"Rather than focusing on live sports broadcasts, this book takes a critical look at sports-themed comedies and dramas, to see how our "authentic" sports affect our national fictions as well. From the character studies that supplement Olympic coverage, to nightly highlight reels, to reality programming on ESPN, sports both echo and help shape the myths that pervade our culture. Sports on Television covers the changing relationship between live sports broadcasts and television dramas, as well as the important technological developments and cultural shifts that have changed the way we view the "reality" of sports."--Jacket.