beyond the scoreboard. the syllabus

what this course is

This course uses sports as a lens on American history from the 1860s to today. Every unit follows four threads: business and labor, media and technology, law and government, and the fight over who gets to play. You'll work with real primary sources — newspapers, broadcast footage, court decisions, congressional testimony — and finish with a research project on a sports story from Michigan's own backyard.

the map

• weeks 1–3
  Inventing American Sport, 1860s–1900 — Industrial cities build the modern game; the color line is drawn.
• weeks 3–6
  The National Stage, 1900–1945 — Jack Johnson, the Black Sox, radio, the Negro Leagues, Jesse Owens in Berlin, Detroit’s Joe Louis and Hank Greenberg.
• weeks 6–9
  Integration and the Cold War, 1945–1963 — Jackie Robinson, television, the Olympics as superpower contest.
• weeks 9–12
  The Athlete Revolt, 1967–1980 — Ali and Vietnam, Mexico City 1968, Curt Flood, Title IX, Billie Jean King.
• weeks 12–15
  The Money Game, 1979–2005 — ESPN, Olympic public finance, Jordan and global branding, steroids, and the Malice at the Palace.
• weeks 15–18
  The Modern Arena, 2005–today — Social media, concussions, college compensation after Alston, the women’s sports boom, legalized betting, Flint’s Claressa Shields — plus your Michigan sports history capstone.

the spine question

Sport: mirror or engine? After each case we study, the class votes — did sport reflect America here, or push it? The tally runs all semester on the classroom wall, and the final exam essay cashes it in.

grading

School policy controls. This scale and the required 20% semester exam or equivalent were checked against the public MMCS District Student Handbook on July 13, 2026: 93–100 A, 90–92 A−, 87–89 B+, 83–86 B, 80–82 B−, 77–79 C+, 73–76 C, 70–72 C−, 67–69 D+, 63–66 D, 60–62 D−, below 60 F.

• Unit tests and assessments25%
• Thread charts, logs, and document work25%
• Michigan capstone project20%
• Debate and seminar participation10%
• Semester exam or equivalent20%

the class rule

Every era gets judged by its own evidence first. We read what people said at the time before we decide what we think now — that’s what separates history from hot takes.

what to bring

A writing utensil, a folder or binder for handouts and your thread charts, and your assigned device on research days.

attendance

Students must follow the attendance policy. Poor attendance usually results in poor grades — this course is built on in-class document work, discussion, and a team capstone that cannot be fully made up at home.

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