Sport and 20th Century American Society

Sport and the ‘American Way’

‘America’, said President Clinton in 1998, ‘is a sports crazy country, and we often see games as a metaphor or symbol of what we are as a people.’ Many Americans considered that sport reflected all that was good about the ‘American Way’: both were supposedly characterised by the capacity for hard work, equal opportunities for advancement, competitiveness and frequent success. Team games and team spirit correlated with good citizenship, and all sports strengthened character: Presidents Theodore Roosevelt (1901- 9) and Ronald Reagan (1981-9) praised sport as the preparation and proving ground for subsequent business or political challenges. Sport fostered a sense of community: Oakland’s Mayor said the city’s football team gave it ‘the pride and identity’ it needed.

However, some believed sport represented all that was bad in the American character – excessive greed, commercialisation, violence, drug abuse and cheating.