Description
Book SynopsisThousands of children across the United States dream of becoming professional athletes, yet less than one in a thousand high school seniors will go on to play in a major pro league. Of those select few, many will find that after a childhood of full-time commitment to their sport, their professional careers will likely be brief and injury-ridden. Within each of the top professional leagues in the U.S., the competition is fierce to not only get into the league, but to stay therethe average career in the National Basketball Association lasts less than five years, and in the National Football League only three and a half.The Anatomy of Competition in Sports: The Struggle for Success in Major US Professional Leagues examines the role competition plays in each of the major sports leagues in the United States: Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Hockey Leagu
Trade ReviewThe Anatomy of Competition in Sports: The Struggle for Success in Major US Professional Leagues . . . [is] filled with interesting facts about major American sports, the text also includes a multiplicity of clichés offered by athletes about their sports. Doob's book is a great introduction for the sports neophyte. Even those experienced in the field will find something of value in this work. Some may find the book an inspiration to explore some of the issues presented in more depth. * New York Journal of Books *
You should get a copy especially if you have a youngster . . . or if you’re just curious to learn more about what makes pros take the anatomy of competition in sports. * ESPN Radio *
It’s a fascinating book in talking about youth sports. . . . The book is The Anatomy of Competition in Sports. So many great things to talk about! Pick up a book, you’ll pick it up and you’re not going to put it down until you’ve gone through it and read everything. There’s so many relatable stories. . . . This is an excellent book. . . . Christopher, I love the book! * This Week in America with Ric Bratton *
I love this book . . . After reading various books I’ve never seen anyone that wrote exactly what it takes to be a professional athlete. . . .If you’re a sports fan, you should get this book. If you’re just someone who wants to read about history, I would get this book also. . . .This is really a great book. * BlogTalkRadio: The Root and Roots Show *
In this really interesting book, the author Christopher Doob examines what life is like in the arenas of various major league enterprises . . . It is a most intriguing look at what life is like in the upper echelons of these particular team sports. . . .[This] is a fascinating book from start to finish and I am so glad that we’ve had the chance to explore it. * WGTD-The Morning Show *
One of the most intriguing books that I’ve read in a long long time that takes a look at sports, takes a look at people who rise to play in the sports, and actually gives you a real good foothold into what goes in the minds of the executives in these sports when they start looking at professional talent. . . .Get a copy of this book The Anatomy of Competition in Sports. [It's] a great read. Rowman & Littlefield is the publisher and they don’t publish anything but great stuff. * WHEN-AM: Spadora on Sports with Pete Spadora *
It is a compelling read that delves into the nature of competition within the nation’s major sports, all six of them, and the long journey to the pros. * The Big E Sports Show with Elissa Walker Campbell *
Please, read the book. Go to order it on line. * The Sports Corner *
Chris is the author of a new book entitled The Anatomy of Competition in Sports. It is a fascinating read, and it gets into many of the major sports in this country. . . .This book surprised me in many, many ways. It is much deeper, it delves into issues that are critical, that are far beyond the negatives. . . .This is an amazing book. It was a quick read. In its own way, it was a page turner. I really, really want people to read Chapter 7, which is titled 'Life after Game Days: A Wrenching Experience?' So many different treasure troves in this book entitled The Anatomy of Competition in Sports, and I couldn’t recommend it enough. I’m just thrilled, Christopher Doob, that you could make the time to be with us this morning. . . .A very special book, a special segment. It explores issues that we don’t normally talk about. I’m glad that we could have this conversation. * Tony Trupiano: The Voice of the People *
The Anatomy of Competition in Sport is a sports book for the sports fan, but fortunately it pushes beyond that limit and delves into something much deeper — struggle. Why is it that we marvel at these humans? Yes, they are seemingly superhuman, but human nonetheless. Why is it that the comeback is so much more compelling than the blowout? For us, it’s the struggle. It’s knowing what some people are willing to endure to succeed, and the lengths they will go to win. How does you go about understanding competition? Well, this book is a good start. * RotoRob *
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction - Pro Athletes’ Uncommon Careers The Advent of Pro Team Sports’ Affluent Age Players’ Challenges Pro Players’ Uncommon Experiences Chapter 1 - MLB: Separation Anxiety From The Beginning The Campaign for MLB Diversity The Journey and Its Challenges The Draft Joining a Minor-League Team Moving Up Pitfalls Shooting Down the Competition Players Caught in the Media Circus Outside the Lagoon Players’ Performance Hitting Pitching Fielding Closing the Career Chapter 2 - NFL: A Collision Cocktail Spiked With Size, Strength, Speed, And Skill The Organization of a Highly Organized Game African Americans’ Integration of the NFL Factors Contributing To Young Footballers’ Development Zeroing In On Going Pro Preparing For the Upcoming Campaign Experiencing Competition in the NFL The Day of the Game Rugged Realities of NFL Games Casualties of a Collision Sport Destructive Psychological Impacts of A Pressure-Ridden Game Positions and Personalities Leaving the Game Chapter 3 - NBA & WNBA: Trees In Blossom The Development and Growth of a Pair of Modern Leagues From All White to a Decisive Black Majority The Background for Making the NBA College as One and Done or Close To It The Draft and Surrounding Events Too Many Candidates for Too Few Slots Playing In the NBA Key Elements of the Game Scoring and Its Contribution to the Team The Discreet Decline of Rebounding The Impact of Assists Defenses: Their Understated Value The WNBA and Its Achievements The Development of WNBA Players The End of the Line Chapter 4 - NHL: Intricacy on Ice The Birth of the National Hockey League Mobilizing Boys toward the NHL College or the Pros? On The NHL’s Doorstep Important Challenges on Joining a NHL Team Effectiveness in Training Camp Unrelenting Performance Demands Team Expectations Need To Satisfy Team Trust On-Going Controversy about Fighting in the NHL Deploying the Combatants The Front Line The Defense A Final Comment Chapter 5 - MLS: New Kid on the Global Pitch The Down-And-Slowly-Up History of American Pro Soccer The Measured Development of Elite American Soccer Players A Look at MLS Academies’ Foreign Competition The Combine and Draft MLS and Its Stringent Agenda The MLS Preseason and Its Challenges Various Difficult Issues: Salaries, Foreign Players, Injuries MLS and Ranging Incomes The League’s Imports Performance Interrupters: Injury and Illicit Drugs The Impact of Concussions Additional Injuries and Responses To Them PED Use in MLS: Making Too Much Out Of It? The Divided Pitch Forwards, Especially Strikers Men in the Middle The Deep Defenders The Long Road Ahead Chapter 6 - Atypical Pros and Their Competitive Reality Disabled Athletes in Pro Sports Modern White Players in the NBA Gays and Lesbians in the Pros The Lonely Life of NFL Kickers Two-Sport Pros A Final Commentary Chapter 7 - Life after Game Days: A Wrenching Experience? Wrapping Up The Brutal Aftermath Work after Play Former Point Guards and Catchers and Other Would-Be Coaches and Managers Sports Jocks on the Tube and Elsewhere Notes Selected Bibliography Index About The Author
