Sport Matters

Kenneth L. Shropshire is the CEO of the Global Sport Institute and the adidas Distinguished Professor of Global Sport at Arizona State University. He is also Wharton Endowed Professor Emeritus at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His most recent books are Sport Matters: Leadership, Power, and the Quest for Respect in Sports; Negotiate Like the Pros: A Top Sports Negotiatorand#8217;s Lessons for Making Deals, Building Relationships and Getting What You Want; and Being Sugar Ray: The Life of Americaand#8217;s Greatest Boxer and First Celebrity Athlete. His other works include In Black and White: Race and Sports in America; The Business of Sports; and The Business of Sports Agents.

"In Sport Matters, Kenneth L. Shropshire shines a light on recent sports controversies that show us how far we have to go to create a culture of respect and civility in sport. Fortunately, he also recommends steps toward making important changes, which we hope will lead to true progress. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand the critical leadership challenges in sports today." (Stephen M. Ross, Owner, Miami Dolphins) "There has been significant social change over the years, but as Kenneth L. Shropshire argues in Sport Matters, the power and money are still not available to all, regardless of gender, race, and sexual orientation. Shropshire shows how we can make deeper progress toward leveling the playing field." (Billie Jean King, Former World #1 Tennis Champion and Activist) "Kenneth L. Shropshire's Sport Matters is nothing short of essential reading. In a diverse society, each individual should enjoy the respect and equal access to which they are entitled, regardless of their race or any other aspect of their background. As Shropshire notes, this is still not a reality within the world of sports. In Sport Matters, Shropshire points the way forward. This book should be read by all of those who are interested in, or even curious about, sports." (Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Harvard Law School Jesse Climenko Professor of Law and author of more than one dozen books) "Sport Matters makes a seminal contribution to our understanding of the power structures, roles, and broader societal contexts and relevance of the American sports enterprise today. Professor Kenneth L. Shropshire's firsthand knowledge and insights, born of years of experience working and consulting with sports leagues, teams, and individual sports figures, combined with the keen analytical and deconstruction skills of the practicing attorney, uniquely positions him to explore and explain critical connections and relationships between developments within and beyond the sports arena. A must read for all who are seriously interested in the current state, institutional functioning and trajectory, and broader meaning and consequences of sport in America today." (Harry Edwards, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley, and Consultant, National Football League and National Basketball Association) "The concerns and solutions set forth in Sport Matters are invaluable for those focused on improving sport and its impact around the globe." (Mori Taheripour, Former Senior Advisor, Sport for Development, US Agency for International Development (USAID)) "In Sport Matters, Kenneth L. Shropshire examines several troubling controversies in sports that stem from a persistent lack of diversity, inclusion, respect, and equality. But Shropshire offers ways to address these challenges and attests to sport's ability to combat racial, gender, and social inequities in sports and throughout society. It is a must read for anyone who wishes to see sports as a means for social change." (Richard E. Lapchick, Chair, DeVos Sport Business Management Program, University of Central Florida, and Director, Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport) "Sport Matters confirms that Ken Shropshire is the nation's most thoughtful and incisive voice on issues of sport and society. In the book, Shropshire examines a number of challenges and societal ills with which the sports world is currently grappling—from racial disparagement to domestic violence to homophobia to questions of exploitation in collegiate athletics—and puts them in solid historical context while challenging us to consider how the future could and should look. It is a brilliant exploration and a must read for anyone who questions what sport means to our society." (N. Jeremi Duru, Law Professor, American University, and Author, Advancing the Ball: Race, Reformation, and the Quest for Equal Coaching Opportunity in the NFL) "Kenneth L. Shropshire's Sport Matters reminds us that diversity and inclusion strengthen and enrich us all. The book is highly recommended for those who wish to understand the need for respect in the world of sports and beyond." (Patrick T. Harker, President, University of Delaware)