Austin Kelley is a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He founded and edits the online literary sports journal, The Modern Spectator.
Austin’s chief area of interest is leisure, broadly construed. He even has a Ph.D. in leisure. For his doctorate in English from Duke University, Austin studied the origins of middle-class tourism and the strange idea that folks should walk around the country, guidebooks in hand, looking for beauty.
As a journalist, Austin writes about the places where sport and culture meet, as in his feature for Men’s Vogue about the medieval Italian horserace, the Palio di Siena, or this piece for The Wall Street Journal about the history of standing at sporting events. He is also particularly interested in the spaces that we build to create the experience of fun, the architecture of our free time. He has investigated, for instance, a service that furnishes whole libraries “by the foot” and the worldwide spread of prefabricated Irish pubs.
Austin writes frequently about the politics of leisure as well. This book review essay, for example, traces the history of radical calls for the end of the work ethic — laziness activism. His more straightforward sports journalism has appeared in Play and Men’s Vogue, and he is a regular contributor to the travel magazine Endless Vacation for which he explores cultural landmarks. Austin has won several awards for his soccer coverage (Look back at his World Cup newsletter and his column about the culture of world soccer for ESPN the Magazine), and is not a bad midfielder, considering that he is old and slow.
When he is not writing for magazines, Austin loves a good game of bocce or shuffleboard. He is also a published poet and fiction writer, but that’s another story.
The Grudge: The Battle for Porkopolis
This week we analyzed two big grudge matches in the NFL.
What does Stephen King have to do with Real Madrid?
The Spirit of Pittsburgh in Detroit
Miguel Cabrera wears a Duquesne t-shirt every day under his uniform. He didn’t go to college. Why?
We at The Modern Spectator aren’t really ready for football.
Inquiry Into the Morality of Soccer
Is there a morality to soccer? Check ESPN.
What’s in a crest? Read about it at ESPN.
Who are the best soccer players in the world over 33 years old? Read on at ESPN.
Sequels, any Hollywood exec will tell you, are money in the bank. Read about the Premier League II and some MLS heartthrobs at ESPN.
There is no greater enemy than one’s closest neighbor. Read about crosstown rivalries at ESPN.
Who gets the most yellow cards? Spaniards?
Hall of Fame: No Popularity Contest
If the Hall of Fame were for the most famous players, Mattingly would be a shoo-in.
Taking a little more time with a penalty kick may help you score. Read it in the Wall Street Journal.
Can a relaxed clubhouse help the Yankees win a championship? Read about it in the Wall Street Journal.
Golf Returns to Olympics with One Superpower
Golf is returning to the Olympings. I rate the projected national teams on WSJ.
Who are the richest sports fans?
What is the world's worst soccer team?
I compiled the worst records in World Cup qualifying over on WSJ.