Is Sports Fandom Good for America?
Most Americans identify as sports fans \u2013 more than identify as church-goers, in fact. Is it good for sports fandom to play such a prominent role in society? After all, we know how tribal, obsessive and competitive we can get about our favorite sports teams. But there\u2019s evidence that sports fandom offers benefits to American society, as a whole. For example, it fuels networks of relationships and can help reduce political polarization. In this podcast episode, we\u2019ll hear why sports fans often have more friends and are more satisfied with other aspects of their lives, too. And we\u2019ll cast a critical eye on the influence sports has on the way we think about gender, patriotism and the American Dream. How can we maximize the positive impact of sports fandom in society?\n\nPodcast Guests:\nJennifer Moglia, sports journalist, student at Quinnipiac University, Rangers and Mets fan\n\nBen Valenta, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Analytics at Fox Sports, co-author \u201cFans Have More Friends\u201d\n\nDavid Sikorjak, President of Dexterity Consulting, former Senior Vice President of Analytics at Madison Square Garden, co-author \u201cFans Have More Friends\u201d\n\nMichael Serazio, Associate Professor, Department of Communication at Boston College, author of \u201cThe Power of Sports: Media and Spectacle in American Culture\u201d