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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 the
foundations of what would
become a national obsession
and love affair with sport
through the rest of the century.