What causes top competitors to "choke"? Why do fans think God will favor their team over their rivals? And how can it be moral to deceive the umpire by framing a pitch? Arguing that sports is no less serious than the rest of life, David Papineau draws upon metaphysics and ethics to cast new light on such concepts as fair play, team decision-making, and national identity. Demonstrating in turn that the study of sports clarifies, challenges—and sometimes confuses—crucial issues in philosophy, Papineau's entertaining and enlightening book is also a meditation on how the tactics of road bicycle racing relate to questions of altruism, and how sporting family dynasties reorient the nature vs. nurture debate.