‘God Save The Fan’Will LeitchHarper304 pages

If not for Atlanta Falcons’ imprisoned quarterback, Michael Vick, who tested positive for herpes under alias ‘Ron Mexico,’ the Internet would be without Will Leitch, or the title of his newest book, ‘God Save The Fan: How Preening Sportscasters, Athletes Who Speak in the Third Person, and the Occasional Convicted Quarterback Have Taken the Fun Out of Sports (and How We Can Get It Back).’

Famed editor of sports blog Deadspin.com, Leitch is infamous for blogging about sports news with wit and irreverence, without the discretion or bias of sports media that plague networks and papers.

Vick’s case of herpes, which was virtually ignored by the mainstream media, inspired Leitch to write the book that dissects the faults of players, owners, journalists and fans without spin. Organized into four parts, one for each sinner, the book will leave you amazed in agreement or laughing like chuckling ESPN anchor Charley Steiner.

The book may not be in the interests of casual sports fans, but for every aspiring sports journalist, who can’t get enough of sports pop culture, this book is essential.

To Deadspin fans, the book is heaven-sent, as Leitch has written new stories instead of recycling old blog posts. Yet, the book can be refreshing to any reader or sports fan because Leitch is a self-proclaimed ‘idiot who happens to write fast,’ reporting from a fan’s perspective and narrative that doesn’t build off an ego of a columnist or ‘sports expert.’

Intelligent and immature, Leitch’s profanity and raw humor draws a simple, honest truth that the world of sports is a place of solace from the daily routines we all face. Leitch reminds the reader what it means to be a fan and exactly why the bias of sports media has rotted the fun in standing shirtless in bleachers or lampooning the pun of Lucious Pusey.

Through his historical knowledge of sports and the sports media, Leitch attempts to express perspectives from the all angles, while writing what bothers him about sports’ evolution.

The flaws and frustrations of sports, especially those of ESPN and its reporters, with the exception of ‘Pardon the Interruption,’ can be changed. Leitch makes the bold, yet honest revelation that fans hold the power to influence sports, above owners or the media, through what we watch and what we buy.

But Leitch’s detailed reporting of the flaws of sports media only goes so far. His cynical view demands humanity and humility from the sports world, and is directed at an audience tailored to his short irreverent posts.

‘The world is a terrifying place, with grays and complexities and confusion at every turn. Sports afford us none of this: If our team wins, we are happy; if they lose, we are sad. That simplicity is enough… Life is hard. Sports are where we go to hide.’

Published on January 22, 2008 at 12:00 pm