Is football doomed? Is the question posed by Chuck Klosterman in his new book Football (2025). His answer is yes, it is. By mid-century, despite it being the most popular pastime in America today. In fact, he says “Football is the clearest projection of how people in the United States think and of what those people value.” (p. 2) He argues [rightly, I think] that “The rest of the monoculture was burned to the ground.” Furthermore, that today, society is controlled, not by egocentrism nor even ethnocentrism, but by a mediacentric view of everything. In other words, by the narrative that the media tells/sells us.
I’m going to argue the case that he’s wrong. At least I hope he is. Let’s talk about it.
The Book
This book is an amazing, comprehensive history of American football. Told from the point of view of a super fan, Klosterman. A man who loved and has followed the game almost from birth. He also played. Therefore, the book is also a memoir. It’s presented in the author’s unique voice, or style. Which I’m a fan of. More so than I am a fan of football. However, my football fandom goes further back than Chuck’s. He being born in 1972 and I in 1949. I actually played high school football before he was born.
A Few Highlights
In 1973 the average salary of a professional footballer was $28,000. [In 1973, I made more money than that as a busboy and barback.]
There are more millionaires in Texas than people in Vermont. [Vermont’s population is around 664,000.]
“No matter how much we want to reward smarts and work ethic and intangibles, the body is what turns water into wine.” (p. 111) [So true.]
“The idea, it seems is that if everyone pretends not to notice something, the entire process of noticing uncomfortable things will eventually disappear.” (p.177) [Again, I agree. My mother quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, “If it isn’t mentioned, it didn’t happen.” Moreover, Mom seemed to live by those words. Furthermore, that does seem to be the ethos of today’s power of positive thinking. And confirmation bias. We seem to not even consider facts that are uncomfortable (to our belief.)]
“In the history of humankind, there’s never been an example of an oppressed group conceding that society had improved and their oppression was over.” (p. 178) [In essence, this is what drives the FAE, or fundamental attribution error. Additionally, what I call victimology.]
“The evolution of American culture is in direct opposition to the culture of football.” (p.253) [This is Klosterman’s thesis. Moreover, the popularity of football was not by design; but a happy accident–a confluence of events that nobody planned.] Chuck says, “The way things worked out is the only way that makes sense.” (p. 214)
In Short
Chuck Klosterman reasons that because society, and the media, is pushing a feminized version of values that are anti-football [Peace, love, understanding, kindness, forgiveness, mindfulness. We are all equal, etc. But because (big but), football is entirely masculine to the extreme. I.e. toxic–football is doomed. Which is true – it is opposite of postmodern values.]
Football is, as the author points out:
- Dangerous
- Crazy
- A metaphor for war
- Sexist (played only by men)
- Racist
- Homophobic
- Celebrates violence and pain
- Rewards domination of the weak
- Shuns individualism and identity
- Is authoritarian and militaristic
- Hierarchically controlled
- Uncompromising and demoralizing
- Fascist and reactionary
Therefore, Klosterman says, “Nothing about football is what we want, or what we are told to want, or what we are supposed to want.” (p. 252)
Klosterman thinks that because of several factors, social trends, football will within the next 20 to 30 years go the way of boxing and horse racing. Still here, but hardly what it is now–the most watched, popular, and revenue producing entertainment in America.
The Case For Football
My case for football is rooted in Freudian psychological theory. Specifically, that of the ego defense mechanism of Displacement. Additionally, the death instinct, or Thanatos. Those two elements go a long ways toward explaining why we (many) go bonkers over American football. Watching the game allows us to indulge our aggressive and violent (killer) instincts – safely. Unlike real war which has severe consequences.
If Klosterman is right and football loses its power over the American public, where does that aggression go? Freud, rightly I think, thought repressed emotion would compress until it exploded uncontrollably. That was his hydraulic model regarding psychic energy. In other words, going bonkers over football, especially your team, is “letting off steam” harmlessly. Watching football is the perfect release valve for a world that has gotten out of anyone’s and everyone’s control. Because of the Internet, AI, and the now mediacentric culture.
What do you think? Is football doomed? Or are we? Is there something that could replace football’s catharsis effect on the American Psyche?
The anti-male movement is neutering America’s youth… And all the girls wonder why the boys don’t know how to talk to them.
I think as big an issue to professional sports is all of this is also the fact that it’s been completely monetized by gambling sites. There is no integrity left in the game because you know players, refs, coaches, general managers… Many of them are behaving the way they behave because they’re betting on the outcomes.
For sure, Bill. On both points. It’s actually crazy making – how gambling has been allowed to be so pervasive. Of course it’s money driving it all. If there’s money to be made – the door will be open. Which is one of the points Klosterman makes – that the money has gotten to be so ridiculous that it’s unsustainable and will eventually cause everything to be too expensive. Also that yes, the mothers won’t let their boys play because the game is so violent and risky. So the talent dries up, too. And the corruption of college football has a role, too.
My question is: What takes its place? Because of the male instinct of aggression and competition. Is it going to be bred out? Girls still like “bad boys”, and/or the football hero. But are told no, no , he’s a no good. I don’t know. “Landman” took on that story line, as do a lot of Taylor Sheridan’s shows. There seems to be no answer. Money (too much of it) has corrupted the culture, for sure. Because there’s never enough – because of the competitive, aggressive, comparative nature of men. And women, too. Though by different means. Thanks for reading and your input.
Update, May 10th, Sunday. President Trump, today, in an interview with Sheryl Atkinson on Full Measure, seems to agree with Klosterman. Because of ownerships’ avarice, or whatever, in that they (the NFL in total) could price themselves out of popularity. That being a consequence of the move to subscription (streaming) viewing replacing free broadcasts. The greed extending to the players.