Why are sports important to so many people? Using media, sports play a reflective role in society, often providing, examining, and validating beliefs and values. Dr. Jason Peterson is an assistant professor of communication at Charleston Southern University and the author of Full Court Press: Mississippi State University, the Press, and the Battle to Integrate College Basketball. His research has been published in American Journalism, the book, From Jack Johnson to LeBron James: Essays on Sports, Race, and the Media, and the upcoming volume, Jesus on the Small Screen: Christianity in Television Programming. His research interests include the Civil Rights Movement and sports journalism. Peterson resides in Summerville, S.C. with his awesome wife, Joy, and his incredible children, Addison and Connor. Peterson is an die-hard fan of the Atlanta Falcons. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx