Congress and the Politics of Sports

This volume covers an aspect of Congress mostly untouched in literature, examining Congress through the lens of sports. Across a set of broad and probing chapters, this book offers insights into some of the historic and contemporary challenges that sports have presented to Congress, along with highlighting the ways in which Congress has impacted the sports industry. The authors utilize a wide range of case studies to provide readers with a contemporary view of the interplay between Congress and sports, at both amateur and professional levels. Perspectives are drawn from an interdisciplinary and cross-organizational roster of authors, uniquely positioned to discuss various subjects. With real attention now being given to issues associated with sports, and an increasing number of lawmakers using sports to push policy agendas and create legislative opportunities, this book will be a vital resource for understanding the dynamic relationship between the two entities. Grounded in relevant literature, and written in an accessible and engaging manner, Congress and the Politics of Sports will be of great interest to both academic researchers and practitioners involved with US politics, Congress and congressional studies, public policy, sports studies and sport history.

Colton C. Campbell is Professor of Security Studies at the National War College (NWC). He has worked in the offices of Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) and Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) where he handled issues on defense, trade and the budget. Prior to joining NWC, he was an analyst in American National Government at the Congressional Research Service and Associate Professor of Political Science at Florida International University. He has authored or edited several books on Congress, most recently Under the Iron Dome: Congress from the Inside (2022). David A. Dulio is Director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Distinguished Professor of Political Science Department at Oakland University where he teaches courses on campaigns and elections, Congress, political parties, interest groups and other areas of American politics. He has published 12 books, including Congress and Diaspora Politics: The Influence of Ethnic and Foreign Lobbying, Diversity in Contemporary American Politics and Government (2019) and Under the Iron Dome: Congress from the Inside (2022). He has written dozens of articles and book chapters on subjects ranging from the role of professional consultants in U.S. elections to campaign finance. He is a former American Political Science Congressional Fellow on Capitol Hill, where he worked in the U.S. House of Representatives Republican Conference for Representative J.C. Watts, Jr. (R-OK).

TABLE OF CONTENTS Tables and Figures Chapter 1: The Role and Influence of Sports on Capitol Hill David A. Dulio, Oakland University Colton C. Campbell, National War College Part I: How Sports have Impacted Congress Chapter 2: 'A Picture of Community': The Origins and Longevity of the Congressional Baseball Game Matthew A. Wasniewski, U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Historian Chapter 3: Winning by Association: How Congress Uses Sports Commemoratives Jacob R. Straus, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Jared C. Nagel, Congressional Research Service Chapter 4: Congress and the Baseball Steroids Scandal: Congress Steps Up, Baseball Strikes Out Greg McCarthy, Department of Defense Part II: Ways Congress has Affected Sports Chapter 5: Professional Team Sports and Congress: Investigations, Antitrust, Mergers and Media David George Surdam , University of Northern Iowa Chapter 6: Congress, Teams, and Power Dynamics in Siting Sports Facilities Eric Heberlig, University of North Carolina, Charlotte David Swindell, Arizona State University Chapter 7: Title IV, Gender Equity, and College Sports Ellen J. Staurowsky, Ithaca College Chapter 8: Congress's Growing Role in College Sports Brian Porto, Vermont Law School