On Sports by David Macfarlane
What are sports, really? What do we love about them? And what, in our digital age, have they become?
Would it be possible to like and dislike something at the same time? In David Macfarlane’s case, the answer is a resounding yes. In On Sports, Macfarlane shares his ambivalence toward the title topic. Macfarlane weaves in childhood memories, experiences as a fan and interviewer, and factual information, with his smooth writing style, making for an enjoyable read.
“Macfarlane’s book doesn’t dwell exclusively on men’s sport, a fact that fans of women’s sport might appreciate.”
One of the book’s appeals is the uniqueness of some of Macfarlane’s experiences. As an example, for a time during Macfarlane’s childhood, the Grey Cup was stored during the off-season in a house across the street. Macfarlane’s reflections on interviewing Carling Bassett, then an up-and-coming professional tennis player, and Harold Ballard, the former owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, were of interest, as were Macfarlane’s memories of playing backyard catch with a former professional baseball player. Macfarlane also shares some of his memories of pioneering female sports reporter Alison Gordon.
Macfarlane’s book doesn’t dwell exclusively on men’s sport, a fact that fans of women’s sport might appreciate. Macfarlane acknowledges the achievements and talents of female athletes like hockey players Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner, basketball star Caitlin Clark, and others.
One key premise of On Sports is the notion that athleticism is one of the things that draws us to sport. The thrill of watching someone do something they are very, very good at, at high-speed and under pressure, and of seeing what the human body is capable of, are among the appeals. For Macfarlane, many of the problematic aspects stem from the excessive monetization of sport.
As someone who has both played and watched a variety of sports, I’ve often shared Macfarlane’s ambivalence toward sport, particularly as we experience it in the early 21st century. I frequently felt that my negative feelings about hockey fights, the amount of money tossed around in men’s professional sports, and the emerging ubiquity of sports betting put me in the minority, possibly a minority of one. Reading On Sports made me feel less alone.
Macfarlane is particularly caustic when it comes to sports betting. He points out the societal negatives as well as the impact on sport itself, as, for example, when athletes are tempted to influence the outcomes of games in exchange for cash, or when athletes endure abuse from fans whose parlay bets have gone awry because that particular player didn’t score a certain number of points or achieve other milestones. Macfarlane questions the wisdom of sports organizations getting into bed so wholeheartedly with the sports betting industry.
Macfarlane’s writing style is easy to follow, and the injection of humour makes for an entertaining read. From childhood memories of cheering for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and bringing sports stories to post on the current events board, to more recent recollections of following the Toronto Blue Jay’s 2025 playoff run, Macfarlane offers both nostalgic reflections and up-to-the-present commentary.
An authentic and resonant read, On Sports should appeal to sports fans who have had their misgivings about sport and where it’s headed, though anyone interested in sports more generally might enjoy reading about Macfarlane’s experiences, his emotional connections to sport, and his philosophical musings about its pros and cons.
About the Author
David Macfarlane‘s family memoir, The Danger Tree, was described by Christopher Hitchens as “one of the finest and most intriguing miniature elegies that I have read in many a year.” Macfarlane’s novel, Summer Gone, was shortlisted for the Giller Prize. Based on The Danger Tree, “The Door You Came In,” a two-man show (co-written and performed with Douglas Cameron) has been produced, to acclaim, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Stratford, Ontario. Macfarlane lives in Toronto with his wife, the designer, Janice Lindsay.
About the Reviewer
Ontario resident Lisa Timpf writes poetry, book reviews, short stories, and creative nonfiction. Her speculative poetry collections Cats and Dogs in Space (2025) and In Days to Come (2022) are available from Hiraeth Publishing in print and electronic formats. You can find out more about Lisa’s writing projects at http://lisatimpf.blogspot.com/. Lisa is also on Bluesky, @lisatimpf.bsky.social, and her author Facebook page is @lisa.timpf.author.
Book Details
Publisher: Biblioasis
Series: Field Notes
Length: 144 pages
Published: March 24, 202
ISBN: 9781771967204