Bibliotech: Bill Walton Reviews "God Save the Fan"
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Spotlight Series
posted 2/13/2008 from
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Welcome to the BallHype Spotlight Series, Volume 2: Bibilotech, a series of essays about books. In this edition, the illustrious Bill Walton reviews God Save the Fan by Will Leitch of Deadspin. Enjoy.
There are few things on this planet better than the feeling of curling up under the stars with a sleeping bag and a good book. The scent of warmed papyrus takes me back to a day when my comrades on this great journey we call life would sit on the lawn in Berkeley and read poetry concocted from emotions pulled from the deepest reaches of our souls. When ESPN asked me to compose a review of Will Leitch's God Save the Fan , I leapt at the opportunity with zest and vigor.
The heft of Leitch's book reminds me of my 1967 hardback edition of the Tibetan Canon; the volume carries not just the physical weight of paper and ink, but of the mass of a population of believers. Leitch, it is clear, is not speaking for himself or for his friends. He is speaking for an entire generation in the way Jerry Garcia spoke for the children of the 1960s and Descartes spoke for those so lucky to live during the European Enlightenment. Like Descartes, Leitch advises the reader -- the sports fan -- to peer into his own mind in order to validate or rationalize what he sees on the field of battle. In fact, as we sit here, it has been exactly some 396 years since Descartes earned his law license, a heady reminder to the world of sports fans earning their license to cheer today.
Many reviews of the book focus on the specific episodes Leitch discusses in his book -- the vignette about Robert Traylor's pride and joy, in particular, is the pre-eminent genitalia story in the history of written word. There it is, Tractor Traylor's epic, gigantoid member thrashing about like a swordfish on the deck of a vessel in the Sea of Cortez. Leitch spins rich stories you will not find elsewhere, and pulls no punches.
However, Leitch's book also brings to light the most despicable thing I have heard in a decade: The firing of my close friend Harold Reynolds for alleged sexual harassment. I have not seen Harold at the daily chess club in ESPN's Bristol cafeteria in about a year, but I had NO IDEA he'd been fired. This is terrible, easily the most nefarious thing I have ever heard. Harold is a gentle, compassionate man filled with the noble qualities you'd hope to instill in your son or pet chinchilla. Furthermore, Harold Reynolds would never eat in a Boston Market. I can assure you 110% Harold Reynolds is a devout vegan; he promised me this on a van journey we took together from Omaha to the Anza-Borrego Desert once. What a long, strange trip that was. I will never forget, Harold. I will never forget.
John Wooden once said, "It isn't what you do, but how you do it." In this book, Will Leitch does write about things regarding sport and the world of fandom. He beacons a call to arms for fans all over the universe, asks his friends to rise up and take back what is theirs. Like Coach Wooden, Leitch inspires his followers. I talked to Coach Wooden last night, and he agreed Leitch has adapted Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success well for his own work with Deadspin.
As an industrious and enthusiastic group, Leitch and his army of bloggers have succeeded in defining their own rules and their own success, much as we did at UCLA, when we won 88 consecutive games. With Coach Wooden as our poised and confident leader, we were able to achieve competitive greatness. Likewise, the blogosphere -- filled with buckets of self-control, skill and sincerity -- is well on its way to knocking off the traditional media from its perch high atop the mountain of power. Knock them off, bloggers. Knock them off.
Wait... am I in the traditional media? Umm.
I take it back! This book is terrible. Will Leitch is an abomination of a man; his book is a travesty of monumental proportions. DO. NOT. READ. THIS. BOOK.
Keep track of the Spotlight Series at the BallHype hub or via the RSS feed. To get involved in future Spotlight Series, contact Tom Ziller.
Tags:
NBA
Bill Walton
Comments (4)
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RedBaron +3Nice review from the big red-head, but accusing Leitch of faking writer's block on the site while devoting maximum effort to the book was really a low blow. -
Pink Hat Nation HIGH-larious!
Great job Bill, Scotties 4 life!
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Erin Someone at my last company must have played with John Wooden because there were leadership pyramids plastered all over the walls. I'm still in recovery. -
JaketheSnake So when is Will going to come in here and accuse Bill of breaking the Writing Man's Pecking Order Code Ordinance #2257?
Links (10)
Blog-A-Roni: Dwight Howard Rim Request Stunted
Published 2/13/2008 by jason at SPORTSbyBROOKS
• ESPN reports the NBA being short with Dwight Howard , as the All Star’s request to raise the slam-dunk rim to 12 feet has been denied . • AOL FANHOUSE sees double trouble, as SI can’t seem to get their twin Texans cheerleaders straight . • BALLHYPE has some fun with Bill Walton critiquing Will Leitch’s book . (Now if only Frank Caliendo would do a dramatic reading.) • Who needs bobbleheads, when GOING FIVE HOLE discovers bobblefists . • After Chris Berman revealed his penchant for Canadian codeine , FOOD COURT LUNCH wonders ...
Parsing Houston
Published 2/13/2008 by TZ <info@sactownroyalty.com> at Sactown Royalty
I hadn't the chance to post on this yet (err, busy herding a cat), but The Bee's Sam Amick dropped a bit of a bomb in following up the Chris Sheridan rumors. ...
The 10-man rotation, starring party boy Zach Randolph
Published 2/13/2008 at Ball Don't Lie
A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out. C: The Portland Tribune. This is the last thing the Knicks want to hear right before the trade deadline. PF: Seattle Weekly. Major League IV: the SuperSonics movie. SF: Ballhype. Bill Walton "reviews" Will Leitch's "God Save the Fan." Hilarious ...
Presenting John Wooden's Lesser-Known 'Deadspin Pyramid Of Success' [Bill Walton Reviews 'god Save The Fan']
Published 2/13/2008 by Rick at Deadspin
... There are so many delightful passages in the latest BallHype Spotlight Series, Volume 2: Bibilotech essay that it's hard to know where to begin. Just the notion of Bill Walton reviewing Will's book, God Save the Fan, is amusing enough. But then you get to the Deadspin Pyramid of Success, and you begin to believe that all things are possible in this world, and that your life may be changed forever. ...
The Internets: Jason Kidd to Dallas?
Published 2/13/2008 by RandBall at Randball
... the Mavs’ first-round draft pick this June and a first-rounder in 2010. The Nets are expected to buy out Stackhouse’s contract immediately, which could enable him to re-sign with Dallas if he waits 30 days.
*ESPN orders the Berman videos taken down. Fear not, Berman video lovers: Deadspin has them all saved.
*Steroids have reached our prison softball fields. The headline’s a grabber, too.
*This is fairly awesome.
*And, because we can’t ignore it: Roger Clemens’ reputation has ...
Those Laters
Published 2/14/2008 by The Piler at Brahsome - Care To Get Nice?
So there a little late, you’ll still enjoy them on Thursday.
Playmate loses chihuahuas to tainted meatballs…wtf? -Busted Coverage
Kim Kardassisan -Attu World
WWE’s No Way Out is on Sunday. I might be getting back into wrestling.
Vandy Rips Kentucky a New One -Losers with socks
Walton on Leitch
A Brahsome Wardrobe Malfunction -On205th
You Can Take that to the Bank -Mac G’s World
This is one holiday we ...
Where Do College Football Recruits Come From?
Published 2/14/2008 by Larry Brown at Larry Brown Sports
Great piece on where college football recruits come from [The Wizard of Odds]
John Rocker comes clean on his steroid use [Deadspin]
If Bill Walton reviewed Will Leitch’s book [Ballhype]
Andrea Kremer unhappy ESPNs cutting sideline reporters [Awful Announcing]
Redskins fans would love a piece of Chad Johnson [Mr. Irrelevant]
Tim Hardaway repents for his comments about gay people [SPORTSbyBROOKS] ...
Morning Constitutional: Walton Enjoys Literature
Published 2/14/2008 at The Sporting Blog
We're pleased to be presenting these posts from around the web. They're probably better than ours:
Bibliotech: Bill Walton Reviews "God Save the Fan" | BallHype
Walton gives his take on Will Leitch's masterworks. Both the review and (more importantly) the book come highly recommended.
Holy Crap! What a Beautiful Sight! | Boiled Sports
Bloggers go into public, see Erin Andrews, freak out ensues.
They Make It 'Cause We Buy It: NASCAR ...
Friday Beefy Bouillabaisse Broth
Published 2/15/2008 by The Ghosts at The Ghosts of Wayne Fontes
... This is one of the finest reads in some time. Bill Walton reviewed Will Leitch's new book, God Save the Fan, and provided endless Waltonesque wisdom. In case you don't click the link, I want to make sure you see this part. ...
THE AFTER PARTY
Published 2/15/2008 by DCScrap at EPIC CARNIVAL
... Erin Andrews. (Mac G's World) Carolina Kluft is one hot Aryan. (flatusyahu) More endorsement opps for the Raptors. (Cuzoogle) Aramis Ramirez breeds animals for fighting. (Luol's Dong) More midget nightmare fuel. (Attuworld) Valentine's Day Douchebag. (Tasty Booze) Aural Sex: Valentine's Day style. (Brahsome) Bill Walton reviews "God Save the Fan". (BallHype) Rosaria Cannavo is rather good-looking. (Holy Taco) Sandee Westgate can critique me anytime. ...
