Don Nguyen
11/24/06
Eng 112B
Eat, Sleep, Drink, and Sports
The quote by Michael Jordan �I've failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed� summarizes some of the inherent value sports that is present in life. In addition to achievement, it is argued that sports are life and life are sports; therefore many of life�s moral themes and lessons are found in the world of sports.
Many children become involved in sports at a young age most likely because of the qualities that sports possess to enhance life. Children who play sports develop social skills, physical motor skills, problem solving skills, and countless other skills. Beyond skill attainment, sports play a valuable function in providing pleasure and leisure. In addition, since life and sports are intertwined, a lot of life�s lessons are experienced through sports. For example, Necessary Roughness, and The Moves that Make the Man, are all novels selected in this annotated bibliography which deal with issues of race and over coming racial divides. Friday Night Lights, The Contender, and The Crazy Horse Electric Game, show case the power of the human spirit by highlighting the never ending fight which will yield light at the end of the tunnel. Sports is also an inspiring key in the lives of many and in books such as Becoming Joe Di Maggio, Athletic Shorts, and Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made, because they show case the character traits which brought these people to top.
As an educator the perfect world would include children who are self motivated to perform and learn. However, that may not always be the case which leads to the issue of how to engage children who are not normal readers to read. Some of the techniques I have learned as an educator to engage children is to teach to different learning styles. Going the extra mile I also believe teachers should teach to different interest and I feel sports is a strong topic of interest. Sports appeals to boys and girls adding to the fact that it is something children are familiar with. Sports is often over looked as a topic to teach students because many educators focus simply on the skill sets as the sole value of sports. Sports like life is ingrained with many moral lessons just like fables and fairy tales. In Horse Thief, the issue of morality is also again mentioned when the young boy is pressed to break the law in order to save his horses.
Annotated Bibliography
1. Bissinger, H. G. Friday Night Lights. Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press, 2004.
Fame, glamour, respect, and girls are all things associated with Boobie Miles until his season is merely destroyed by a freak football injury. However, the Panthers� inspiring coach pushes his players to their limits to later contend for the Texas state championship.
http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-0306809907-1
2. Brooks, Bruce. The Moves that Make the Man. New York: Harper Trophy, 1996.
Within the world of sports also lies real life issues. Bruce Brooks covers a tale of the intricacies involved in an interracial friendship in a predominantly white town. Through their sports, Bix and Jerome find common ground to break the color barrier.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780064405645&itm=1
3. Carol, Jim. The Basketball Diaries. New York: Penguin Books, 1995.
Jim Carol wrote his biography which later turned into a cinema production. Jim grew up on the streets of New York and got a scholarship from a private high school where he started as their premiere point guard. Eventually, he becomes involved with heroin, and as his addiction grows he resorts to stealing and hustling gay men to support his habit.
http://www.catholicboy.com/catholicboy.com-asp//bd1.asp
4. Crutcher, Chris. Athletic Shorts. New York: Harper Tempest, 2002.
This book is a collective of short stories which uses sports as a backdrop and include stories dealing with issues such as homosexuality, bigotry, death, and heroism. These stories involve some characters Chris has showcased in some of his previous novels.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780688108168&itm=2
5. Crutcher, Chris. The Crazy Horse Electric Game. New York: Harper Teen, 2003.
Willie, star baseball player loses his athletic prowess in a water skiing accident. Abandoned by his family, girlfriend, and his own body, he seeks to regain and rebuild is life again.
6. Halberstam, David. Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made. New York: Broadway, 2000.
Michael Jordan�s tremendous work ethnic and determinism drove him to success on and off the court. Jordan�s thirst for success also bread his multimillion dollar career as a businessman with Nike and other prominent companies.
7. Lee, Marie G. Necessary Roughness. New York: Harper Trophy, 1998.
Chan who is part of the 1.5 generation struggles to find the balance between his Korean heritage and the dominant American culture. Upon those struggles, Chan family moves from Los Angeles, so he is also pressed to find his place in the new small Minnesota town.
8. Lipsyte, Robert. The Contender. York: Harper Trophy, 1987.
17 year old Alfred Brooks rises above his Harlem community and escapes the poverty and drug stricken neighborhood. A high school drop out and working a dead end job ensured Brooks the fate of his drug addicted friends, however he found his outlet at Dontelli�s Gym where he later trained to be a boxing champion.
http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-0064470393-4
9. Testa, Maria. Becoming Joe Di Maggio. Cambridge, Mass.: Candle Wick Press, 2002.
In 24 poems readers experience the greatness of Joe Di Maggio. Growing up in rough times Joesph draws strength and learns what it takes to be a hero like his role model Joe Di Maggio through the tales of his grandfather.
http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-0763615374-0
10. Peck, Robert N. Horse Thief. New York: Harper Collins, 2002.
Mirroring the Heinz Dilemma, a teenage boy loses two fingers, the rodeo, and his horses. The young man then faces the moral dilemma to whether he should steal them back before they are processed into dog food.
http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-0064410757-0