Sports journalist opens second day of symposium addressing sports

There's more to sports history than meets the eye. Over the years, what really happened has been watered down to a palatable amount of information, as opposed to the complex series of events that really happened.

Dave Zirin set the record straight, opening the second day of the Hancock Symposium at Westminster College on Sept. 18.

Tobias Gibson, while introducing Zirin, noted the journalist's ability to make everyone rethink the way they look at sports and politics.

"Even when I don't agree with him, I always find him profound," Gibson said.

Zirin began by asking the audience to classify themselves as rabid, psychotic sports fans; casual fans or people who would rather shave their heads with a cheese grater than watch a sporting event. Members of the crowd laughed and raised their hands to classify themselves.

"I hope I say something today to appeal to everyone," Zirin said.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.