Author picture
5 Works 197 Members 42 Reviews 1 Favorited

Works by George Dohrmann

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Birthdate
1973-02-14
Gender
male

Members

Reviews

This book is well-reported and well-written--deserving of 4.5 stars. But I couldn't buy into the premise--that the U.S. has to produce a world-class men's soccer team. The U.S. doesn't have to excel in every sport. I can get behind Dohrmann's argument that organized soccer in the U.S. should be more diverse, more accessible to poor people. But I'm not a soccer fan, so I don't really care how the U.S. does at the World Cup. I found the history of youth and college soccer in the U.S. very interesting. When the book moved into how to develop players who could compete with world-class players around the world, I was less interested. Also, I really didn't like the language about players--people being bought and sold.… (more)
 
Flagged
Beth3511 | Feb 18, 2023 |
Really well researched and written. Grassroots youth basketball chews up and spits out a lot of kids. As parents, we need to think about this. Demetrius Walker's basketball career ended in December (see http://oncampussports.com/2013/12/cautionary-tale-demetrius-walker/0). I keep wondering what might have been.
 
Flagged
tsmom1219 | 39 other reviews | Feb 24, 2022 |
George Dohrmann's "Superfans" is a study of how meaningful sports, and favorite sports teams, can become in the lives of their fans. Some people identify so closely with their favorite team that their whole lives seem to revolve around the ups and downs of those teams' competitive seasons. Others are more casual fans or bandwagon fans who come and go largely depending on the won-loss records of their local teams (or teams with which they have some other kind of tie: an old school or childhood memory, for instance). "Superfans" tries to answer why some fans take it all a whole lot more seriously than others.

Anyone who has ever attended a professional sporting event probably has seen one of Dohrmann's "superfans" more than once, those who arrive at the venue covered in team-colored war paint, wigs, and costumes that leave little doubt as to their level of loyalty to the home team. Dohrmann has chapters on specific fans who have detrimentally let it take over their lives to fans who have greatly benefited from their close identification with a team. I was especially touched by the chapter titled "Salvation Army" that profiles Jim Serrill, a man who became closely associated with the Portland Timbers soccer club, so closely, in fact, that when Serrill's daughter died in a tragic auto accident, it was the team that largely brought him back from the brink of despair.

Another memorable chapter called "Breaking Away" describes the process of what happens when rabid fans lose interest in their favorite team or, more likely, in their favorite sport and how difficult it is for them to finally let go. This is something that I suspect is probably happening all across the country these days with NFL fans who are finally growing fed up with professional football's politicalization and concussion problems.

All in all, this is a book unlikely to appeal to readers who are not sports fans, but fans who see a little of themselves in what Dohrmann has to say about superfans are likely to enjoy it and learn a little about themselves from it. "Superfans" is as much a look at U.S. culture as it is about sports and sports fans, so it deserves a bigger audience than it is likely to find.
… (more)
 
Flagged
SamSattler | Dec 11, 2017 |
This book follows a youth basketball coach and the team of stars he puts together. The author of the book spends years with the coach, players, and parents, conducting many interviews and observing games and practices. The reporting was engaging and enlightening. I coudn't believe how angry it made me. The coach of the team is selfish, arrogant, and manipulative. He uses his players to make money and promote his image, and dumps them when they no longer suit his needs. It is sickening.
 
Flagged
klburnside | 39 other reviews | Aug 11, 2015 |

Awards

You May Also Like

Statistics

Works
5
Members
197
Popularity
#111,410
Rating
4.2
Reviews
42
ISBNs
18
Favorited
1

Charts & Graphs