How to Watch Sports (User's Guides to Popular Culture)

36 original essays on sports media and culture

Sports are frequently romanticized as a pure escape from the daily grind, but in reality, the stadium is a mirror reflecting our most contentious cultural and political battles. How to Watch Sports disrupts the comfortable narrative of passive entertainment, presenting thirty-six original essays that challenge readers to critically engage with the global phenomenon of sports media.

Moving beyond the highlights, this comprehensive volume utilizes case studies of iconic teams, athletes, and events to illuminate the unseen structures of the industry. Leading scholars unpack diverse topics, ranging from the aesthetics of Steph Curry’s play style and the cultural impact of Air Jordans to the labor politics inherent in the Madden video game series. The collection fearlessly navigates hot-button issues, including the national debate over trans inclusion, the rise of Barstool Sports and betting culture, and the gender pay gap.

Structured to guide readers through the nuances of form, social representation, industrial practice, and evolving technology, the book demonstrates how media shapes our understanding of athleticism. Whether analyzing the colonial implications of the Olympics or Simone Biles’ advocacy for mental health, the authors provide the tools necessary to decode the messages behind the spectacle. How to Watch Sports is an essential field guide for students and fans alike, offering a vital framework for understanding the deeper meanings of sport and reimagining what it means to be an informed, accountable spectator.

Adam Rugg is Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Fairfield University, where he is also Director of the Sports Media program. His work has been published in Critical Public Health, Communication & Sport, Journal of Sport and Social Issues, and numerous others.

Benjamin Burroughs is Associate Professor & Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His writing has been published in journals including New Media and Society, Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, International Journal of Sport Communication, and Games and Culture.