The sociology of sport: what is it and why study it? -- Producing knowledge about sports in society: what is the role of research and theory? -- Studying the past: does it help us understand sports today? -- Sports and socialization: who plays and what happens to them? -- Sports and children: are organized programs worth the effort? -- Deviance in sports: is it out of control? -- Violence in sports: how does it affect our lives? -- Gender and sports: does equity require ideological changes? -- Race and ethnicity: are they important in sports? -- Social class: do money and power matter in sports? -- Sports and the economy: what are the characteristics of commercial sports? -- Sports and the media: could they survive without each other? -- Sports and politics: how do governments and global political processes influence sports? -- Sports in high school and college: do competitive sports contribute to education? -- Sports and religions: is it a promising combination? -- Sports in the future: are we agents of change?