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ssss1 I’m being a little cute and nodding at a certain thread here by using the word text. I’m suggesting that the specific constraints of specific sports allow for certain kinds of expressive relationships: I might have used the word form, but I think it is important to place this argument in the context of critical evaluations of texts. That’s a performance theory nerd-note, but one that needs to be said.

ssss1 Louis Menand, “Glory Days,” New Yorker, August 6th, 2012. Thanks are due here as well to Olympic historian Bill Mallon who helped me clarify some issues and aided me in my research.

CHAPTER TWO:

A PUNCHER'S CHANCE

Authenticity,

Im/materiality, and Physicality

It’s Friday night. I’m standing ringside, a plastic cup of Michelob in hand. It’s a low-end casino and I’m watching live Mixed Martial Arts. Two sweat-slicked fighters are grappling ten feet away. Remnants of smoke-machine-distributed atmosphere drift through the air. There’s a posse of G-string-and-silicon ring-girls with model postures and tolerant expressions to my left. The front rows are full of lethal-looking Russian dudes with bored platinum dates, thuggy steroid users, playas, playa wannabes, and a ton of young men straight outta Jersey Shore outtakes. It’s been a good evening of fights but there haven’t been any really devastating knockouts yet. A couple of guys have gotten dropped hard but nothing huge. I’m a little disappointed.