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Welcome to the Terrordome: The Pain, Politics and Promise of Sports
“Dave Zirin is the best young sportswriter in America.”—Robert Lipsyte This much-anticipated sequel to What’s My Name, Fool? by acclaimed commentator Dave Zirin breaks new ground in sports writing, looking at the controversies and trends now shaping sports in the United States—and abroad. Features chapters such as “Barry Bonds is Gonna Git Your The Last Word on Steroids,” “Pro Basketball and the Two Souls of Hip-Hop,” “An Icon’s The Great Roberto Clemente,” and “ How the Major Leagues Eat Their Young.” Zirin’s commentary is always insightful, never predictable. Dave Zirin is the author of the widely acclaimed book What’s My Name, Fool? (Haymarket Books) and writes the weekly column “Edge of Sports” (edgeofsports.com). He writes a regular column for The Nation and Slam magazine and has appeared as a sports commentator on ESPN TV and radio, CBNC, WNBC, Democracy Now!, Air America, Radio Nation, and Pacifica. Chuck D redefined rap music and hip-hop culture as leader and co-founder of the legendary rap group Public Enemy. Spike Lee calls him “one of the most politically and socially conscious artists of any generation.” He co-hosts a weekly radio show on Air America.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
6 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Dave Zirin
34 books141 followersNamed of the UTNE Reader’s “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Our World”, Dave Zirin writes about the politics of sports for the Nation Magazine. He is their first sports writer in 150 years of existence. Zirin is also the host of Sirius XM Radio’s popular weekly show, Edge of Sports Radio. He has been called “the best sportswriter in the United States,” by Robert Lipsyte. Dave Zirin is, in addition, a columnist for SLAM Magazine and the Progressive.
[from http://www.edgeofsports.com/bio.html]
[from http://www.edgeofsports.com/bio.html]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 28, 2024
4 1/2 stars
They certainly don’t make sports writers like Dave too often. One because he’s outwardly left leaning in all his works and writes decisively from that perspective and two because he has abandon all bondages of irony that usually weigh down most cultural critics of the time. Where earnestness for leftism is treated with as much disdain as actually having abhorrent right wing views. Where the quest to be “normal” (or at least what coastal leftists and their ilk view as normal) means that engaging with the politics of sport is akin to being a “sportsball” person. But enough of that. If you want to read about the racial tensions caused by Barry Bonds, the broken structures of the MLB minor leagues, the impact of Allen Iverson to American culture this is theee book. But Dave also talks about the limitations of politics in sports under the boot of world capitalism. Thru the dichotomies of the worlds best players show why politics in sports is what it is now. How really pro sports are but a distraction financed by billionaires to buy up real estate but we can’t help but marvel at these people reaching the sporting heavens. This all works because Dave actually cares about people and the sports he covers. He doesn’t jam an opinion on a sport rather builds a politic from his passion of the game. Worth a read even if for someone like me who has lived and breathed sports for a couple decades. Always making you think.
They certainly don’t make sports writers like Dave too often. One because he’s outwardly left leaning in all his works and writes decisively from that perspective and two because he has abandon all bondages of irony that usually weigh down most cultural critics of the time. Where earnestness for leftism is treated with as much disdain as actually having abhorrent right wing views. Where the quest to be “normal” (or at least what coastal leftists and their ilk view as normal) means that engaging with the politics of sport is akin to being a “sportsball” person. But enough of that. If you want to read about the racial tensions caused by Barry Bonds, the broken structures of the MLB minor leagues, the impact of Allen Iverson to American culture this is theee book. But Dave also talks about the limitations of politics in sports under the boot of world capitalism. Thru the dichotomies of the worlds best players show why politics in sports is what it is now. How really pro sports are but a distraction financed by billionaires to buy up real estate but we can’t help but marvel at these people reaching the sporting heavens. This all works because Dave actually cares about people and the sports he covers. He doesn’t jam an opinion on a sport rather builds a politic from his passion of the game. Worth a read even if for someone like me who has lived and breathed sports for a couple decades. Always making you think.
October 30, 2020
This book is sort of a collection of “how sports are enmeshed with what’s screwed up in the world, even though sports can (and more often, should) be the best of us.”
To be honest, much of it is not new. And since I read it in 2020, it is quite dated from all the 2006 references.
But it gets to the point — the heart — of so many significant moments in modern (mostly) American sports, that it’s got something for everybody.
* Zizou at the World Cup: Zidane was the the ButtHead, but the situation, circumstances, and personalities involved offer a far different perspective than the commonly told story.
* “Slavery Avery” Brundage and the Olympic movement... and how Dennis Brutus is one of the greatest heroes of sport.
* Jim Bouton and how Ball Four changed everything with a little bit of a truthful glance behind the curtain (which, as a 15-year-old kid, made me love baseball all the more).
* Tlatelolco, Clemente, Bonds ... all good chapters.
It’s all a fascinating but not-so-fun reminder that, well, sports are run by the uber-rich and traditionally (conservatively) powerful.
Perhaps the most disheartening thing about this book, though, is that he writes it as though things are improving in 2006 ... but as we look at the world today, it is clear that corporate control and inherent racism are more prevalent than ever in 2020. It serves as a stark reminder that sports needed the Black Lives Matter movement a long time ago.
To be honest, much of it is not new. And since I read it in 2020, it is quite dated from all the 2006 references.
But it gets to the point — the heart — of so many significant moments in modern (mostly) American sports, that it’s got something for everybody.
* Zizou at the World Cup: Zidane was the the ButtHead, but the situation, circumstances, and personalities involved offer a far different perspective than the commonly told story.
* “Slavery Avery” Brundage and the Olympic movement... and how Dennis Brutus is one of the greatest heroes of sport.
* Jim Bouton and how Ball Four changed everything with a little bit of a truthful glance behind the curtain (which, as a 15-year-old kid, made me love baseball all the more).
* Tlatelolco, Clemente, Bonds ... all good chapters.
It’s all a fascinating but not-so-fun reminder that, well, sports are run by the uber-rich and traditionally (conservatively) powerful.
Perhaps the most disheartening thing about this book, though, is that he writes it as though things are improving in 2006 ... but as we look at the world today, it is clear that corporate control and inherent racism are more prevalent than ever in 2020. It serves as a stark reminder that sports needed the Black Lives Matter movement a long time ago.
November 20, 2007
Sports are the world's great distraction, especially in the United States. To really understand American culture, and other cultures too, you have to understand sports to get why people get so very fanatical about them. In a sense, they are a form of reality TV, except they envelope so much more. It is very easy for radicals to dismiss sports as a distraction from more important things, like changing the world, but in a sense, by dismissing sports, they also dismiss sports fans, which is a great deal of people. It's also important to understand how sports is used to distract people, and why athletes are told to shut up and be good soldiers. So having said all that, when Dave Zirin put out a sequel to his first book, "What's My Name Fool?", I read it as fast as I could.
Much like his first book, "Welcome to the Terrordome", (Chuck D does the introduction, since the title is taken from a Public Enemy song), the book is broken down into chapters exploring different parts, exploring politics in the sports world. Roberto Clemente was a Hall of Fame right-fielder for the Pittsburg Pirates from 1955 to 1972. He is often described as baseball's Latino Jackie Robinson, in that he never shut up and never backed down from disrespect. He was outspoken on issues of the day, like racism, segregation, colonialism in Latin America, civil rights, the war in Vietnam, and media mockery of minority players. Clemente was instrumental in winning a World Series for the Pirates in 1960, yet finished 8th in MVP voting because of his Puerto Rican heritage. When non-white baseball players had to eat in the bus while in the South, he led a protest against segregation and demanded that all players be treated the same. He died in a plane crash on his way to deliver relief supplies to victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua a year after his retirement and remains one of the best players to ever play the game..
Another topic is how Major League Baseball sets up minimum wage baseball sweatshops in the Caribbean and Central America, where the only options are the army, the factory, or baseball. In the so-called "America's Game", baseball, nearly a fourth of the league are foreign born Latinos. During the World Baseball Classic, sponsored by MLB in an effort to show-case homegrown talent, the Team USA was trounced by Latin American teams. Interesting statistics like how 6 of the last 10 American League MVPs have been Latino, and here's why. In the Dominican Republic, US teams run "baseball academies", where young boys who have dropped out of school attend to get trained how to play baseball, some coming with soapboxes for shoes and tattered clothing. 99 out of 100 don't make it to the MLB who attend these academies.
Around the world, soccer, or football as it's known outside of the States, is by far the most popular sport. It's famous by soccer hooligans in Europe, full-scale riots in Latin America, and national pride all over. Players like Diego Maradona are heroes in the third world, for standing against corporate globalization, war, and famously "avenging" the Falkland War in 1986 World Cup against England. In 2002, he attends the protests against the Summit of the Americas, where he says that Argentina will never enjoy the fruits of corporate control. Another famous player, Ronaldo of the powerful Brazil team, goes to Palestine to meet with a Palestinian boy who wrote him a letter asking him to meet with him, and brings international attention to Israel's travel bans when he is stopped from meeting with him.
read the rest at www.woodenshoebooks.com/reviews.html
Much like his first book, "Welcome to the Terrordome", (Chuck D does the introduction, since the title is taken from a Public Enemy song), the book is broken down into chapters exploring different parts, exploring politics in the sports world. Roberto Clemente was a Hall of Fame right-fielder for the Pittsburg Pirates from 1955 to 1972. He is often described as baseball's Latino Jackie Robinson, in that he never shut up and never backed down from disrespect. He was outspoken on issues of the day, like racism, segregation, colonialism in Latin America, civil rights, the war in Vietnam, and media mockery of minority players. Clemente was instrumental in winning a World Series for the Pirates in 1960, yet finished 8th in MVP voting because of his Puerto Rican heritage. When non-white baseball players had to eat in the bus while in the South, he led a protest against segregation and demanded that all players be treated the same. He died in a plane crash on his way to deliver relief supplies to victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua a year after his retirement and remains one of the best players to ever play the game..
Another topic is how Major League Baseball sets up minimum wage baseball sweatshops in the Caribbean and Central America, where the only options are the army, the factory, or baseball. In the so-called "America's Game", baseball, nearly a fourth of the league are foreign born Latinos. During the World Baseball Classic, sponsored by MLB in an effort to show-case homegrown talent, the Team USA was trounced by Latin American teams. Interesting statistics like how 6 of the last 10 American League MVPs have been Latino, and here's why. In the Dominican Republic, US teams run "baseball academies", where young boys who have dropped out of school attend to get trained how to play baseball, some coming with soapboxes for shoes and tattered clothing. 99 out of 100 don't make it to the MLB who attend these academies.
Around the world, soccer, or football as it's known outside of the States, is by far the most popular sport. It's famous by soccer hooligans in Europe, full-scale riots in Latin America, and national pride all over. Players like Diego Maradona are heroes in the third world, for standing against corporate globalization, war, and famously "avenging" the Falkland War in 1986 World Cup against England. In 2002, he attends the protests against the Summit of the Americas, where he says that Argentina will never enjoy the fruits of corporate control. Another famous player, Ronaldo of the powerful Brazil team, goes to Palestine to meet with a Palestinian boy who wrote him a letter asking him to meet with him, and brings international attention to Israel's travel bans when he is stopped from meeting with him.
read the rest at www.woodenshoebooks.com/reviews.html
November 1, 2013
The novel that I chose to read was suggested to me by my boyfriend who is fascinated by the idea that sports in America has a much darker side to it than people believe. This novel is unconventional in that it doesn't have your average makings of a story. It’s more of an informative book that covers the corruption of sports in mainstream America. It is entitled “Welcome to the Terrordome”, written by Dave Zirin. Mr Zirin is a Sports columnist who writes for a magazine that covers culture and politics. His background in this field makes him the perfect candidate for a novel of this type. The book covers many topics, but there are only a few that spark my interest. These topics are how sports and politics don’t mix, sports exploits people for financial game, and last sports is a business that comes before peoples well-being.
To begin, Mr Zirin covers how sports and politics don't mix. The first chapter covers how the victims of Hurricane Katrina used the New Orleans Saints football stadium to house thousands of residents who had lost their homes. These same people’s tax dollars helped to fund the construction of this stadium and unfortunately, due to high ticket prices this was the first time they'd even seen the inside of the building. The majority of the people affected in New Orleans were so poor that they could not afford to buy tickets and enjoy the games that their tax dollars helped to make happen. Mr. Zirin states, “Over the past ten years, more than 16 billion of the public’s money has been spent for stadium construction and upkeep in cities all over the United States.” (p.17) The SuperDome was turned into a giant homeless shelter that was barely inhabitable. The same money that was used to build this giant stadium, which is the largest of its kind, could have been better spent on the community. Money could have went to schools, city infrastructure, libraries, clinics, or levees that could have saved thousands of people’s lives during the hurricane. This is a consequence of greed within big business owners who have a large say on how money gets spent in cities similar to New Orleans. This whole idea is corrupt and used for the betterment of individuals with higher status’s and more wealth than the majority of most people. The sales pitch for these stadiums is usually the lie that these stadiums give back to the community, but they really do not.
The second theme of this book is how sports exploits people for financial gain, no matter how immoral it may be. What interested me the most was how The Major League of Baseball exploits children in the third world countries, such as the Dominican republic. What the MLB does is create multi million dollar baseball academies that encourage children between the ages of 6-18 to drop out of school and play baseball full time in hopes of becoming successful. Most of the children that are chosen, come from a poor family and think this is their only hope for a better life. What the MLB doesn't do is provide these kids with any type of education, and when their done weeding out the best players, the kids that are left behind have to learn to fend for themselves. This may become a struggle for those children because they put all their effort into playing baseball and have no education. The least that the MLB could do is provide these kids with an education. Especially since some of the best players in these academies end up making them billions of dollar. I think that it would be a strong argument to make that this exploitation has a lot to do with race.
Lastly, Mr. Zirin’s point of view on how sports is a business that comes before peoples well-being is covered once again in the chapter that speaks about the MLB and their exploitation of young underprivileged children for their own financial gain. Although there are other examples of exploitation in the book, i feel that this is the most impactful and for the sake of this paper, it is the most relevant. Dave Zirin goes on to quote a sports sociologist by the name of Dr. Harry Edwards. Mr Edwards states, “ I'm convinced that the increase in latin players is not because all of a sudden the leadership and hierarchy of baseball developed a love for latinos. it’s about money. I'm convinced, as Michael Corleone used to say, it’s not personal. It’s just business.”(p.69) The MLB gets great players for the cost of pennies. And at whose expense? They exploit poor countries for the betterment of their own business. This is what sports has become in America. Another example of exploitation would be the NCAA and how they exploit it’s student athletes by barely reimbursing them for the hard work, dedication, and the billions of dollars they bring in. What we need in sports are more athletes that are willing to take a stand for what is wrong in our society. They are looked up to, and they can be the voice for many average people. This will most likely never happen because in most sports players are told what to do, and they are silenced by the people above them. They are silenced because in sports, if it doesn’t make the company money then they don’t want anything to do with it.
In conclusion, the overall purpose of this book was to shed light on the negative aspects of sports, and I think the author did a good job at doing so. This book showed me that sports isn't what everyone makes it out to seem. There is a very ugly truth to the sporting industry that not many people know about. This book is perfect for people who are interested in sports and think that it is more important than being involved in other things, such as clubs, academics, and working a job. These things will help people go further in life than sports will. I found this book to be an easy read, but at the same time the topics were very deep. I found myself having to reread over parts that didn’t make complete sense the first time. I do recommend this book to people because it really makes you think outside the book.
To begin, Mr Zirin covers how sports and politics don't mix. The first chapter covers how the victims of Hurricane Katrina used the New Orleans Saints football stadium to house thousands of residents who had lost their homes. These same people’s tax dollars helped to fund the construction of this stadium and unfortunately, due to high ticket prices this was the first time they'd even seen the inside of the building. The majority of the people affected in New Orleans were so poor that they could not afford to buy tickets and enjoy the games that their tax dollars helped to make happen. Mr. Zirin states, “Over the past ten years, more than 16 billion of the public’s money has been spent for stadium construction and upkeep in cities all over the United States.” (p.17) The SuperDome was turned into a giant homeless shelter that was barely inhabitable. The same money that was used to build this giant stadium, which is the largest of its kind, could have been better spent on the community. Money could have went to schools, city infrastructure, libraries, clinics, or levees that could have saved thousands of people’s lives during the hurricane. This is a consequence of greed within big business owners who have a large say on how money gets spent in cities similar to New Orleans. This whole idea is corrupt and used for the betterment of individuals with higher status’s and more wealth than the majority of most people. The sales pitch for these stadiums is usually the lie that these stadiums give back to the community, but they really do not.
The second theme of this book is how sports exploits people for financial gain, no matter how immoral it may be. What interested me the most was how The Major League of Baseball exploits children in the third world countries, such as the Dominican republic. What the MLB does is create multi million dollar baseball academies that encourage children between the ages of 6-18 to drop out of school and play baseball full time in hopes of becoming successful. Most of the children that are chosen, come from a poor family and think this is their only hope for a better life. What the MLB doesn't do is provide these kids with any type of education, and when their done weeding out the best players, the kids that are left behind have to learn to fend for themselves. This may become a struggle for those children because they put all their effort into playing baseball and have no education. The least that the MLB could do is provide these kids with an education. Especially since some of the best players in these academies end up making them billions of dollar. I think that it would be a strong argument to make that this exploitation has a lot to do with race.
Lastly, Mr. Zirin’s point of view on how sports is a business that comes before peoples well-being is covered once again in the chapter that speaks about the MLB and their exploitation of young underprivileged children for their own financial gain. Although there are other examples of exploitation in the book, i feel that this is the most impactful and for the sake of this paper, it is the most relevant. Dave Zirin goes on to quote a sports sociologist by the name of Dr. Harry Edwards. Mr Edwards states, “ I'm convinced that the increase in latin players is not because all of a sudden the leadership and hierarchy of baseball developed a love for latinos. it’s about money. I'm convinced, as Michael Corleone used to say, it’s not personal. It’s just business.”(p.69) The MLB gets great players for the cost of pennies. And at whose expense? They exploit poor countries for the betterment of their own business. This is what sports has become in America. Another example of exploitation would be the NCAA and how they exploit it’s student athletes by barely reimbursing them for the hard work, dedication, and the billions of dollars they bring in. What we need in sports are more athletes that are willing to take a stand for what is wrong in our society. They are looked up to, and they can be the voice for many average people. This will most likely never happen because in most sports players are told what to do, and they are silenced by the people above them. They are silenced because in sports, if it doesn’t make the company money then they don’t want anything to do with it.
In conclusion, the overall purpose of this book was to shed light on the negative aspects of sports, and I think the author did a good job at doing so. This book showed me that sports isn't what everyone makes it out to seem. There is a very ugly truth to the sporting industry that not many people know about. This book is perfect for people who are interested in sports and think that it is more important than being involved in other things, such as clubs, academics, and working a job. These things will help people go further in life than sports will. I found this book to be an easy read, but at the same time the topics were very deep. I found myself having to reread over parts that didn’t make complete sense the first time. I do recommend this book to people because it really makes you think outside the book.
September 20, 2021
This is a great book for liberals and conservatives alike. For the liberals, it presents a side of sports most have never thought of, and for the conservatives it shows why you should be supporting someone who decides to take a knee during the National Anthem.
Sexism, homophobia, racism, capitalism and more is covered by author Dave Zirin here, and often in a humorous way. Major athletes are taken to task when necessary, and applauded when necessary, too. And every single sentence is designed to destroy your previous thoughts on the world of sports.
And you thought it was just about winning.
Sexism, homophobia, racism, capitalism and more is covered by author Dave Zirin here, and often in a humorous way. Major athletes are taken to task when necessary, and applauded when necessary, too. And every single sentence is designed to destroy your previous thoughts on the world of sports.
And you thought it was just about winning.
February 8, 2021
These were really interesting essays about sports and race, but I didn't realize before starting it how old it was. It's still interesting, but with 13 years gone since, things have sort of exploded. (There was still plenty that was current enough to make me so embarrassed and depressed though...). Anyway, I liked Zirin's writing enough to give it 4 stars and next time I'll read a more current book.
June 2, 2023
This book is a whirlwind of sports opinion pieces --some long, some short -- in a 15-year old time capsule (sports and post-Katrina and pre-Obama/pre-recession), with a focus on social and racial justice. I learned a lot about mainstream sports, which I don't really follow, and will remember the essays about Roberto Clemente's skill and activism, and the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. I also want to watch This is a Game, Ladies about former Rutgers basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer.
April 20, 2023
Dave Ziriin's 2007 look at the "politics" of sport, focusing on racism, oppression, sexist practices, biased coverage, and other inequalities in a variety of sport settings.
Would be curious to see a follow-up to see how he might amend some of his comments given the way many of these issues have been given greater provenance since then.
Would be curious to see a follow-up to see how he might amend some of his comments given the way many of these issues have been given greater provenance since then.
October 25, 2020
This is a really fascinating collection of essays on where sports meets politics. From the olympics to basketball to baseball, there is a lot covered. This book of course primarily focuses on controversies leading up to the release, early 2000s, but it still feels relevant today.
February 8, 2020
There were so many hard truths in here that were pretty heavy to take as a sport fan. I loved it.
February 20, 2021
Brilliant.
January 2, 2023
Another wonderful set of essays on sports and politics by David Zirin.
December 16, 2016
This book sheds light on the realities of what goes on behind the scenes of the sports world. Athletes are set on a pedestal for us to worship and admire. Realistically though there are bad seeds everywhere and the sports world is planting them in every field.
Today we hear more about domestic violence, drugs and other crimes from athletes, but even more are buried. If a player is outstanding in his sport it is almost forgivable if he/she does something that an average person would get dragged through the fire for. There are cover-ups from the higher ups, like coaches, owners and commissioners just to protect the game.
Dave Zirin writes this for the sports fan, he doesn't sugar coat to appease anyone. He makes it a point, in this book and in his podcasts (Edge of Sports) to single out those athletes who stand up, who make a difference. The ones that aren't reported on as often but should be. These are the athletes we should respect and admire. Not because they have a solid scoring record but because they use their voice to shed light on an imperfect world.
Chuck D's (Public Enemy) intro alone was enough to peak my interest, his world view is one to take note of. Now, however, I look forward to reading more of Dave Zirin's books, If you haven't checked out his podcasts, you need to. You don't have to be a lover of sports like me to glean something from them.
December 28, 2007
This book articulated many of the thoughts I've been having about US sports culture for quite some time. I have always been bothered by the Disneyfication of sports and the singularity of the sports voice, but Zirin shows that more people are speaking than we hear. There are men and women in sports fighting for more diversity and freedom in very undemocratic institutions. And Zirin's writing is enjoyable, too. He's passionate and honest and opinionated, all characteristics that don't exist in big media sports broadcasting or written sports journalism. You really think Stuart Scott's "Boo-yah!" has any journalistic integrity? You think the Pat Tillman pageantry and F-16 fly-overs are patriotic? You think that the Saints returning to the Superdome after Katrina is a symbol of a great city's rebirth? If so, you're a sucker and you should read this book. If you don't, you should still read this book. Dave Zirin, as many other people have pointed out, is a people's sports writer. He is to sports writing what Howard Zinn is to history. Plus, the book is published through a not-for-profit press, which might have a more lenient editing staff that let the last couple of chapters repeat what had already been said.
August 6, 2012
Sports and politics can't be separated, and instead of trying to act like they can, it's important that we openly discuss the connections, support bold athletes who use their place appropriately to highlight their views, and speak up against the blind patriotism and racism that often gets spilled into the mix. Dave Zirin makes this point in these ten essays that look at the politics in basketball, baseball, soccer, and football. He's at his best when detailing important episodes that have become footnotes or misunderstood moments of sports history. Occasionally, he stretches a bit too far to turn a clever phrase: "In the run-up to the Cup, the German government wanted to have its schnitzel and eat it too." I found myself cringing a few times, but he keeps it in check for the most part and stays on message. Repeated points about hypocrisy and right wing tendencies among organizers of international sports (Olympics and World Cup) and the wasting of public funds on sports stadiums are especially important.
April 25, 2008
The author exposes the golden caged slavery that exists in modern day sports world. Don't speak out - if you do - lose the contract. There has been a form of punishment going on for a long time in sports - if you dared to mix it with politics or your beliefs. There are many admirable people in this book and we find out what happend when they stood up to be counted for what they believed to be right. What are the chances of a protest of some sort in China this summer?
The Terrordome is the Superdome in New Orelans - opened up to the public when their city was flooded, and most of them being too poor to afford a car that they needed in order to evacuate the city. A year later - they opened the doors again for football game - and white acts like U2 and Greeday entertained the white crowd who could afford the tickets, and everyone ruefully remembered thanks to video clips - how bad things had been for others a year ago.
The Terrordome is the Superdome in New Orelans - opened up to the public when their city was flooded, and most of them being too poor to afford a car that they needed in order to evacuate the city. A year later - they opened the doors again for football game - and white acts like U2 and Greeday entertained the white crowd who could afford the tickets, and everyone ruefully remembered thanks to video clips - how bad things had been for others a year ago.
July 5, 2007
This book should be read by all sports fans who desire a differing point of view from the bogus arguing they hear on talk radio or see on shows like PTI and Around the Horn on ESPN. Zirin pulls no punches in his critic of the corrupt and racist nature of the systems that maintain the sports landscape. Zirin's series of serious essays would never be found in mainstream newspapers, but these are things that need to be said. A great example is the rift between cementing Roberto Clemente's legacy by retiring his number in baseball the same way Jackie Robinson's was. It shows that racism is not just black on white but black vs. hispanic.
Zirin deserves more airtime and space, but he is unlikely to get it because Americans get defensive every time they must look inside themselves in search of causes to society's problems.
Zirin deserves more airtime and space, but he is unlikely to get it because Americans get defensive every time they must look inside themselves in search of causes to society's problems.
January 10, 2011
Years ago, I was very skeptical when I heard claims of sports affecting politics. I thought that men hitting a ball was simply that and nothing more. But after reading Zirin's work, that illusion has been shattered. Discussing Roberto Clemente, the history of the Olympics, the NBA and rap culture, and many more, he illustrates, effortlessly I'll add, the ways in which sports figures (with their high levels of visibility and influence) can act as beacons of hope for many struggles.
The writing is typical (and I mean that in a good way) Zirin: fun, fast, and factual. He wastes no space discussing some of the most important movements in sports, and our nation's history. You don't have to be a sports nut or a political junkie to understand the importance of popular cultural figures standing up for justice and integrity in our country and around the world.
The writing is typical (and I mean that in a good way) Zirin: fun, fast, and factual. He wastes no space discussing some of the most important movements in sports, and our nation's history. You don't have to be a sports nut or a political junkie to understand the importance of popular cultural figures standing up for justice and integrity in our country and around the world.
September 2, 2012
One of the most thought-provoking books I'd ever read. I still think about this book from time to time, and I read it nearly five years ago. Dave Zirin masterfully weaves together theories of how the larger political climate at any time can shape the way we view sports. He makes the reader realize that arguably the most unifying interest in the world, sports, isn't immune to injustice. Zirin is a writer for The Nation magazine, and is based in the Washington, DC area. I've had the pleasure of meeting him, and his appearances at Busboys & Poets are captivating. This is a book for anyone who enjoys a brutally honest analysis of sports and our culture.
January 26, 2010
An eye-opening piece of non-fiction that examines where sports and social responsibility meet. The chapter about Roberto Clemente really made me aware of how amazing of a human being he was. It also examines the injustice of public money being used to build ballparks for billionaires who could afford it on their own but still insist on taking money from the taxpayers to open a park that only benefits multi-billion dollar corporations. Essential reading for anyone who considers themselves a sports fan with a social conscience.
September 13, 2010
I've seen Zirin on TV and read his articles, so it was great to finally read one of his books...and I was not disappointed.
This not your typical rah-rah sports book; rather, it is an insightful, engrossing, and extremely well written documentation of the racial and political aspects of sports, both of which are largely ignored by the corporate sports media. This is an excellent read for anyone wishing to take a peek behind the curtain and better understand how sports is influenced by socioeconomic and cultural factors in our world today.
This not your typical rah-rah sports book; rather, it is an insightful, engrossing, and extremely well written documentation of the racial and political aspects of sports, both of which are largely ignored by the corporate sports media. This is an excellent read for anyone wishing to take a peek behind the curtain and better understand how sports is influenced by socioeconomic and cultural factors in our world today.
February 21, 2012
Zirin focuses on the friction points between sports and social justice and provides wonderful counterpoint to a particular strain of blowhard sportswriting I find so troubling. However, Terrordome is ultimately a very uneven and periodically inconsistent collection. Zirin is at his best when he tracks down overlooked stories of individual courage and at his worst when he writes like a college freshman who just heard of this awesome new band Rage Against the Machine. Still, I wouldn't mind if this book opened the door for more writers to add social and historical context to sportswriting.
August 7, 2009
A few great essays about B. Bonds, the Dominican Republic, but I was also hoping for a long piece talking about the ideological and personal tragedy of New Orleans refugees seeking shelter from their dis-invested communities in a publicly financed Superdome. Zirin is a good sports writer as well as the political and social thinker, but I got to say his figurative language doesn't match the best to found on the sports page.
January 5, 2008
While not perfect (a friend recently pointed out how little attention he pays to women's sports--though I was introduced to Zirin by his analysis of the Kobe Bryant rape case), I like Zirin's way of looking at sports in their social context. I think his economic analyses are the sharpest, but I'm glad he also brings in issues of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, and sexuality.
December 11, 2007
This is sort of a companion to "What's My Name, Fool?" and it takes up where that book left of: the scope of international sports. Any book that takes you from Katrina to baseball's Roberto Clemente, to mentioning Uruguay's 1950 soccer World Cup captain Obdulio Varela and quoting Uruguayan wirter Eduardo Galeano on Maradona, to explaining hip-hop and the NBA, is a good read!
April 2, 2008
Worth reading for anyone who follows sports. Once you get used to his sometimes jarringly casual tone and get over the suspicion that he's so focused on class and race only because he's a young white guy who wants publicity (that's not the reason), Zirin's writing is consistently thought-provoking, and sometimes very important.
April 28, 2008
This book was terrible. The author started with his personal beliefs and then instead of trying to defend them or explain why they are correct or even better than an alternative, he simply applied them to a situation that is by no means morally clear and started yelling at the reader. Couldn't even finish it.
July 24, 2011
Dave Zirin is exactly what sports journalism needs – a fan who is politically aware, solidly on the left, and willing to challenge the corporate consensus on the things that matter. Surely there are more like him (and I'm just hanging out for the English writers who will do what he does). If you like sports but are uncomfortable with its cultures – read Zirin.
November 21, 2007
Written post Katrina this book is really interesting and provides a superb analysis of the insection between sports and politics. Particulary good are the chapters on the Olympic games and the steriods in sports.
March 2, 2008
A refreshing look at the politics and business of sports from a progressive perspective. While I didn't agree with him 100% of the time (on occasion I felt he went a little too far with a point), just the mere fact that this kind of commentary and analysis exists makes me happy.
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