity
Terry L. Rentner and David P. Burns
15. Communicating in Crisis without the Power to Act
Bradley J. Baker
16. Strategic Resistance through Communication Capital: Rapinoes Reframing
of Women-Identified Athletes through Mind-Body Performance for Social Change
Elesha L. Ruminski and Dorene Ciletti
17. Alysia, Allyson, and Nikes Band of Brothers: Exposing the Hypocrisy
between Corporate Marketing and Internal Practices
Amy Aldridge Sanford, Nikola Grafnetterova and RJ Loa
18. Let Them Wear Shorts! Analyzing the Norwegian Womens Beach Handball
Teams Uniform Code Protest
Megan R. Hill, Karen T. Erlandson and Katey A. Price
19. Sports News Media, Major Leagues, and Intimate Partner Violence
Steve Ingham, Jade Metzger-Riftkin and Tara McManus
20. Play like the Lady you are: Marketing Womens Gaelic football
Niamh Kitching
21. Trans inclusion in sports: assumed advantages, (un)fairness, and athlete
well-being
Aaron W. Gurlly
Part IV: Mental Health and COVID-19 Pandemic
22. Athlete Influence in Regard to Mask Wearing: An Application of Social
Cognitive Theory
Lindsey J. DiTirro and Jennifer R. Allen Catellier
23. Controlling the Narrative: NBC, USA Gymnastics, and Simone Biles at the
2020 Summer Olympic Games
Aaron W. Gurlly
24. "We Hope to See You Soon" The Green Bay Packers' Crisis Management
through a Letter to the Fans during COVID-19 Mega-Crisis
Julia C. Richmond
25. Blaming Biles: Intersectionality and Organizational Obligations to Mental
Health
Jeff Nagel and Scott J. Varda
26. How Can Organizations Better Support Athletes? A Case Study of the Impact
of COVID-19 on Minoritized Communities in Intercollegiate Sport
Yannick Kluch, Shaun M. Anderson and Tomika L. Ferguson
Terry L. Rentner is Professor in the School of Media and Communication at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio, USA.
David P. Burns is Professor in the Department of Communication at Salisbury University in Maryland, USA.
