“Shakespeare and sports writing”
Last summer, as I followed Alex Rodriguez’s fight to overturn his
record 211-game suspension from major league baseball (for his use of
Performance enhancing drugs, bribery, and obstruction), I kept coming back to
the same thought: what would Shakespeare have done with such a story and its larger-than-life
figurehead? For my taste, ARod[2]
lacks the empathetic dimension that generally defines Shakespearean characters,
good or bad. Yet, it is safe to assume that Shakespeare would have found some
interest in the saga of a physically-gifted athlete anointed early on for
success, riddled with insecurities and narcissistic tendencies who eventually
alienates everyone in his self-serving pursuit of stardom and iconicity.
This is one among many examples that led me to ponder similarities
between Shakespearean drama (and its criticism) and twentieth century sports
writing. Shakespeare seldom writes about sports, being otherwise preoccupied
with conniving monarchs, embittered jester, or pursuing bears.[3] Rather,
the parallel exist in the characterization efforts that often infuse the world
of sports. Leaving the scripted nature of Elizabethan theater aside, both
activities center around a live performance, where an audience witnesses the
accomplishment of incredible feats that elicit wonder, excitement, or even
tragedy. Sports figures, much like iconic literary characters, occupy a choice space
within our cultural psyche. Through an ever-expanding network of journalism,
social media, and twenty-four hour coverage, they are all at once idolized,
glorified, ridiculed, vilified, and even objectified. The vernacular employed
in such portrayals is not only theatrical (the rise and fall of an athlete, the
second act of a career, heroics on the field, curtain calls, etc.) but it strongly
echoes Shakespearean characterization. Sports writing strives to demystify
athletes, to unveil the man or woman behind the performance, to make sense of
what often proves to be tumultuous, nonsensical, and fragile time in the
spotlight.[4]
This parallel, in a sense, predates Shakespeare in channelling
elements akin to mythology and classical literature, but I do believe that the influence
exerted by the bards’ work often goes overlooked. I once discussed this topic with
a professor at McGill, and she dismissively remarked that sportswriters could
not be aware of literary concepts such as the ones found in Shakespearean drama
because they probably had not read any Shakespeare. As she put, they probably
had an idea of broader figures such as David and Goliath, but in no way could
they draw parallels between Jim Brown and Othello, or imagine Wayne Gretzky, in
his shift from superstar player to subpar coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, as a
modern day echo to Coriolanus. This opinion is not only insulting to sports
writers such as Anthony Kornheiser (English major), Mitch Albom (author and playwright)
and Selena Roberts (author), but it overlooks the second part of their word
describing their profession: sports writers write about sports, but are above
all writers, and the array of characters and character tropes that constitutes Shakespeare’s
legacy continues to infuse any avenue that relies on some attempt at humanizing,
historicising, or eulogizing a public figure. Whether sports writers are fans
of Shakespeare or not, (whether they’ve even read him or not, even) his ongoing
cultural iconicity informs any attempt at reconciling athletic feats or (de)feat
with the person behind it. Sports offers a similar social microcosm that early
modern theater by drawing in a multitude of issues, be it gender, race, or
morality, into the general entertaining of the masses.
It would be very interesting, I think, to bring scholars and sportswriters
together and ask them to reflect on such a symbiosis (Shakespeareans writing about
sports, sportswriters writing about Shakespeare). I think the discussion would
be productive and even surprising it its affinities. Until then, I hope the
blog has given you an additional layer from which to consider the exploits of the
Golden Boy, King Lebron, or Williams Sisters. As far as ARod is concerned, I’m
interested in seeing how the whole saga unfolds. I have a feeling that he somewhat
sees himself as a Hal figure, when in reality, he is probably closer to a
Malvolio or Jaques.
RANDOM EXCITEMENT OF THE WEEK:
Oscar season is approaching and there are several reasons to be
excited. First and foremost, the National Film Board managed to snag four
(counting co-productions) spots on the short-list of ten potential nominees for
best animated short film. The talent and vision coming out of the film board’s
animation department never ceases to amaze me. Check out their websites for an
amazing selection of shorts. There is also a slew of good film currently out of
coming out soon, such as Dallas Buyer’s Club, Nebraska, and Enough
Said. Emily and I usually try and see as many as we can, but this time of
year we are re also distracted by the customary Christmas movies we watch, a
such as Die Hard, Love Actually, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Also, if you’re
stumped on what to watch for the holidays, go purchase a copy of Anonymous,
bring it home and smash it in pieces: it screams yuletide fun![5]
RANDOM SMOOSHY FACE OF THE WEEK:
I’m in surprisingly good mood this week, so no smooshy! If you have
your own mild annoyances to air, write them the comment section. Smooshies
unite!
RANDOM SHOUT OUT:
As much as I love Shakespeare (and I do: see the nutcracker
Shakespeare that currently sits on my desk). I also love Bruce Springsteen. And
December would not be complete without a live rendition of “Santa Clause is
Coming to Town” by the E Street Band. It makes you long for the smooth sax of Clarence
Clemons, but it’s a fun and energizing tune that accompanies marking and decorating
sessions alike. There are several good versions out there, but this one (in
Paris, no less) is pretty good:
That’s it for now. Hope you enjoyed!
The quality of cheese is not stringed,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the nachos beneath
[1]
Believe or not, that is the second less disturbing image of Rodriguez I could find,
after the portrait of himself shirtless as a centaur… you cannot make this
stuff up.
[2] I
will say one thing for ARod, he makes for a great nickname while I, JFBer, or
JFranc, merely sound like someone chocking on pistachios calling for help.
[3]
Not to be confused with the situation of many NFL quarterbacks in the 1980s:
exit, pursued by the Chicago bears’ defensive line (rim shot!).
[4]
Similar to the plight of the Shakespeare scholar, but with less contempt for
Harold Bloom.
[5]
Disclaimer: the DVD copy of Anonymous does not possess the power to
scream. This blog is in no way responsible for any instances where it might do
so, be it hallucinatory, premonitory, or boughs of holly-related.
No comments:
Post a Comment