Welcome to the Terrordome
Dave Zirin
Haymarket Books
ISBN 9781931859417
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Where to start with this book is difficult. Basically Dave Zirin outlines where the sports world follows the outside world, he outlines the inherent classism and racism in sports. Where he goes the extra step that keeps you from going cynical, is that he also highlights the heroes within sports that have been fighting to make change.

After a throw away opening chapter about the use of the Superdome during Hurricane Katrina and a nonsensical forward by the usually insightful Chuck D., there is an excellent chapter about the great Roberto Clemente. Clemente’s legend has grown since his death for good reason, he was a man who stood up for his believes regardless of the what he was going up against.

Regardless of your thoughts on sports, Clemente is a legend that should be looked up to. The man died on a plane full of food in relief for an earthquake in a country he never lived in. His deeds exceeded his words. The book goes on to call the hispanic players in the major league to task for not taking up the progress that Clemente started. When hispanic immigrants united in a labor boycott last Mayday, how effective would it have been if the up to 1/3 of major league baseball players who are immigrants stayed home from work that day?

He takes much more than baseball to task, the inherent racism in the NBA, the pseudo-fascist set up that is the International Olympic Committee and the racism that is such a large part of World Cup Soccer. But what Zirin does that is the mark of a good or great writer, is that he outlines all these wrongs, but then gives you hope that someone, somewhere is fighting against them. There is hope that the sports world has it’s share of reformers who want things to change and are willing to stick their necks out to try to create some change.

For sports fans, this is a great book to read to here about how you might have been manipulated. As I said, I am a baseball fan. As such, I have less than a stellar opinion of Barry Bonds, our heir apparent for the home run record, I read the chapter about Bonds and steroids and had to take a step back and think because what he writes rings true and the only way to justify my opinion is that I too have been manipulated by the lazy press. It sucks to figure that out.

For non-sports fans, this could be an interesting book to read to hear about the heroes of sports like Roberto Clemente, Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos who have stood up for what they believe in, I know I found them an inspiration.