Description
Book SynopsisThis book offers readers a pitch-side view of the ethics of fandom. Its accessible six chapters are aimed both at true sports fans whose conscience may be occasionally piqued by their pastime, and at those who are more certain of the moral hazards involved in following a team or sport.
Why It's OK to Be a Sports Fan
wrestles with a range of arguments against fandom and counters with its own arguments on why being a fan is very often a good thing. It looks at the ethical issues fans face, from the violent or racist behavior of those in the stands, to players' infamous misdeeds, to owners debasing their own clubs. In response to these moral risks, the book argues that by being critical fans, followers of a team or individual can reap the benefits of fandom while avoiding many of the ethical pitfalls. The authors show the value in deeply loving a team but also how a condition of this value is recognizing that the love of a fan comes with real limits and respon
Table of Contents
Introduction 1. Fandom: what’s love got to do with it? 2. Why being a fan isn’t a waste of time 3. Why being a partisan is okay 4. Why partisan fandom isn’t just war minus the shooting 5. Why it sometimes isn’t OK to be a fan - part I: other fans 6. Why it sometimes isn’t OK to be a fan – part II: players, clubs, owners, and sports Conclusion: Corruption, love, and loss.
