Whats My Name Fool

Whats My Name Fool

With the book, “What’s My Name, Fool?” the author, Dave Zirin, attempts to connect sports and its major icons, with resistance in the United States.   He sheds light on the social conflicts that have arisen in the history of sports.   Zirin is attempting to bring readers out of a state of unconsciousness relating to sports and resistance.   Many people don’t understand the connection of these two ideas and Zirin clarifies their relationship.  
After I read the book, I could obviously tell that the author was attempting to move the readers into a state of consciousness regarding the history of sports and its connection with resistance.   I learned that there was a lot of substance behind the acts of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the African-American track and field contestants in the 1968 Olympics who gave a black power salute on the podium at the games.   They were protesting how the U.S. was using black athletes to tell a lie about race relations at home.   The U.S. was showing that they had made great strides in the areas of racial problems, but Smith and Carlos knew that there was more discrimination than ever, and this act was their way of showing the world what they stood for.   I never knew anything about this event prior to reading this book, but now I understand the meaning behind the act.  
The book also speaks to the issues regarding steroids and sports by using baseball player, Barry Bonds, as a prime example.   Zirin tries to inform the readers of facts that show that it is nearly impossible for Bonds to be on steroids.   He said that admitted steroid users’ bodies break down early from steroid use, but Bonds is in his 40’s and is still a machine.   He is attempting to bring the readers into a new consciousness about the case and he provides very convincing evidence to support his conclusions.   Zirin has successfully brought readers from unconsciousness to consciousness in the area of sports and resistance by means of his book.
The goal of this book is to...

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