> It reads a bit like an ivory tower academic discovering what "the poors" are up to.
"A bit like"? Isn't the piece pretty overtly "How I, ivory tower anti-sports intellectual, realized the error of my ways, converted to the 'working class' ritual of sports fandom, and found that it was useful for one's own social engagement, despite having some worrisome aspects."
I mean, the authors journey into sports starts with hearing a speaker at MIT claim that people who talk about "working class struggle" can't speak to the working class because they avoid sport -- and seeing themself in that critique.
It actually is somewhat impressive for its ability to maintain an attitude of disdain for sport while recognizing the utility of joining the fandom, while at the same time adding new disdain for those who don't play the same game.
"A bit like"? Isn't the piece pretty overtly "How I, ivory tower anti-sports intellectual, realized the error of my ways, converted to the 'working class' ritual of sports fandom, and found that it was useful for one's own social engagement, despite having some worrisome aspects."
I mean, the authors journey into sports starts with hearing a speaker at MIT claim that people who talk about "working class struggle" can't speak to the working class because they avoid sport -- and seeing themself in that critique.
It actually is somewhat impressive for its ability to maintain an attitude of disdain for sport while recognizing the utility of joining the fandom, while at the same time adding new disdain for those who don't play the same game.