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connor's review
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
An indispensable read by one of the finest reporters I've come across. Everyone would benefit from the lessons in this book, particularly those associated with college sports, including fans and media.
hollowspine's review
5.0
I’d recommend this to all incoming college students, especially those who are pursuing sports scholarships (even more so if they’re pursuing football). It’s an eye opening and frightening exploration of a part of our culture that is both beloved of many and extremely lucrative to a select few. Which makes it something very difficult to look at objectively and fight against the problems that are really endemic in sports. It's also a pretty tough read, the author pulls no punches and describes the acts of violence as they are, not hidden behind vague terms. The author suggests that readers may need to put the book down, look away, but I would add, try not to abandon reading this, especially sports fans. Also, this isn't a book that is asking "Why are athletes so often perpetrators of violence against women?" This book is saying, why aren't we doing something about how coaches and the sports industry are encouraging, helping, hiding and dismissing violence perpetrated against women by athletes. All sides of this issue are explored and the research is extremely well done. Scary statistics, true statements, horrifying evidence well presented.
But, do we need to change something that already works so well for the American people? Football is great, it gives jobs to many people, funding for schools and scholarships to provide opportunities for students who might not otherwise have the chance to pursue higher education. I’ve heard many arguments for the wonders of sports. Team sports teach us fair play and good sportsmanship. We learn to work together and put a united goal in front an individual desire. In theory, yes, those things would be true. If those who benefit from sports, especially college sports, actually valued those things, I’m sure they’d be true. But, in fact, those who benefit from sports do not benefit from equality, justice or fair play. Nope. Sports is not about teamwork. Not about learning to value each individual effort added to group cohesion. It's not about camaraderie or even competition. It’s about money. When money is concerned all those other values go out the window.
I came into reading this book, I admit, with a very fixed idea of college/pro sports already. I don’t like them (surprise!). I have never attended even one college sport event. Not even one. I believe that sports don’t have a place in post-secondary education. I think the fact that colleges need to survive through money earned by their athletics departments is a sad commentary on the value placed on education in this country. The misplaced value set on sports means that this isn't a balance between colleges producing students who will go on to beat records in pitch speed or goals scored and colleges producing students who will go on to create new industry, create new patents, develop cures, find solutions to global problems and things that would have a greater impact on the country and world at large
So, yes, I may not like sports, but the author really really does. She's been a fan for her whole life, especially of her college team. For those who love sports, love the camaraderie of fans, love to support their teams, love to support their colleges/cities/etc, please read this book and share it with your friends and families. To change sports from a tool used to continue the horrible stereotype of the dangerous black man and a tool to teach men that women are prizes without rights everyone must see it for everything it is, not just a beloved sport, but also a tool used to take advantage of young black men, a tool used to dehumanize women. A tool that benefits a select group of rich white men and very few else. A tool that takes much from players (health, most especially) and in return often gives them license to commit acts of violence against women without reprisal.
Do I think that sports should just be removed from college campuses? No. Just because I find very little remarkable or interesting about running around on a field kicking, throwing or otherwise manipulating some object for hours on end resulting in brain damage and broken bones (or even in some cases death) and people physically spent before they’re 40, doesn’t mean that I want to crap in someone else’s cereal. I just think that concerned people, people who really love sports and want the experience for the athletes, fans, coaches and others to be positive, need to recognize that the current model is broken. It needs some serious work. I’m not sure if it can be saved (or that it should be saved), but this author is a fan, and reading and talking about her book is one way to start making a difference.
But, do we need to change something that already works so well for the American people? Football is great, it gives jobs to many people, funding for schools and scholarships to provide opportunities for students who might not otherwise have the chance to pursue higher education. I’ve heard many arguments for the wonders of sports. Team sports teach us fair play and good sportsmanship. We learn to work together and put a united goal in front an individual desire. In theory, yes, those things would be true. If those who benefit from sports, especially college sports, actually valued those things, I’m sure they’d be true. But, in fact, those who benefit from sports do not benefit from equality, justice or fair play. Nope. Sports is not about teamwork. Not about learning to value each individual effort added to group cohesion. It's not about camaraderie or even competition. It’s about money. When money is concerned all those other values go out the window.
I came into reading this book, I admit, with a very fixed idea of college/pro sports already. I don’t like them (surprise!). I have never attended even one college sport event. Not even one. I believe that sports don’t have a place in post-secondary education. I think the fact that colleges need to survive through money earned by their athletics departments is a sad commentary on the value placed on education in this country. The misplaced value set on sports means that this isn't a balance between colleges producing students who will go on to beat records in pitch speed or goals scored and colleges producing students who will go on to create new industry, create new patents, develop cures, find solutions to global problems and things that would have a greater impact on the country and world at large
So, yes, I may not like sports, but the author really really does. She's been a fan for her whole life, especially of her college team. For those who love sports, love the camaraderie of fans, love to support their teams, love to support their colleges/cities/etc, please read this book and share it with your friends and families. To change sports from a tool used to continue the horrible stereotype of the dangerous black man and a tool to teach men that women are prizes without rights everyone must see it for everything it is, not just a beloved sport, but also a tool used to take advantage of young black men, a tool used to dehumanize women. A tool that benefits a select group of rich white men and very few else. A tool that takes much from players (health, most especially) and in return often gives them license to commit acts of violence against women without reprisal.
Do I think that sports should just be removed from college campuses? No. Just because I find very little remarkable or interesting about running around on a field kicking, throwing or otherwise manipulating some object for hours on end resulting in brain damage and broken bones (or even in some cases death) and people physically spent before they’re 40, doesn’t mean that I want to crap in someone else’s cereal. I just think that concerned people, people who really love sports and want the experience for the athletes, fans, coaches and others to be positive, need to recognize that the current model is broken. It needs some serious work. I’m not sure if it can be saved (or that it should be saved), but this author is a fan, and reading and talking about her book is one way to start making a difference.
itsjunghan's review
5.0
Once again, Jessica Luther writes with care & humility as she unearths the relationship between college football and sexual violence. Difficult at times because of its honest retelling of rape and assault, Unsportsmanlike Conduct provides a detailed overview of the history of universities covering up the harms of their players then delves into a playbook of suggestions & solutions for tackling the problems of violence within college football at the coach, school, & systems levels. Because Luther has been an avid college football fan, the book's nuance doesn't simply dismiss violence as a symptom of football bro culture but also doesn't go easy on even her favorite schools or programs. This is a must-read, not just for athletes, coaches, & sports fans, but also for those who dream of a world without intimate partner & sexual violence.
thirtysixhudson's review
5.0
Information about institutional obligations/response to sexual assault under Title IX is, unfortunately, already outdated, but Luther has written an important and necessary book. She's an expert on the topic and produces timely and relevant work regularly.
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