Accounts Quote by Hunter S. Thompson
“There is a progression of understanding vis-a-vis pro football that varies drastically with the factor of distance -- physical, emotional, intellectual and every other way. Which is exactly the way it should be, in the eyes of the amazingly small number of people who own and control the game, because it is this finely managed distance factor that accounts for the high-profit mystique that blew the sacred institution of baseball off its ''national pastime'' pedestal in less than fifteen years.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, 1971
The author argues that distance—physical, emotional, intellectual—creates a power imbalance that lets a few control football, turning it into a profit‑driven spectacle and displacing baseball as America’s pastime.
In simple terms: Distance lets a few control football, making it profit‑driven and replacing baseball.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how distance shapes power and profit in sports.
Themes
power
control
commercialization
culture
sports
media
Mood
critical
analytical
skeptical
Type
observational
critical
analytical
When to use this quote
- sports management
- media analysis
- fan engagement
- policy debate
- marketing strategy
Key Concepts
Capitalism
spectacle
elite control
cultural shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How does distance affect your personal connection to sports?
- What would a more equitable sport landscape look like?
A Different Perspective
The claim may overgeneralize and ignore grassroots influences and fan agency.
