Firstly I want to say that the format that Galeano uses is quite interesting and makes the reading quite accessible, even for someone who is not that interested in football such as myself. What I found interesting from the very start is the distinction that was made between what is the shallow popular culture view of football players and the lives they live, while giving another side to the story of what reality can look like for many players. Whereas the game is so simple and grounded, Galeano draws to attention how at the high level, the actual playing of football gets ever smaller. With the cameras, sponsorships, expectations, and business interests “buy him, sell him, lend him”.
Learning about the origins of football was quite intriguing and in many ways, I believe football’s status in culture even today is quite closely linked to centuries ago in England. With Football being considered “riotous and plebian” in early English society, we can see similar class connotations of football that exist in many places even today, with football being considered a working-class sport while sports such as rugby or cricket have quite the opposite reputation. I think we can also say that football is such a part of popular culture in so many parts of the world exactly because it is accessible to even the working class parts of society.
Were there similar class associations with sports where you grew up? Did you find yourself pushed in a certain direction with participation or opinion due to those connotations?