Summary 1900-1909

1. Summary 1900-1909 As the first decade of the twentieth century ended, sport in America saw its influence on culture strengthened. Through the encouragement of Theodore Roosevelt who, as president, promoted a strenuous life, evidenced through rugged American sport and physical activity, the role of games and play in American society became of paramount importance.

2. Summary 1900-1909 It is undeniable that during this decade sport became entrenched in the mindset of Americans. Baseball grew more popular, and the World Series established a tradition for the sport that would continue to build upon its mythical imagery.

3. Summary 1900-1909 Other sports, such as football and hockey, while challenged due to the brutality evidenced in the games, still were able to overcome serious threats to their development and build on the foundations that they had established. Basketball continued to grow in popularity as leagues were formed across the nation, and even soccer and rugby developed fan bases as they were examined for potential replacements for American football.

4. Summary 1900-1909 Individual sports such as cycling, skiing, and tennis built on their growing popularity and established important international competitions during the decade. Boxing became an American stronghold.

5. Summary 1900-1909 Olympic Games, while challenged due to the unhealthy connections to World's Fairs, not only survived the decade, but developed a competitive stage for American leaders to put forward their notions of the strength of the melting pot of American culture, and prove American superiority through scientific training methods and determination. Track and field athletes and officials, in particular, utilized the Games to challenge other world powers, especially European nations, regarding national prowess.

6. Summary 1900-1909 African American athletes remained outside of the scope of baseball's major-league system. Boxing witnessed a large number of African American world champions during the decade, by the end of the decade opportunities became nonexistent, due to Jack Johnson's impact in and out of the ring.

7. Summary 1900-1909 Women saw very little growth in opportunities available to them. Only figure skating do we see women's opportunities enhanced. Olympic venues had minimum sporting competitions for women throughout the decade and colleges saw little growth in the development of women's sports.

8. Summary 1900-1909 American culture still viewed women as the frail sex and sought to protect them from the unhealthy pursuit of savage competition and rugged athletic endeavors. Both women and African Americans would have to wait a few more decades before seeing sporting opportunities develop for them in the same ways that white males experienced during this decade.

9. Summary 1900-1909 Newspaper and media coverage of events blossomed during the decade. Realizing not only the cultural significance, but also the potential profitability of sport, many newspapers developed sports pages and even sports sections in their daily coverage of local and national events. Sport seemed poised to take a leading role in American culture at the end of the decade.

10. Summary 1900-1909 • Sport had arrived in the 20th century and, even in its young developmental stages during this decade, it is easy to see thefoundations of what wouldbecome a national obsessionand love affair with sportthrough the rest of the century.