The Dark Side of Sports: Exposing the Sexual Culture of Collegiate and Professional Athletes

A startling and disturbing examination of the sexually deviant and aggressive behaviors that often thrive in an array of athlete cultures beginning in high school.

About the Book

Elite-level athletes are placed upon heightened pedestals in societies world-wide. At the same time, there is a dark side to these glorified competitors that remains hidden from those outside of exclusive athletic circles. Dr. Nick Pappas’ athletic background in collegiate and professional sports has provided insider access, enabling him to uncover an array of disturbing sexually deviant and aggressive behaviors, which have silently thrived for decades in many athlete cultures. These findings, expressed through the athletes’ own words, are the result of more than 10 years of cutting-edge research involving in-depth interviews with 142 collegiate, minor, and major league athletes from five prominent U.S. sports. Written in an engaging style, The Dark Side of Sports is a must read with messages not only for athletes, coaches, managers, and administrators, but also for parents, women, students, and sports enthusiasts. While these important discoveries are certain to shock, raise awareness, and provide a wake-up call for those in and outside of the sports world, they also promote a sense of urgency for taking action to prevent and address these harmful behaviors.

The Dark Side of Sports has strong appeal for diverse audiences because it highlights the need for risk management in every male athletic culture. This includes individuals with direct involvement in sports such as athletes, coaches, managers, administrators, and support staff, who see the importance of addressing and deterring potentially harmful and dangerous behavior that can ruin an athletic program’s reputation in an instant. At the same time, this book serves as an invaluable resource for parents, women, and fans by raising awareness to the significant issues surrounding a darker, hidden side of sports. The fact that certain negative practices were discovered at the high school level means that millions of middle and high school coaches and athletes, in addition to those at elite levels, need this information to keep deviant practices from gaining a foothold and becoming normalized within youth-oriented sports cultures. Finally, The Dark Side of Sports will be a welcomed addition to courses such as sociology of sport, sports psychology, women’s studies, and an array of sociology classes including deviant behavior.

About the Author

Nick Pappas, Ph.D., is a former collegiate and professional ice hockey player and coach who earned a doctorate degree in Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Sociology of Sport from The Ohio State University. This unique background in combination with his experience as a researcher, professional counselor, and college professor have given Dr. Pappas a distinct vantage point into both social and athlete behavioral issues that are highlighted in this one-of-a-kind book. As an inspirational teacher and speaker, Dr. Pappas provides empowering presentations on athlete-related topics and concerns including out-of-sport athlete deviancy and aggression in order to promote personal and team excellence to athletes at all levels. 

  In the News 

Newspaper Articles

(Click on the Active Links Below or Cut and Paste a Headline or Inactive Link to Read an Article)

– Use the link below to read by Peter J. Wallner’s article, “Michigan Author Warns Parents, Coaches, Athletes: There Are More Like Sandusky Out There.” The Grand Rapids Press (mlive.com) Grand Rapids, MI, 10/12/12.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/10/big_rapids_author_warns_parent.html

– Newspaper article, “Pappas Aims to expose ‘Dark Side of Sports’” by Martin Slagter. The Pioneer (BigRapidsNews.com) p. 2B, 5B, Big Rapids, MI, 9/26/12.

– Use the link below to read Dan Norton’s article “NCAA Marks New Era of Discipline” and Dr. Nick Pappas’ insights. The Daily Collegian (Penn State University), State College, PA. 7/24/12.

– Use the link below to read Steve Hanlon’s article which discusses the Crown Point softball controversy and Dr. Nick Pappas’ insights. Northwest Indiana Times, Munster, IN. 4/28/12.

– Use the link below to read Gene Collier’s article that discusses Dr. Nick Pappas’ book, “The Dark Side of Sports” in light of the Penn State scandal. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, PA. 11/16/11.

– Use the link below to read Steve Hanlon’s article which discusses Dr. Nick Pappas’ book, “The Dark Side of Sports.” Northwest Indiana Times, Munster, IN. 2/26/12.

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/baseball/college/andrean-grad-writes-book-that-exposes-the-sexual-deviancy-found/article_033e63f7-38b2-5818-915a-c090d3ec16a8.html

– Use the link below to read an article by Mike Hricik’s article which discusses Dr. Nick Pappas’ book, “The Dark Side of Sports.” The Daily Collegian (Penn State University), State College, PA. 2/29/12.

Radio, Internet, and Television Interviews

(Listen to Interview Recordings in the MP3 Player at the Top of the Right Column or Click on the Active Links Below)

Interview with Mike Romigh, host of “Teleforum 2014” on WBVP 1230 / WMBA 1460, Pittsburgh, PA, 9/26/14.

Interview with Syvel Lowery, host of the “You Going Pro Sports Talk Show” on  (www.blogtalkradio.com), Nashville, TN, 3/30/14.

Interview with Jason Deierlein, host of “My Positive Perspective” on Kinetic Hi-Fi Community Radio (www.kinetichifi.com), Charleston, South Carolina, 2/12/14.

Interview with Syvel Lowery, host of “The Syvel Lowery Show” on  (www.blogtalkradio.com), Nashville, TN, 2/2/14.

Interview with John Aberle, host of “Life Unedited” on WCHE 1520 AM, West Chester, PA, 2/1/14.

http://insidementalhealth.podomatic.com/

Interview with Edward Brown, host of “Sports Econ 101” on Sports Byline USA (www.sportsecon101.com), San Rafael, CA, 1/11/14.

Interview with Panama on CBS Sports Radio KBZZ 96.1 FM / 1270 AM, Reno, NV, 1/8/14.

Interview with Gena Kirby from the “Progressive Parenting Show” on BlogTalkRadio.com, Austin, TX, 10/8/13.

Radio Interview on WGTK 970 AM “The Dr. Stan Frager Show,” Louisville, KY. 5/26/13.

Internet Interview with Rod Precise of the “Son, Brother, Husband, Father Show.” Las Vegas, NV, 2/12/13.

Radio Interview on WDRC 1360 AM, WSNG 610 AM, WMMW 1470 AM, and WWCO 1240 AM “The Mary Jones Show.” Hartford, Connecticut, 1/29/13.

Radio Interview on KXEL 1540 AM with Mike Bunge. Waterloo, IA, 12/26/12.

Use the link below to listen to an Internet Radio Interview on “The Kelly Alexander Show,” Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 11/29/12.

Radio Interview on WBRN 1460 AM / 107.7 FM Big Rapids Radio Network with Steve Gove. Big Rapids, MI, 11/18/12.

Radio Interview on WJOB 1230 AM with Jim Dedelow “JED in the Region.” Hammond, IN, 11/2/12.

Radio Interview on WGTD 91.1 HD3 “The Troy McDonald Show.” Kenosha, WI, 10/22/12 and 10/24/12.

Radio Interview on WYPV 106.3 FM / Online Stream via Patriotvoice.us “The Greg Marshall Program.” Petosky, MI, 10/18/12.

Radio Interview on WILS 1320 AM “The Tony Conley Morning Show,” Lansing, MI, 10/16/12.

Radio Interview on WGSV 620 AM “The Health, Wealth, and Happiness Show” with host Gary Pozsik, Columbia, SC, 10/11/12.

Radio Interview on 570News AM “The Gary Doyle Show.” Kitchener, ONT, Canada, 10/10/12.

Internet Blog Talk Radio Interview with host Clausell Mathis of “The CMT Firestorm Football Talk Show,” Tampa, FL, 10/10/12.

Radio Interview on KYTE 102.7 FM nationally syndicated “America Tonight” with Kate Delaney, Newport, OR, 10/9/12.

Radio Interview on WVON 1690 AM “The Cliff Kelly Show,” Chicago, IL, 10/9/12.

Radio Interview on WGTK 970 AM “The Dr. Stan Frager Show,” Louisville, KY. 10/7/12.

Radio Interview on CHRW 94.9 FM “Beyond the Cheers” with Dave Ferguson, London, Ontario, Canada. 9/5/12.

Radio Interview on WTMY 1280 AM “The Sports Fanatic” with Shawn Osborne, Sarasota, FL. 8/13/12.

Radio Interview on WOCM 98.1 FM – “Bulldog and The Rude Awakening Show,” Ocean City, MD. 7/24/12.

TV Interview on NBC Affiliate WPXI “Night Talk” with Mike Romigh, Pittsburgh, PA. 7/19/12.

Radio Interview on KDKA 1020 AM with Mike Pintek, Pittsburgh, PA. 7/19/12.

Radio Interview on 1360 AM WDRC “Leatherneck & Lace Show” with Mary Jones and Brad Davis, Hartford, Connecticut. 7/18/12.

Radio Interview on KID Newsradio 590 AM / 92.1 FM, Idaho Falls, ID. 7/16/12.

Radio Interview on KAYT 88.1 FM with Jeannie Sanders, Alexandria, LA. 7/14/12.

Radio Interview on ESPN New York 1050 AM with Jody McDonald, New York, NY. 7/13/12.

Radio Interview on WILS 1320 AM with Tony Conley, Lansing, MI. 7/13/12.

Radio Interview on 1260 AM Idaho’s Morning News with Tim Lewis, Idaho Falls, ID. 7/13/12.

Radio Interview on KLFD 1410 AM with Aaron Imholte, Litchfield, MN. 7/12/12.

Radio Interview on CHAB 800 AM with Rob Carnie, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. 7/12/12.

Radio Interview on KYNT 1450 AM “Alive at Five” with David Leonard, Yankton, SD. 7/11/12.

Radio Interview on KMSU 89.7 FM “Minnesota Morning” with Karen Wright, Mankato, MN. 7/11/12.

Radio Interview on WATR 1320 AM “Talk of the Town with Larry Rifkin,” Waterbury, CT. 7/10/12.

Radio Interview on WSNJ 1240 AM “The Morning Show” with Brandon Heer, NJ. 7/3/12.

Radio Interview on WSNJ 1240 AM “The Morning Show” with Brandon Heer, NJ. 6/21/12.

Radio / Internet Interview on “Dresser After Dark” with Michael Dresser, Milwaukee, WI. 6/7/12.

Radio Interview on KERN Radio Newstalk 1180 AM “The Scott Cox Show,” Bakersfield, CA. 6/7/12.

Radio Interview on KYTE 102.7 FM nationally syndicated “America Tonight” with Kate Delaney, Newport, OR. 6/5/12.

Radio / Internet Interview on Start-Up News USA with Mike Hayes, Concord, CA. 6/5/12.

Radio Interview on FM 101.1 News with Veronica Carter, Chicago, IL. 5/2/12.

Radio Interview on 89.1 FM Lake Shore Public Radio with Steve Walsh, Northwest Indiana / Chicago, IL. 2/29/12.

Use the link below to listen to Dr. Nick Pappas’ radio Interview on ESPN 1080 AM The Fan – “Primetime with Isaac and Suke,” Portland, OR. 2/16/12.

Radio Interview on WTPL 107.7 FM “The Bob Lobel Show,” Hillsboro, NH. 2/14/12.

Radio Interview on KDKA 1020 AM with Rick Bergman, Pittsburgh, PA. 11/27/11.

Use the link below to listen to Dr. Nick Pappas’ radio interview on WSCR 670 AM The Score – “The Mully and Hanley Show,” Chicago, IL. 11/18/11.