Now I'm curious about your take on why the sideline reporters are always women. "Woman on the field" compared to "Man in the Booth." Some kind of hierarchy there, obviously. Maybe also not coincidental that women are typically the ones trying to get the coaches to talk, giving injury updates, providing human interest commentary?
My sport has always been baseball, but you're right that no other sport fosters the same level of intimacy between men.
I wish I knew the answer. I'm sure a gendered hierarchy is involved. It would take some research to determine, but perhaps the men on the field are more interested in talking with a young woman than any man. I also think that in general, women tend to do better interviews than men do.
Great column, Bob. I love when you weave anthropological insights and observations into your commentary. In the end, we are cultural animals, seeking community, connections and meaning. That our sports and politics mirror our values and origin stories is no coincidence.
I am not a football fan, but I found this fascinating. Thank you, Bob. And I don't mean to be a downer, but I wish you had said something about how the sport is destroying men's minds, with concussions, and how it is becoming less appealing to play for the affluent and yet still appealing to those who need a way up.
Good point. There is so much to address, but as you know, it can't all be done at once. I also need an interesting angle, or I don't have much new to offer.
The saturation of this sport is only about money and power. These are the interests that created and manipulated local sport played locally with local people often for simple short term bragging rights, into a business venture that is capitalised very well. It also fits well with the Roman gladiators and "Bread and Circus." Keep people's minds focused on meaningless "circus" and they will completely overlook the things that are destroying their very way of life! All the while, the very people who are being served up this circus are paying for the service very hansomely!
Another great piece by Dr. Bob the anthropolgist and Robert Leonard the insightful political thought leader. There's no more truth to Democrats sexualizing and grooming children than suggesting all football players are closet homosexuals. Finding ways to more fully express gender and even celebrating it and ritualizing it can be fun and even healthy. Democrats have to find ways to reclaim this power, celebrate the humanity, and simply have some fun. That's the best response to Republican radical identity politics.
So entertained & enlightened with my early morning coffee! Looking forward to reading aloud to my football addict spouse when he declares dominion over the flat screen! Happy New Year!
I too have observed much of what you have written about but I have ignored most of it in the same way that I ignore a lot of other things connected with my near sightedness. I was never able to identify any players from my seat in the stands so I ignored football games except for a short period in my life when I played in the band during both high school and college. Others enjoyment of such things is not something I criticize them for simply because it has never been my thing, nor does it damage general human behavior in the way that certain political and religious beliefs do. Great job of writing about it.
For some of us of a certain generation, the image of Vince Lombardi loomed large. But his support of gay players was something I learned about belatedly. Not enough people have heard about "woke" Vince. Scroll down a little in the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_American_football
Now I'm curious about your take on why the sideline reporters are always women. "Woman on the field" compared to "Man in the Booth." Some kind of hierarchy there, obviously. Maybe also not coincidental that women are typically the ones trying to get the coaches to talk, giving injury updates, providing human interest commentary?
My sport has always been baseball, but you're right that no other sport fosters the same level of intimacy between men.
I wish I knew the answer. I'm sure a gendered hierarchy is involved. It would take some research to determine, but perhaps the men on the field are more interested in talking with a young woman than any man. I also think that in general, women tend to do better interviews than men do.
Great column, Bob. I love when you weave anthropological insights and observations into your commentary. In the end, we are cultural animals, seeking community, connections and meaning. That our sports and politics mirror our values and origin stories is no coincidence.
Which is why I love your poetry as well.
I am not a football fan, but I found this fascinating. Thank you, Bob. And I don't mean to be a downer, but I wish you had said something about how the sport is destroying men's minds, with concussions, and how it is becoming less appealing to play for the affluent and yet still appealing to those who need a way up.
Good point. There is so much to address, but as you know, it can't all be done at once. I also need an interesting angle, or I don't have much new to offer.
The saturation of this sport is only about money and power. These are the interests that created and manipulated local sport played locally with local people often for simple short term bragging rights, into a business venture that is capitalised very well. It also fits well with the Roman gladiators and "Bread and Circus." Keep people's minds focused on meaningless "circus" and they will completely overlook the things that are destroying their very way of life! All the while, the very people who are being served up this circus are paying for the service very hansomely!
Indeed. Thanks.
Great column, Bob. It’s what happens when an editor turns loose an anthropologist-wrestler-columnist to write about another sport. Go Hawks!
Another great piece by Dr. Bob the anthropolgist and Robert Leonard the insightful political thought leader. There's no more truth to Democrats sexualizing and grooming children than suggesting all football players are closet homosexuals. Finding ways to more fully express gender and even celebrating it and ritualizing it can be fun and even healthy. Democrats have to find ways to reclaim this power, celebrate the humanity, and simply have some fun. That's the best response to Republican radical identity politics.
Thanks Matt!
So entertained & enlightened with my early morning coffee! Looking forward to reading aloud to my football addict spouse when he declares dominion over the flat screen! Happy New Year!
Thanks Carol. I think this piece will rock the world of some men.
I too have observed much of what you have written about but I have ignored most of it in the same way that I ignore a lot of other things connected with my near sightedness. I was never able to identify any players from my seat in the stands so I ignored football games except for a short period in my life when I played in the band during both high school and college. Others enjoyment of such things is not something I criticize them for simply because it has never been my thing, nor does it damage general human behavior in the way that certain political and religious beliefs do. Great job of writing about it.
For some of us of a certain generation, the image of Vince Lombardi loomed large. But his support of gay players was something I learned about belatedly. Not enough people have heard about "woke" Vince. Scroll down a little in the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_American_football
I had ho idea. An interesting read. Someone put a lot of work into that wikipedia entry. Good for Vince. Thanks!