A Comparative Analysis of Navaho Indian and Anglo Basketball Sport Systems

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to identify the ways in which two distinct cultural groups adopt and incorporate a single sport, namely basketball, and transform it into distinct cultural entities. Specifically, comparative data from the basketball sport systems of the Navaho Indians and the Anglo cultures of the southwestern United States is presented. Relying on the Simmelian distinction between form and content, the authors identify and discuss several elements of the form of bas ketball including materials, shared goals, behavioral tactics, and codes of agree ment. In addition, specific examples of the cultural elaboration of these element is presented. Finally, several hypothetical formulations are presented with a dis cussion of the implications of these findings for the future study of sport systems embedded within specific cultural milieus.