The Super Bowl, the Olympics, March Madness, the World Series - add your favorite extravaganza - there is no doubt that sports occupy a commanding place in U.S. and worldwide culture. From stadiums to television contracts to branded sneakers, sports account for countless billions of dollars in economic activity. Parents spend their free time nurturing children's athletic progress, while top athletes command celebrity attention and staggering salaries.

Join us in this year's Shasha Seminar for Human Concerns as we consider how the world of sports shapes culture in ways that can be condemned or celebrated. We are delighted to have as our keynote speaker Frank Deford, contributing senior writer at Sports Illustrated, a commentator for National Public Radio, and a regular correspondent for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Other distinguished speakers will examine the economics of sports, its global reach, its close relationship with the media, and its impact on our daily lives.