By Joseph E. Taylor, III (NHC Fellow, 2002–03; 2018–19) Few things suggest rugged individualism as powerfully as the solitary mountaineer testing his or her mettle in the rough country. Yet the long history of wilderness sport complicates this image. In this surprising story of the premier rock-climbing venue in the United States, Pilgrims of the Vertical offers … Continued
By Laurent Dubois (NHC Fellow, 2008–09; 2016–17) When France both hosted and won the World Cup in 1998, the face of its star player, Zinedine Zidane, the son of Algerian immigrants, was projected onto the Arc de Triomphe. During the 2006 World Cup finals, Zidane stunned the country by ending his spectacular career with an … Continued
By Robert L. Simon (NHC Fellow, 1981–82) Sport plays a significant role in the lives of millions of people, both as participants and spectators, and affects the educational system, the economy, and the values of citizens. This gives rise to many conceptual and ethical questions. The book aims to clarify the philosophical presuppositions behind beliefs … Continued
By Lewis A. Erenberg (NHC Fellow, 2003–04) Held on June 22, 1938, in Yankee Stadium, the second Louis-Schmeling fight sparked excitement around the globe. For all its length–the fight lasted but two minutes–it remains one of the most memorable events in boxing history and, indeed, one of the most significant sporting events ever. In this … Continued
In 1962, Martin Luther King, Jr., reflected on the importance of Jackie Robinson, writing, “He was a pilgrim that walked in the lonesome byways toward the high road of Freedom. He was a sit-inner before sit-ins, a freedom rider before freedom rides.” King believed that when Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier fifteen years … Continued
We are currently witnessing a remarkable wave of political activism among Black athletes who are using their power and prestige to challenge white supremacy, police brutality, and injustice. Yet Black athletes’ political activism has a long history. In the late 1960s, an unprecedented number of Black athletes joined the Black Freedom Struggle, contesting the old … Continued
For most of my life I had been focused on one thing, goal, and desire. This obsession was football and getting to the highest level possible. I had been playing since I was little, then into high school, and saw myself playing through college. After my junior season of high school, I transferred to a … Continued
Taking an art class, I incorporated my love for the sport I do into my work. This is a white charcoal on black paper of my friends and me at the Yale Invitational putting our legs up on the wall after a hard night of racing. Translating moments like these into art allows for a … Continued