Race & Sports: How Sports Media Creates an Uneven Playing Field

Dr. Frederick Gooding, Jr., Northern Arizona University, Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies

In the field of sports the rules of the game are applied equally, and individual merit and hard work are what separates champions from contenders. But the rules of the game in sports media are not applied equally to athletes. Why are some athletes forgiven for lapses of character, judgment or behavior and others ostracized? How are sports images created, and what is the impact of these portrayals — all in the name of “competition” and “good sport” on athletes and their fans?  Join us for a FRANK Talk about the role of the media in sports.