The Kaepernick Effect and Miracles on the Hardwood

I have not written about sports in a while, so here goes:  THE KAEPERNICK EFFECT by Dave Zirin is subtitled “Taking a Knee, Changing the World” and clearly encompasses social justice issues as well as sports. Zirin, a prolific author and the host of Sirius XM’s Edge of Sports Radio, describes the impact and ensuing conversations at high schools, colleges, and the pro level of “hundreds if not thousands of young athletes who took a knee during the national anthem in protest of racism and police brutality.” Zirin quotes Kaepernick as saying: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.” Zirin explores why other athletes followed that action and the impact it had on their lives. This is a high interest topic for our students and they will definitely relate to many of the examples and motivations that Zirin outlines. One particularly poignant comment: “Coaches enforce and reinforce this ethos, with a top-down structure that prizes winning over all else and sees any semblance of free thought as a 'distraction' from the ultimate goal.  This is true at every level of sports … but in high school, where the pressure to fit in is paramount, it is particularly pervasive.” THE KAEPERNICK EFFECT received starred reviews from both Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. 

If basketball is your sport, then take a look at MIRACLES ON THE HARDWOOD by John Gasaway, an analyst with ESPN. He explores in great detail “The Hope-and-a-Prayer Story of a Winning Tradition in Catholic College Basketball.” It is truly amazing the number of readily recognized Catholic colleges with strong basketball programs – places like Georgetown, Villanova, Marquette, Gonzaga, Loyola Chicago, just to name a few. Not only are there memorable coaches from the past and present, there are also plentiful players across the decades like Bob Cousy (Holy Cross in the 40s), Bill Russell (San Francisco in the 50s) or Patrick Ewing (Georgetown, 1980s), plus nationally recognized icons like today’s Sister Jean! Gasaway includes them all from the 1930s forward leading to many details which will appeal the most to ardent fans. For more anecdotes from MIRACLES ON THE HARDWOOD, see the review in The Wall Street Journal.

The Brain on Youth Sports by Julie M. Stamm

THE BRAIN ON YOUTH SPORTS by Julie M. Stamm is a great factual resource for athletes and student researchers concerned about the impact of concussions. Stamm is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). An avid fan, athlete, and athletic trainer, she clearly understands and appreciates the value and culture of youth sports. That attitude makes her arguments about possible youth brain injuries even more compelling. As she notes, “Families need accurate, unbiased information so they can make informed decisions. Health care providers need to understand the research so they can have appropriate answers for parents. Coaches need to know what they can do to keep their athletes safe. This book will break down the science, explain what we actually know and what we have yet to learn about repetitive brain trauma in sports, and provide guidance for families and others involved in youth sports.” Stamm does an excellent job of meeting those objectives with sections on sub-topics like why we should care, why the youth brain is vulnerable, why CTE is more than an NFL problem, and the future of youth contact sports. Noting statistics from football, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and rugby, she writes in a clear, concise manner -- look for a copy on our shelves soon.