A brilliant and thorough exposition that is sure to spark debate.
With a title that is sure to draw ire in the hearts of millions of golf fans, authors Aaron S. Bayley and Luigi Di Serio quickly set the tone in this thorough reference work that seeks to categorize and rank many of your favorite sporting activities. Regardless of which sports you personally favor, if you’re an avid viewer of all things ESPN, you’re sure to find things in this book that will either raise your blood pressure or stroke your ego. Undeniably, many competitions are mislabeled as sports in an effort to legitimize them or simply due to their popularity. However, the true definition of a sport varies from one source to another, and whether it is the International Olympic Committee or the National Collegiate Athletic Association, this definition may be affected by money or special interests. Why Baseball Is a Sport and Golf Is Not takes an objective approach to settling the issue once and for all, presenting six characteristics that make a sport a sport before considering dozens of activities to see if they meet the standard.
Before reading this book I had never given consideration to what differentiates a sport from simply a contest or hobby. And to be honest, I wasn’t sure that I cared, either. However, after reading just a few pages, the authors had me hooked. I couldn’t wait to find out how my favorite “sports” truly measured up. Speaking with authority and earning readers’ respect with every turn of phrase, Bayley and Di Serio are engaging writers, adding wit and drama to an exhaustive catalogue. Each of the myriad activities considered are treated fairly by the authors, and even such competitions as hot dog eating are given a proper amount of attention and respect. Perhaps the most polarizing aspect of this volume is not the banishment of so many activities from the world of sports, but the ranking of all major competitions in the final chapters of the book. Depending on the nation where you live, you may be overjoyed or outraged at the score and placement of Soccer, Football, Basketball and Hockey in comparison to other major sports. Why Baseball Is a Sport and Golf Is Not is a brilliant and thorough exposition that is sure to spark debate in its efforts to determine once and for all what truly qualifies as a sport, and what most certainly does not.
Congratulations to
Why Baseball Is a Sport and Golf Is Not by Aaron S. Bayley and Luigi Di Serio
winner of the
2021 Indies Today Best Nonfiction Book Award
