The Sporting Image: What If?

This publication originates from a module at the University of Central Lancashire called The Sporting Image. The focus of the book is to take a sideways look at iconic features in sport; characters, events, artefacts and general goings-on. By considering the notion of 'What If?' reality has been reinterpreted and presented differently through a medium of creative writing. Each chapter has some underpinning research which is intended to illustrate where the creative story departs from reality. The research aspect is also to give a sense of plausibility for a range of different outcomes which are ostensibly possible for some famous people in sport. Through the conflict created for these characters we find many 'good apples' in sport may have been rotten to the core (and vice-versa) and some 'juicy' dialogue leads them to novel endings, altered events and new milestones in an augmented life-history. These are the kind of things envisaged by the authors in What If?, always for dramatic effect and often with moral tales lurking not too far behind the scenes.