I think about this all the time, how much less “cool” athletes and celebrities are now that we have so much access to them. There is no mystery left! It’s a different generation, but I think if we didn’t have to watch our favorite players market Taco Bell they might maintain a bit more allure (for me, at least). Isn’t that part of loving a star— being able to fill in what we don’t know about them with our own vision that makes them cool in our minds?
1000%! As a Nuggets fan, I love Nikola Jokic. But his lack of cool and overall apathy for the NBA is what makes him cool. Part of my mission is helping people see the cool in my favorite players.
love this, I finished a race, religion, and science fiction class so this may sound like pushback in an unhealthy way, but re: lilo and stitch, I wonder if, beyond capitalism and marketing, who gets to set the boundary of stories that are nostalgic to us? I am very crotchety when it comes to remakes or reboots. heavy. and. as I watch people rage over various reboots and remakes if there isn't some kind of religious fascination with things that are part of our formation/youth? As I think of the Lion King live action (which pisses me off), I wonder if in the remaking of a story, older generations should release our control of the stories so that they can serve new populations? anyway, my nerdy musing (also, this has nothing to do with how much I hate capitalism and the ways that franchises just try to make money off of repackaged shhhhh)
Thanks for reading, bro! And I totally hear you on that. I think it's a great question and makes me think about our ability to expand on stories when we approach them thoughtfully and not as throwaways for the purpose of making a quick buck. They can serve new generations, but what's the intention behind the art?
ah I hear you. I think public art, when money is involved, and franchises are involved can’t (or won’t) be made with anything resembling pure intentions. Phew. I think the best we can hope for is new generations forming a new canon of beauty for themselves because capitalism sucks. Like, I hate a lot of the new Star Wars stuff, but realize a lot of kids LOVE THEM DOWN
There is definite tension between the GEN-X & Millennial power brokers and the broader consumer base. As a GEN-Xer myself, I am nostalgic but I don’t care for the remakes. I simply rewatch the originals, which is why I think remakes tend to fail. What makes classics timeless is that all generations can, at the very least, appreciate them in their original form. There is also an innocence that GEN-X/Millennials want to hold on to that younger generations aren’t too phased about. The world has been a much crueler place for younger folks. They have grown up entirely too fast.
That innocence, mystique and wonder has definitely lost its grip in sports. GEN-X & Millennials describe Michael Jordan literally as god-like. The way they fawn over Tom Brady. But with those two specifically, they truly embraced being the face of their leagues. Though MJ is transcendent. Professional athletes across all sports adore him. Sure there were somethings they didn’t appreciate about that level of spotlight but I think they embraced it because they knew their talent justified it. They were pretty much in leagues of their own, like Simone Biles. The gymnastics world is waiting for her to retire so that someone else can finally have a chance. I don’t think that statement can be made about many of our current prominent professional athletes. No one really reigns supreme.
For a while I thought that GEN-X & Millennials refused to let MJ fade from the picture. But I’m more of the belief that it’s because no one has actually replaced him. With MJ, the conversations about his predecessors faded (quite frankly they surrendered the reigns to him). Whereas none of his successors have been able to “dethrone” him. So for me it’s not so much as being unable to let go as much as it is who is able to emerge? Maybe that’s what the younger generations are telling us. There doesn’t have to be one big fish and business models haven’t figured out how to successfully adapt to that mindset.
I only follow the NBA loosely, but your point about Lilo and Stitch really hit home. I get SO annoyed with the remakes. How to train your dragon is another one and it feels like the original wasn't even out that long ago (my kids watched it when they were kids and they're only tweens/early teens now) ...
I love this article, so interesting Alex! I think there’s definitely something to the micro-culture aspect, I personally think about it more with music and pop stars and how we just have VERY few monoculture events or arenas anymore. Like everyone used to listen to the radio and now hardly anyone does! Top 40 for who?!
Really cool analysis, definitely interested to see what transpires in basketball land. And excited you’ll be here to break it down for us :)
Thanks for reading and always sitting with my work so thoughtfully, Sadie! That note on music is such a good one. I was thinking the same thing with the decline of traditional news media. As we’ve sought out information from other sources, we’ve been exposed to more perspectives and ideas—for better and for worse. Thanks again!
I think about this all the time, how much less “cool” athletes and celebrities are now that we have so much access to them. There is no mystery left! It’s a different generation, but I think if we didn’t have to watch our favorite players market Taco Bell they might maintain a bit more allure (for me, at least). Isn’t that part of loving a star— being able to fill in what we don’t know about them with our own vision that makes them cool in our minds?
1000%! As a Nuggets fan, I love Nikola Jokic. But his lack of cool and overall apathy for the NBA is what makes him cool. Part of my mission is helping people see the cool in my favorite players.
love this, I finished a race, religion, and science fiction class so this may sound like pushback in an unhealthy way, but re: lilo and stitch, I wonder if, beyond capitalism and marketing, who gets to set the boundary of stories that are nostalgic to us? I am very crotchety when it comes to remakes or reboots. heavy. and. as I watch people rage over various reboots and remakes if there isn't some kind of religious fascination with things that are part of our formation/youth? As I think of the Lion King live action (which pisses me off), I wonder if in the remaking of a story, older generations should release our control of the stories so that they can serve new populations? anyway, my nerdy musing (also, this has nothing to do with how much I hate capitalism and the ways that franchises just try to make money off of repackaged shhhhh)
Thanks for reading, bro! And I totally hear you on that. I think it's a great question and makes me think about our ability to expand on stories when we approach them thoughtfully and not as throwaways for the purpose of making a quick buck. They can serve new generations, but what's the intention behind the art?
ah I hear you. I think public art, when money is involved, and franchises are involved can’t (or won’t) be made with anything resembling pure intentions. Phew. I think the best we can hope for is new generations forming a new canon of beauty for themselves because capitalism sucks. Like, I hate a lot of the new Star Wars stuff, but realize a lot of kids LOVE THEM DOWN
There is definite tension between the GEN-X & Millennial power brokers and the broader consumer base. As a GEN-Xer myself, I am nostalgic but I don’t care for the remakes. I simply rewatch the originals, which is why I think remakes tend to fail. What makes classics timeless is that all generations can, at the very least, appreciate them in their original form. There is also an innocence that GEN-X/Millennials want to hold on to that younger generations aren’t too phased about. The world has been a much crueler place for younger folks. They have grown up entirely too fast.
That innocence, mystique and wonder has definitely lost its grip in sports. GEN-X & Millennials describe Michael Jordan literally as god-like. The way they fawn over Tom Brady. But with those two specifically, they truly embraced being the face of their leagues. Though MJ is transcendent. Professional athletes across all sports adore him. Sure there were somethings they didn’t appreciate about that level of spotlight but I think they embraced it because they knew their talent justified it. They were pretty much in leagues of their own, like Simone Biles. The gymnastics world is waiting for her to retire so that someone else can finally have a chance. I don’t think that statement can be made about many of our current prominent professional athletes. No one really reigns supreme.
For a while I thought that GEN-X & Millennials refused to let MJ fade from the picture. But I’m more of the belief that it’s because no one has actually replaced him. With MJ, the conversations about his predecessors faded (quite frankly they surrendered the reigns to him). Whereas none of his successors have been able to “dethrone” him. So for me it’s not so much as being unable to let go as much as it is who is able to emerge? Maybe that’s what the younger generations are telling us. There doesn’t have to be one big fish and business models haven’t figured out how to successfully adapt to that mindset.
"...good hoops" is exactly right. Watching the magic of the Pacers re-sparked my love for the NBA game.
Man. It looks destined for them. I love how both teams are TEAMS. From top to bottom. No shortcuts, just years in the making.
We got Josh Hart catching strays on Substack before GTA 6.
That tweet is his magnum opus
Ok but have you watched the “Everytime Josh Hart got left hanging” video on YouTube…
Hahaha nah you gotta send me the link
I only follow the NBA loosely, but your point about Lilo and Stitch really hit home. I get SO annoyed with the remakes. How to train your dragon is another one and it feels like the original wasn't even out that long ago (my kids watched it when they were kids and they're only tweens/early teens now) ...
Nostalgia is indeed an impossible foe.
Thanks for reading, Noha! I keep seeing all the Lilo & Stitch commercials and I’m like “why does this exist” 😂
We know profit is the priority, but it isn’t necessarily always conducive for a good experience with that art or product.
I get angry about these things lol. Maybe someone is going to enjoy but for the love of God at least try for something original once in a while...
I love this article, so interesting Alex! I think there’s definitely something to the micro-culture aspect, I personally think about it more with music and pop stars and how we just have VERY few monoculture events or arenas anymore. Like everyone used to listen to the radio and now hardly anyone does! Top 40 for who?!
Really cool analysis, definitely interested to see what transpires in basketball land. And excited you’ll be here to break it down for us :)
Thanks for reading and always sitting with my work so thoughtfully, Sadie! That note on music is such a good one. I was thinking the same thing with the decline of traditional news media. As we’ve sought out information from other sources, we’ve been exposed to more perspectives and ideas—for better and for worse. Thanks again!
great read 🧡
Thank you so much for reading!