Abstract
The paper begins with a history of stadiums and spectator sports, and compares the current period with ancient Greece and Rome. The paper then cites reasons given for public funding of stadium building and refutes each reason. The paper concludes that public funding of stadiums is a bad idea; Public money should be used for activities and institutions that provide substantial benefit to the public such as education, environmental protection and healthcare.

From the Paper
"While it has become common practice during the last decade for cities to spend vast sums of money to build new stadiums and arenas for sports teams, they should not do so. Public money should be spent only on those activities and institutions that benefit society as a whole, and professional sports must certainly does not qualify for such a characterization because not all people are sports fans. Of course, there are many publicly funded institutions that not everyone uses. You may never need to have firefighters come to your house, or may never need to be transported to a hospital. You may not have children and so may not use the public schools. However, these services are different in that most if not all citizens want to have such services available if they are needed. People do not want to see members of their families die because there is no ambulance service. People do not feel the same way about sports facilities for the very good reason that such facilities do not serve either the needs or potential needs of all citizens."

Tags:stadia, arena, stade, spectacle, taxes, sporting, event, city, subsidizing

Abstract
A paper about sports history, a comparison between ancient sports and modern sports of today. The author looks at aspects such as the sports played, how they were played, their technological differences and how their symbolic and societal meanings differ.

From the Paper
"Sports in the ancient world had their similarities to modern sports, but there are a few differences as well. In modern sports, there is more attention to detail when preparing fields for play, but nonetheless there are numerous amounts of workers who prepare the fields that athletes play on. In modern sports, nearly every sport has their schedules devised much before the season even begins. Although not all sports had officials at that time, there were people who kept order. In ancient sports, there were no records that were kept of ongoing statistics. Without role players, teams could not play to their optimum levels at all times."

Tags:baseball, games, greek, history, players, pythian, roman

Abstract
This paper discusses the reasons for the baseball strike of 1994 to 1995 and its economic impact ton the baseball field and related industries.

From the Paper
"The reasons for the strike were both complicated and virtually all economic. They all connected to one of two issues: the owners wanted to find an equitable way to distribute some profits to struggling teams in smaller markets, and in the process, they wanted to use some funds that in the past had been the players'. The management's proposed solution (redistribution of some profits) was not a perfect plan as not all smaller teams faced financial difficulties (Staudohar, 1997)."

Tags:revenue, Major, League, teams, fans, salary, arbitration, players, profits

Abstract
The writer learns that "The Natural" was author Bernard Malamud's first book. Written in 1952, the novel recounts the story of Roy Hobbs, an over-the-hill pitcher turned batter who just wants a chance in the major leagues. Many critics have called "The Natural" the best baseball book of all time. Malamud combines his love of baseball with the mythical and dark sides of human nature, showing a seedy side of the game not usually recognized by writers.

From the Paper
"As the novel progresses, Roy gets his chance to play baseball with a down-and-out team, the New York Knights, which is another reference in the book to the quest for the Grail. "Over the course of the season Roy gets involved with Pop's lovely niece, Memo, and her friend, the gambler Gus Sands. Eventually his desire for Memo, and his need for sufficient money to keep her in the style she desires, once again leads him astray from his quest" (Editors). He agrees to throw a game, and his miraculous bat, "Wonderboy," that he has carried with him since the beginning of his quest, shatters in his last game, ruining the Knight's chances, and his own to continue playing America's game. He is destroyed, because he has not only failed in his quest, he has failed those that believed in him. "Roy does somehow deserve to be destroyed for not honoring the natural talent he has been blessed with" (Editors).

Tags:baseball, hero, game, myth, legend

Abstract
The author traces the evolution of America's favorite pastime, Baseball. The paper discusses some myths surrounding the beginning of baseball and explores the ways in which the game continues to evolve.

From the Paper
"Baseball is probably one of the most oldest and treasured pastimes in America. Its roots can be traced as far back as the pre-Civil War era when boys where playing unorganized versions of "Rounders" in open fields. Now, baseball is a multi-million dollar industry with organized teams in almost every major city in the United States."

Tags:civil, cooperstown, history, league, major, rounders, sports, war

Abstract
The paper examines a phenomena that it says is an epidemic amongst athletes - the use of performance enhancing drugs in order to improve their overall performance and results. The paper examines the issues surrounding drug usage and relates previous incidents to support the claim that this is an epidemic. The paper then looks at measures taken to combat this epidemic before concluding by presenting possible effects upon future athletes arising from attempts to eradicate the problem.

Table of Contents:
Professional Athletes Using Performance Enhancing Drugs
The Past Issues Surrounding Performance Enhancing Drugs
What Actions were Taken to Address the Issue
How this Could Have an Impact upon Athletes in the Future?
Conclusion.

From the Paper
"Over the last several years, the issue of performance enhancing drugs has been increasingly brought to the forefront. Part of the reason for this is because of revelations from a host of current former and professional athletes who admitted that they were using various performance enhancing drugs (during some of the most critical points of their career). A good example of this can be seen by looking no further, than Mark McGwire admitting that he used performance enhancing drugs during the 1998 season. This is when he would break Roger Maris's record of 61 single home runs in a regular season. Commenting about what took place McGwire would say, "I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era." ("McGwire Admits Steroid Use," 2010) This is significant, because it shows how throughout professional sport, a host of different athletes have begun using performance enhancing drugs on a regular basis. To fully understand the overall scope of the problem facing professional sports requires: examining the past issues surrounding performance enhancing drugs, what actions were taken to address the issue and how this could have an impact upon athletes in the future. Together, these different elements will provide the greatest insights as to the frequency of usage and how it impacting professional sports."

Tags:athletes, professional, research, testing, steroid, abuse, health, anabolic

Abstract
This paper explores the issues behind the 2004 NHL lockout. It is an unbiased essay providing viewpoints from both the owners and the players. It also looks at the effect the lockout will have on fans and the general sporting community.

From the Paper
"The National Hockey League's players are locked out and it seems that the 2004-05 season is in real jeopardy. It is a battle between the players and the owners, and a controversial question is who is responsible for the lockout? The owners, lead by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, are concerned with the rapid increase of player salaries and the subsequent loss of revenue. The players are represented by Bob Goodenow, the executive director of the NHL's Player's Association, and feel that they are not responsible for the current situation. It is the owners that have set their salary expectations. The athletes are willing to compromise on issues such as revenue sharing and initiate a luxury tax model; however, they are refusing to negotiate with the owner's about a salary cap. These conflicting sides have both contributed to the dire state of the game, but the owners and the players must also consider the impact the lockout will have on their fans and the sporting community."

Tags:athletes, community, economy, fans, hockey, negotiate, owners, players, salaries, sporting

Abstract
The paper gives a brief history of the many great sporting moments that all Canadians will remember, while showing some of the blunders which have given hockey and Canadians a black eye.

From the Paper
"Throughout Canada's history, there have been numerous great and not so great hockey moments. Canada's domination in this sport is something that many, if not all, Canadian's take great pride and joy in. For the past century or so, Canadian families would gather together by their radio or television and watch or listen to their homegrown hockey stars take to the ice. Unfortunately there are also some blemishes on Canada's hockey history. There have been many moments in which some were disgraced to be known as a Canadian hockey fan. Nevertheless, Canada has always been, and always will be a large piece of Canadian culture."

Tags:pride, trophey, medal, cup, Russia, mob, fans, riots

Abstract
This paper discusses early mountain recreation in Canada with a focus on the activities on Hollyburn Ridge, British Columbia. It first describes the effects of climate, geography and natural resources on the history and development of recreation in Canada. The paper then argues that the activities of the pioneers of recreational sport run parallel to national historic highlights in the establishment of Canada as a nation and therefore are key in the building of the nation. The paper contains a map and photographs in an appendix.

From the Paper
"In conclusion, the scenic beauty and natural wonders of snow covered mountains have long been to people a compelling force. The development of Canadian mountain recreation parallels the development of Canada as a country. This is evident specifically in the areas of economics, the role of immigrants and women, the Canadian Pacific Railway, The Cold War, The Great Depression, and the emerging environmental movement. Participation was a quest for freedom and spiritual renewal. The activities of everyday Canadians from coast to coast who participated in mountain climbs, skiing and cabin building played a role in Canada as it made the complex climb to become a nation."

Tags:climate, skiing, sport, ski-jump

Abstract
The paper looks at multi-ethnicity in Canada and at what unifies this nation. It focuses on the sport of hockey as an important component of the country's national identity. It looks at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and its struggle for identity, claiming that when it broadcasted its first "Hockey Night" in Canada, it found it's "true being". The paper explores the origin and importance of CBC's "Hockey Night" to national unity. It explains how the program crossed the boundaries of young and old, rich and poor, urban and rural, French and English, east and west. The paper also discusses the controversial aspect of the program's time slot, overlapping the national news. The status of the program as a source of education is mentioned and the paper concludes with a review of the contribution of CBC's "Hockey Night" to the national identity of Canadians.

From the Paper
"Canada is comprised of many different cultures, spread over a vast geographical region. The only way for all these different types of people all over Canada to create a cohesive united nation to dwell on the similarities, which are shared amongst the majority. Cultural identity, it could be said can found when a whole nation can share in and care about a similar subject. For Canada this sense of national identity is represented by the sport of hockey. In any social or academic setting where the topic of discussion is Canadian identity the lists always begin with peacekeeping and multiculturalism and always come back to hockey. Some may say hockey is only a symbol of Canadian identity, and is no different then a moose, a beaver, or long winters. Hockey however has more then a symbolic animal because hockey gives a spirit of unification and it is here where our country has celebrated some of its greatest victories and most horrifying defeats. The love of the sport of hockey may not be shared by all Canadian citizens, but it is certainly been loved and adored by many since its beginnings in Montreal in 1875."

Tags:unity, origin, imoprtance, time, slot, education, canadian, Foster, Hewitt, Ron, MacLean, Don, Cherry