Overview

A fundamental reevaluation of how to be a sports fan by an acclaimed baseball writer. Sports fandom isn't what it used to be. Owners and executives increasingly count on the blind loyalty of their fans and too often act against the team's best interest. Sports fans are left deliberating not only mismanagement, but also political, health, and ethical issues. In Rethinking Fandom: How To Beat The Sports Industrial Complex at Its Own Game, sportswriter (and lifelong sports fan) Craig Calcaterra outlines endemic problems with what he calls the Sports-Industrial Complex, such as intentionally tanking a season to get a high draft pick, scamming local governments to build cushy new stadiums, actively subverting the players, bad stadium deals, racism, concussions, and more. But he doesn't give up on professional sports. In the second half of the book, he proposes strategies to reclaim joy in fandom: rooting for players instead of teams, being a fair-weather fan, becoming an activist, and other clever solutions. With his characteristic wit and piercing commentary, Calcaterra argues that fans have more power than they realize to change how their teams behave.

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9781953368232

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Reviews

Craig Calcaterra once again proves his status as one of the most insightful commentators on the intersection of sports, culture, and politics. Bringing his trademark blend of clear thinking, righteous indignation, and ironic humor, he lays out the case that modern sports fans are captured in a cycle of toxic exploitation. He skewers the manipulative hypocrisy of the sports- industrial-complex, and asks us to reexamine our connections to the corporate franchises and media conglomerates who profit from our passions. But the best part is that rather than simply criticizing, Calcaterra provides positive solutions to help us form a healthier and more thoughtful relationship with the sports we love.A vital book for any sports fan in the 21 st century. --Mike Duncan, author of New York Times bestseller, A Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolutions Modern fandom is rubbish, and Calcaterra explains why, but in so doing, also shows us the way out of our desensitized, corporate, laundry-hugging ways. --Keith Law, senior baseball writer, The Athletic

Craig Calcaterra once again proves his status as one of the most insightful commentators on the intersection of sports, culture, and politics. Bringing his trademark blend of clear thinking, righteous indignation, and ironic humor, he lays out the case that modern sports fans are captured in a cycle of toxic exploitation. He skewers the manipulative hypocrisy of the sports- industrial-complex, and asks us to reexamine our connections to the corporate franchises and media conglomerates who profit from our passions. But the best part is that rather than simply criticizing, Calcaterra provides positive solutions to help us form a healthier and more thoughtful relationship with the sports we love.A vital book for any sports fan in the 21 st century. --Mike Duncan, author of New York Times bestseller, A Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolutions Modern fandom is rubbish, and Calcaterra explains why, but in so doing, also shows us the way out of our desensitized, corporate, laundry-hugging ways. Keith Law, senior baseball writer, The Athletic

Author Information

Craig Calcaterra is the writer and editor of the daily baseball, news, and culture newsletter, Cup of Coffee. Previously, he was the lead national baseball writer for NBC Sports, where he launched and edited the baseball blog HardballTalk. Calcaterra's work has appeared on NPR, Bloomberg News, BBC, and ESPN. He lives in New Albany, Ohio.

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