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SFSU baseball historians, kinesiologist, tourism expert available to comment on World Series

#032

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS
SFSU Office of Public Affairs
(415) 338-1665
pubnews@sfsu.edu

Press Release published by the Office of Public Affairs

 



Barry Bonds' performance will have major effects on his legacy, historian says

FACULTY EXPERTS

Jules Tygiel, professor of history
Office: (415) 338-1119; Home: (415) 585-4404; E-mail: tygiel@sfsu.edu

Tygiel is a widely quoted expert on the history of baseball and American culture. He is the author of several books on baseball and history. Last year his book "Past Time: Baseball as History" received the prestigious Seymour Medal from the Society for American Baseball Research. His latest book is a collection of essays titled "Extra Bases: Reflections on Jackie Robinson, Race, and Baseball History."

"What will be interesting is watching Barry Bonds, one of the greatest players in the game of baseball playing in his first World Series. Despite all he has done in the past, people will remember what he does in the World Series," he said. "And there are different expectations for the teams in this World Series. If the Yankees were in it, they would be expected to win it all. With the Giants and Angels you have teams which have already had lots of big victories (in the playoffs this year). They are just glad to be there."

Eric Solomon, professor of English
Office: (415) 338-7405; E-mail: esolomon@sfsu.edu

Solomon has studied baseball history and baseball literature extensively and written numerous articles on those topics. Solomon and Tygiel formerly taught a class together on "The History and Literature of Baseball."

"Just remember that generally the playoffs, by their very nature, are more exciting than the World Series," he said. "In the playoffs, teams let everything out to win. In the World Series, they always play close to the vest and not to lose."

Patrick Tierney, professor of recreation and leisure studies
Office: (415) 338-1818; Home: (650) 726-6442; E-mail: ptierney@sfsu.edu

Tierney is an expert on tourism, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area. He teaches courses on the leisure travel tourism industry.

"Tourism in San Francisco should get a big boost over the next six to eight months because of the exposure on television to audiences both nationally and internationally," he said. "You can see from the demand for tickets over the Internet that there is a huge market out there. With the emphasis now on domestic travel, the pictures of San Francisco during the World Series will serve to remind, refresh and encourage travelers to visit."

Susan Zieff, assistant professor of kinesiology
Office: (415) 338-6574; Cell: (415) 215-2271; E-mail: susangz@sfsu.edu

Zieff is an expert on the history and philosophy of sports, as well as relationships between sports and society.

"Sports teams serve as a function of cohesion in a community. People can come together and share experiences they can communicate about, more often than normal in an urban community," she said. "When you're in the stadium or see someone on the street wearing a T-shirt, it provides a way to communicate and connect with strangers. You can say, 'We share this interest and common goal,' and it creates a shared cultural feeling."

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Last modified December 11, 2002, by the Office of Public Affairs