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Review: Michael Lavalette (Ed.), Capitalism and Sport: Politics, Protest, People and Play

The world of sport? A world of mindless nationalism, sexism, homophobia and virulent racism; openly fascist managers, billionaires owners, millionaire professionals and underappreciated fans and thats just football! No wonder, then, that many interested in changing the world for the better have a rather negative view of sports. But what a mistake! Millions of working class people (present reviewer included), on every patch of the planet, participate in or watch sports every day of the week, experiencing the full gamut of human emotions joy, elation, tragedy, despondency alongside the physical and mental benefits enjoyed by those who participate in sports. It’s also the world of Muhammad Ali fighting racism in the boxing ring, Billie Jean King serving a symbolic blow to sexism on the tennis court; it’s a world that includes militant activists striking a blow against the apartheid regime in South Africa, a hunger-striking Palestinian footballer, USA medal winners John Carlos and Tommie Smith giving the Black Power salute at the ’68 Olympics; it’s all this and more. And it matters. It clearly matters to Michael Lavalette, who has edited Capitalism and Sport: Politics, Protest, People And Play, an excellent wide ranging collection of some 42 essays by over 30 different writers. The book examines the relationship between capitalism and sport by exploring the tensions that exist within sport from two distinct perspectives: the politics of sport and the politics in sport. These essays provide not only the context in which modern sports as we know them today arose under capitalism but also investigates the contradictions, conflicts and resistance that have emerged, time and again, within the world of sports and the roles played by fans, spectators, professional players, athletes and amateurs alike.