Sports are inspiring and uplifting. They can also bring out some of the worst characteristics in human nature: narcissism, prejudice, greed. This book looks at the major sports scandals in modern American history, from the Black Sox fix of 1919 to the current concussion crisis in the NFL.

With today’s digital media and the tremendous amount of money involved in sports, scandals are becoming more frequent and more damaging. How should a sports league respond to a scandal, act to protect the integrity of their organization, and address their many audiences-the fans, the media, and other players-when things go wrong? This book covers the big three sports-football, baseball, and basketball-to illuminate some of the biggest scandals in the history of American sports, using case studies to explain the scandals and the organizations’ responses to crises.

The work examines the major sports scandals in the 20th and 21st centuries, including the Black Sox fix of 1919, the institutional racism faced by Jackie Robinson in the late 1940s, the point-shaving scheme in 1950s-era college basketball, and unresolved crises that continue to damage sports today. Author Edward J. Lordan describes the historic conditions surrounding the scandals and administrators’ responses to identifying, addressing and, when possible, resolving these crises.

Presents detailed, definitive descriptions of famous sports crises, allowing readers to recognize the inaccuracies in the rumors surrounding these events in order to fully understand what happened

Covers scandals and controversial situations that arose in professional and collegiate athletics

Highlights how some of the smartest administrators in the public sphere have responded to an unexpected crisis

Presents information of interest not only to sports fans and sports administrators but also to organizational communications professionals, crisis management professionals, public relations specialists, and general communication studies students