Sentence:  We were Jews—and not only were we not inferior to the goyim who beat us at football, but the chances were that because we could not commit our hearts to victory in such a <WSD>thuggish</WSD> game, we were superior! 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Characterized by thuggery; behaving in a violent or intimidating way; appearing to be violent or intimidating.