If there's another thing that sportswriting teaches you, it is that there are no transcendent themes in life. In all cases things are here and they're over, and that has to be enough. The other view is a lie of literature and the liberal arts, which is why I did not succeed as a teacher, and another reason I put my novel away in the drawer and have not taken it out.
In Richard Ford's "The Sportswriter," the narrator reflects on the nature of life and storytelling through the lens of sportswriting. He suggests that sports, much like life, are finite experiences that ultimately come to an end, and this realization can be quite liberating. The fleeting moments of victory and defeat become significant in their temporality, highlighting that life does not always offer grand narratives or meaningful resolutions. Instead, accepting things as they are, without seeking deeper meaning, can be a more honest approach.
Ford contrasts this perspective with the traditional themes found in literature and the liberal arts, which often search for more profound meanings and transcendental truths. He acknowledges his struggles in teaching and his reluctance to pursue fiction writing, feeling that his own experiences align more with the straightforwardness of sportswriting than with the complex narratives of fiction. Ultimately, he emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment and finding contentment in the transient nature of life.
