Sports are among the greatest of human pleasures and, in the age of

Shaquille O'Neal and Emmitt Smith, constitute one of America's biggest

industries. They are also, as the sociologist Norbert Elias observed, an

essential part of the "civilizing process." Scanning the contemporary

world of sports, our contributors explore the human value of athletic

competition and discuss the challenges posed to sports by celebrity,

money, performance-enhancing drugs, and technology.