W74E The History & Intersection of Sports & Politics (Zoom; OLLI @ ASU)
Zoom | Registration opens 12/16/2025 10:00 AM EST
Sports and politics have always been connected, even when athletes and fans try to claim they’re separate. From the original Olympics to Jesse Owens competing in Nazi Germany in 1936, to Muhammad Ali’s resistance to the Vietnam War draft, the two have been intertwined—whether we like it or not. This course explores the historical relationship between sports and political movements, as well as how politics has shaped the world of sports. We’ll examine how teams, leagues, and athletes have navigated race, gender, laws, and nationalism in a seminar setting that encourages discussion and participation.
Ben Feinberg is a law clerk at the Arizona Court of Appeals. He holds a J.D. from Arizona State University and a B.A. from Tufts University. While in law school, he worked as a legal intern for the Boston Celtics. He has previously taught both this seminar and its sequel through Tufts OLLI.
*This registration item is ZOOM-only; there is not an in-person component to this course. It is offered and run by The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the Arizona State University.*