Football, Chuck Klosterman

His just-released book on Football. This one is not a favorite of mine with Klosterman. Perhaps it’s because I don’t watch football of any kind anymore due to the fact that it’s all about money as opposed to teamwork, the town, and the audience watching it.  Klosterman once again provides his trademark ability to treat Football not as a game, but as a massive overall object that explains the American DNA. He argues that football is the ultimate television product… a perfect synergy of violence and tactical moves tailored for the screen. He explores how the sport functions as a religion and a mirror for corporate and technological control. It is less a collection of stats and more a philosophical autopsy of why we can’t look away from the gridiron, even when we suspect we should.

The most polarizing aspect is Klosterman’s somber thesis: football is doomed. He draws a comparison to horse racing, suggesting that as fewer people physically play the game due to CTE concerns and safety risks, it will eventually lose its cultural centrality and fade into a niche pursuit. For die-hard fans looking for a celebration of the sport, his style can feel clinical and pessimistic. He overthinks a game that many simply want to enjoy on Sundays. Boy, do I miss ‘The Fun Bunch’ of the Redskins.