Several of Australia’s most provocative academics and literary figures celebrate their fascination for sport. In her sharp and punchy essay, journalist, author and (sometimes illegal) boxer MISCHA MERZ defends her sport against those who thought their position on female boxing was firm: “Boxing has long been the red light district of mainstream sport. The critics would rather see it banned for men than made legal for women.”Poet and academic JOHN KINSELLA gives a personal account of football and identity, and muses on issues ranging from the glorification of players to the commodification of sport: “I’ve been in those change rooms, and I know even the jocks don’t ultimately enjoy the show.”Broadcaster and Pink Magpies founder RICHARD WATTS discusses homophobia and homosexuality in football: “Talkback radio host Greg Evans waxed lyrical about members of the group being ‘transexuals’, filling his listeners’ heads with images of black-and-white-clad drag queens descending on the MCG at the first available opportunity.” ANGELA MITROPOULOS writes about the notion of elitism in sport; BRIAN McCOY addresses issues of racism in football, and FIONA CAPP writes about returning to surfing. Overland 166 features the journal’s regular high quality reviews, essays, poetry, fiction and dialogue, including a provocative feature by MARCIA LANGTON on what’s wrong with the Left.