A Serious Game

"I look at the way that sports and politics collide in society — sometimes with very gruesome results, and sometimes with very inspiring results," says author Dave Zirin of Welcome to the Terrordome: The Pain, Politics and Promise of Sports. "But the book focuses more on the gruesome." How could...

By Michael Roberts

August 2, 2007

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"I look at the way that sports and politics collide in society — sometimes with very gruesome results, and sometimes with very inspiring results," says author Dave Zirin of Welcome to the Terrordome: The Pain, Politics and Promise of Sports. "But the book focuses more on the gruesome."

How could it not? Zirin was inspired to write Terrordome following Hurricane Katrina, after watching poor New Orleans residents being herded into the Superdome. "There was something ridiculous about that," he notes. "The city couldn't keep the levies upright but managed to be home to the largest domed structure in the Western hemisphere — which was paid for entirely on the public dime." From there, he tackles a multitude of other hot-button issues, including the Colorado Rockies' desire, as reported in 2006 by USA Today, to build an organization "guided by Christianity." Zirin's take? "I don't think it does the fans of the Colorado Rockies any service, and frankly, I don't think it's in the best traditions of the Christian faith."

Either way, the team seldom seems to have a prayer.

Zirin visits the Tattered Cover, 2526 East Colfax Avenue, tonight at 7:30 p.m.; admission is free. Call 303-322-7727 or go to www.tatteredcover.com for details.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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