The Bouncing Balls
--Wow. You have some beautiful balls.
--They’re bigger than I expected.
--I know. A lot of people tell me that
--Schweddy Balls skit,
fr. Saturday Night Live
After all, is football a game or a religion?
The people of this country have allowed sports
to get completely out of hand.
--Howard Cosell
____________________
for Publius
Rangers has survived another year of March Madness, and must confess that he just does not get it.
Some men chase little white balls, some kick oblong balls downfield, some bounce it and throw it through a hoop, hit it over a net, catch and sling it in a pala, some run it, throw it or hit it with a racquet, club, stick, bat or mallet, on or off a horse. Some ping them through pinball machines, others poke them with a cue. This sums up our entertainment lives: We are fascinated with little balls, and they become the center of our daily discussion, and by extension, the people who play with the balls.
Ranger is perplexed.
What is the fascination? In our first major combat operations in Afghanistan the planners named the operations after sports teams. Our minds are filled with these inanities -- but why?
Then he thinks about the fabulous wealth of the owners, players, announcers and networks due to these events, which are nothing but diversions from reality. How and why do we integrate that vicarious experience of watching play into our lives? Is it escapism, or does it serve a constructive purpose? It's only a game, right?
President Obama recently took the British Prime Minister to a college basketball game -- a big deal in the press. We would have been more impressed if he had spent even one half of a sporting event discussing how to get out of our war in Afghanistan and how to prevent future such incidents.
That would be statesmanship, which of course why we elect leaders. Sportsmanship is another beast. Contrary to popular conception, sports have no relationship to our lives at any level; if they do, you can send me to the locker room. If any of our sports-loving readers would care to pitch in, we'd be interested in your take.
If life were a game, the U.S. would be in the penalty box.
posted by rangeragainstwar at 9:42 PM
12 Comments:
As long as we're discussing the ancient Mayans, or will be, read how the Mayans used human heads as soccer balls.
http://www.ufodigest.com/brutality.html
I would like to divide your post into two parts. 1. Professional "sports" are entertainment and the people are entertainers, nothing more. 2. I define sport as something people actually do. An example would be baseball is primairly a spectacle and softball is for players. Somehow all the "popularity" polls only cite spectator sports. There is a huge media empire that revolves around spectator sports and that media all but ignores popular participant sports. e.g. The NFL is "america's game" but soccer is a "nothing" sport unless you count the multitude of leagues of all ages throughout this here USofA. Why sport? You ask. It is a way for people to physically challenge themselves and is a place to release stress and energy.
As for me, I have been involved in rugby for over 35 years as a playre, coach, and referee. My blood pressure goes down during the season. My wife has insised that I find a local club when I go too long without involvement. That is the short version of the benefits of sport.
Why sport? Many years ago, I took up serious weight training. I had two goals: 1. Bench press 300 pounds for reps, 2. Grow 17 1/2 inch arms. Within three months, I had accomplished both goals and I was left with the thought: What now? That is when I realized why powerlifting, olympic lifting, and bodybuilding existed. A way to channel that energy into a competitive endeavor. Hope this helps
POLT,
How round were they?
Blake,
Thanks for the distinction between being a spectator and a participant. Clearly, the aspect of competition (even with yourself) has proven beneficial for you.
It is curious as to why so many are content watching vs. doing. Any thoughts on that one?
Blake,
i roger your transmission.
why not use the Secret Service template and lower your blood pressure with .... the season is yearlong.
jim
Lisa: I really can't explain why so many people are content to be spectators unless I just say they are lazy. It has morphed into a cultural thing, though. What I also don't understand is the way the fans are treated (badly) and they still come back. Same thing with video games, I know people who play all sorts of video games who would never consider going out and actually doing the real thing.
Jim: Actually, staying active keeps the testesterone levels high and that is as far as I am willing to comment on your recommendation in a forum my wife has access to.
Cheers
blake,
The whole Wii phenom is fascinating, no? Is it an initial step to actually getting one's feet wet in the sport, or does it stop there?
I suspect it stops there, and that is the curious thing -- how people are content to just stay cooped up in their homes, vs. actually going out. Many simply follow the sports (religiously) on the tube.
I wonder how that vicarious sporting experience comports with the actual one? What are the benefits and drawbacks? I know the viewing "participants" feel emotions, and would seem to discharge them in their verbal expression during and after the game, but that is the extent of their "involvement".
It must provide some benefit, or people would not do it, right? I mean, even if only in the sense that smoking does, too.
My own lack of fascination for spectator sports occurred as the trend towards deifying sports and athletes rose.
It *is* just a game.
I am impressed by almost anyone in any field that strives to become world class; good for them.
But I also don't think 'd get too excited by the World Series of Tiddly Winks regardless of their competitive prowess.
Lisa;
Re: Wii, I still go back to the lazy model. Being good in the "real thing" often takes significant effort. I have a friend who is a 250+ bowler on Wii but couldn'g get into triple digits on a reall bowling alley. Guess which one he prefers? As for the spectator sports and deification of the players, that is all hype and marketing that involves the sports media helping the teams and leagues. As for fans, I think that backing sports teams feeds the tribal instinct we all have as humans but there are plenty of instances of fans going way overboard. I will add to Lance's comment in that spectator sports are a business, first and foremost, so I can understand his pass on fanhood. As Jerry Seinfield said, "you are just cheering laundry" because the players have no loyalty to a team. The level of interest in whatever sport someone chooses to follow is affected by a sense of identification with the sport, so a lack therof in tiddly winks is also understandable. Remember, people think up new sports every day, i.e. triathlon, mudder, cage fignting, and on and on. And then someone tries to find a way to make money off of it as a spectator sport.
Thanks for going into this, Blake.
Yes, there is the tribal thing, but it is ersatz, as you point out the players lack loyalty.
Maybe we're all about the simulacrum experience.
I can't resist one more bite of the apple before I quit. If you really want to know just how insane professional sport is, check out the blog "field of schemes" and you will be astounded at just how corrupt the system has become. You don't even have to be one of the suckers who call themselves fans to be among those fleeced.
It seems if we pursue an activity for the sheer pleasure of it, that is wholesome, but if we seem to glom on to a club which is all about profiteering and lacks fealty, that is rather foolish. Perhaps it is a desperate attempt to form a fellow feeling, albeit s superficial one, in a world growing more divisive.
It is also a retreat from some very dire realities in life.
It seems if we pursue an activity for the sheer pleasure of it, that is wholesome, but if we seem to glom on to a club which is all about profiteering and lacks fealty, that is rather foolish. Perhaps it is a desperate attempt to form a fellow feeling, albeit s superficial one, in a world growing more divisive.
It is also a retreat from some very dire realities in life.
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