James Holzhauer is a Jeopardy! menace, so why does he have so many fans?

The Washington Post

"The only thing more troubling, as a commentary on American culture, than his grinning, relentless march to victory — regardless of when, or if, it ends — is that millions celebrate it," says The Washington Post's Charles Lane, who competed on Jeopardy! in 1991. "People seem not to care that Holzhauer’s streak reflects the same grim, data-driven approach to competition that has spoiled (among other sports) baseball, where it has given us the 'shift,' 'wins above replacement,' 'swing trajectories” and other statistically valid but unholy innovations. Like the number crunchers who now rule the national pastime, Holzhauer substitutes cold, calculating odds maximization for spontaneous play. His idea is to select, and respond correctly to, harder, big-dollar clues on the show’s 30-square gameboard first. Then, flush with cash, he searches the finite set of hiding places for the 'Daily Double' clue, which permits players to set their own prize for a correct response — and makes a huge bet. Responding correctly, Holzhauer often builds an insurmountable lead before the show is half over. Dazed and demoralized opponents offer weakening resistance as his winnings snowball. And, with experience gained from each new appearance on the show, Holzhauer’s personal algorithms improve and his advantage grows. In short, this professional gambler from Las Vegas does not so much play the game as beat the system. What’s entertaining about that? And beyond a certain point, what’s admirable?"

ALSO:

• James Holzhauer is averaging $74,000 per game, compared to Ken Jennings'  $34,000 per game
• What is it like to lose to Holzhauer by only $18?
• Alex Trebek is running out of stuff to talk about with Holzhauer -- the interview segment isn't built for somebody like him