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Chapter 24
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Fever Pitch, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Obsession vs. Fandom
Sports, Identity, and Community
Escapism
Sports and Masculinity
Summary
Analysis
Malcolm Macdonald, nicknamed Supermac, is an Arsenal player famous for taking credit for goals he doesn’t actually score. He has one such moment at the game against Everton (which Arsenal wins, giving Nick false hope for the rest of the season). During the game, Macdonald fights for the ball with an Everton defender, and the Everton player accidentally kicks the ball past his own goalkeeper. Though it’s obvious to everyone what happened, Macdonald takes credit for the goal. Supermac becomes a famous football legend, and Arsenal plays up his career for the club, even though his role is actually trivial. Nick thinks Arsenal glamorizes Supermac’s involvement in the club to trick themselves into being more confident.
In a way, Supermac’s role in the club mirror’s Nick’s. Nick often feels like a part of the team. He feels proud when Arsenal is successful, as though he personally has earned the reward for his hard work, and he feels responsible and defeated when they lose. Of course, Nick, like Supermac, doesn’t have any real effect on the team’s success. Still, feeling integrated with Arsenal has a profound and lasting impact on Nick’s self-image and identity.
Themes
