Summary Of Permian By Joe Bissinger

Bissinger concludes his argument by depicting the harsh realities of life beyond high school football, demonstrating the idea that high school sports create a make believe world, leaving the players unprepared for life after they graduate. Football in high school is filled with excitement and glory. In high school the players are the kings who rule their towns. Upon leaving high school they are faced with a rude awakening to reality. In the words of former “Golden Boy” Joe Bizzell, “it had been victory after victory...the world seemed only to consist of cheers and praise and glory and rules that had no meaning”(282). At Permian, the players were treated like heroes and were left completely unaware of what was to come. After leaving high school

Without the sport and the feelings that once dominated their lives, former players often do not know what to do with themselves and their lives. Bissinger presents this perspective through former player Daniel Justus who does not see football “as being a savior for [the] kids” but instead as the “kiss of death”(284). Justus demonstrates that high school football will inevitably cause a downfall in the future of the players. By referring to the sport as a “kiss of death,” Justus dramatizes his view, expressing his true feelings on the failure of football to be beneficial on the lives of the players and fans. High school sports are temporary and, like life into death, the end is imminent. Football “creates this make-believe world where normal rules don’t apply...when it’s over and the harsh reality sets in, that’s the real joke [it plays] on people”(Preface). Because it is temporary, when it is over players are unable to make the transition into real world. They are left helpless to deal with their problems without the solution being presented directly to them. Bissinger depicts this as a major flaw in the football system, where instead of player’s learning how to deal with life, they are taught that they are invincible and stand above others. His audience can understand the situation players encounter when stepping out of their perfect bubble into the harshness of society. He appeals to the personal stories of all readers who at some point were forced to learn the realities of the world and who had to step out of their comfort zones. The situation the players face is similar, but on a greater scale, to the difficulties faced by his audience which motivates them to agree with the view that Bissinger presents. Because they have experienced similar difficulties, they are inspired to recognise the solution Bissinger presents and therefore