"Baker's study is a welcome addition to our understanding of sports, movies, and politics. These provocative essays draw attention to a compelling subject and an abundant amount of films that have suffered neglect even as sports films became an increasingly important part of our entertainment culture."
Cineaste "A seminal contribution to film and cinema studies supplemental reading lists and academic library reference collections, Contesting Identities is very strongly recommended for film students and sports enthusiasts searching for a comprehensive and intelligible grasp of historical progression, identity, ideals, and production of sports-oriented films."
The Bookwatch "A must-read for cinephiles and sports fans alike, Contesting Identites is a knock-out. Aaron Baker cogently combines previous work on identities, sports, and media and moves discussion to new levels. His analyses of how race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class are represented in feature sports films are consistently thought-provoking and intriguing."
Chris Holmlund, author of Impossible Bodies: Femininity and Masculinity at the Movies.