Waste Division editor Eric Toennis has embarked on an essay series to satiate his desire to talk, think, and breathe about sports. His goal is to not only provide an irreverent outlook that true sports fans will enjoy, but also to bridge the gap and maybe peak the interest of a few non-sporters. What can he say? He’s a goddamned junkie.
The Day the Balls stopped bouncing
“Once the NBA announced it was suspending the rest of the season - in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s death, in the midst of the playoff race and a resurgent season for superstar LeBron James – I honestly started realizing the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic. It may sound silly, but these sports entities are larger-than-life billion dollar machines that never stop production. Until now. I suppose it was foolish of me to think that nothing could ever disrupt my favorite obsession. I make no claims at expertise in anything but spouting my opinion, but I think we are all feeling afraid and uncertain of the world as it seemingly topples and burns to ash around us.”
The Plight of the Superfan (original essay)
“I’m not a religious man in the strict sense of the meaning, but I do adhere to a set of morals and practices that dictate my life. September through February I dive into a rigorous six-month schedule that stretches my emotions, relationships, and mental stability as far as they can go, sometimes destroying them. I spend an average of 400-500 hours during a season watching football games, which includes the professional and collegiate levels… Now that I look at this in writing, I’m a little disturbed. Not to mention the hundreds of other hours wasted on watching highlights and listening to analysis. I’m sick.”