BS: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 05:21 PM

Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone - Matthew 4:4 Sorry, I did not give the proper credit. I would hate to be sued for copyright infringement!

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:20 PM

OK...so, just this morning, what was on the front page of the Washington Post as *the* headlining story?

"USA beats Mexico".

To include *multiple* stories, one with pictures of crowds of Mexicans, all with expressions of the deepest sorrow, many weeping unconsolably. When I first looked at the pic, I thought it must surely be a picture of something tragic that had happened in the Middle East.

People are dying of starvation. They're being sold into slavery. They're killing each other the world over. So, what is front page news? What are people crying about?

Who kicked a ball into the net more often.

The last time I cried over losing a game, the 4th grade teacher told me I should act my age.

So, folks, please...explain this to me so it makes sense? What am I not getting here?

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:25 PM

CelticSoul,

I guess you are missing the rest of USA Today.

Art, as expressed through sport, is an incredible human achievment. It doesn't mean we ignore the other stories. I'm sorry you don't get it.

Ron

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: GUEST,Joe the Realist
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:41 PM

Well said, Celtic Soul. Thanks for putting things into perspective.
JtR

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: SeanM
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:51 PM

No, really, on the whole, many Americans ARE ignoring the World Cup.

Many Americans ignored the NBA Finals.

Many Americans ignored the NHL Finals.

Many Americans ignore anything at all to do with sports.

Soccer just happens to have MORE Americans ignoring it than most. Personally, I, my girlfriend, my bandmates, my friends... we all mostly couldn't give a rat's ass. You might get one or two of us worked up about hockey. But we're pretty much oblivious to soccer. Just because the "rest of the world" (and I'm sure the Eskimo/Inuit team is just tearing up the charts) cares about it doesn't mean I'm required to.

M

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:57 PM

Yeah, but Ron...

Art isn't about who wins, at least not in my eyes. Art (for me) is about celebrating *all* of humanities diverse accomplishments, no matter *what* culture. When another act mounts the stage, and plays better than my band does, if I weep, it is for the fact that I am moved to tears by their performance. Not because I feel somehow diminished by their achievement. I *love* the accomplishments of my fellow musicians. I learn from them. I celebrate their uniquenesses. I buy their CD's. But, I *do not* consider them my rivals.

And, in any case, what's to cry over? No one died. This is not world peace we're talking about...it's whether someone won a sporting event. That is what I don't get.

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 08:26 PM

C-soul,

Competition, survival and disapointment are all part of life. Art is also about creating, and in sports the creating takes the form of reaching your potential and meeting your goals and as you say, celebrating your accomplishments.

If you can be moved to tears by music it is because it has reached you on a deep level. A sports fan is touched in the same manner. The beauty of words and the beauty of athletic achievement are both artistic achievements.

Competition is healthy in that it can push people to put forth their best effort. Competition for the World Cup began three years ago when teams around the world began playing each other to become one of the 32 teams to make the final tournament.

You have to realize that in many countries soccer is a means to escape. Sometimes it is the reality of poverty. For some countries it is an achievement of recognition - as South Korea witnessed today when they defeated Italy.

It is very difficult to describe, but the meaning runs deep.

Again, in this country (USA) the meanings are different. We celebrate as an excuse to party, not just to escape.

Ron

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 09:24 PM

Thanks, Ron, for your very considered and thoughtful explanation. I don't think I will ever get the crying over losing a sporting event, but I can accept that some think on it as a method of self expression, as music is for most of us here.

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 10:59 PM

I've been a Mets fan since their inception. I can recall portions of my life when I think back on certain games. I remember skipping school to watch them win their first World Series in 1969. My wife and I sat dejected on our couch watching game 5 of the 1986 World Series as they were one out away from losing to the Red Sox and then feeling the indescrible high as they came back to win that game. We were in the stands the next game and I felt a pride that was unmatched as they won - all those years of being laughed at for supporting "losers" finally culminated in a justification of my support. There are so many stories that can be parables for life in baseball, as well as other sports. No, it isn't life and death, but it can be a form of religion and offer comfort.

I began watching soccer in the 1970's when the Cosmos made it a "happening". In the years since I've attended World Cup matches as well as exhibitions with foreign teams. I see the supporters of teams from around the world show up to have a chance to be part of a community. I was at Giants Stadium in 1994 when Ireland played Italy. Everyone expected the crowd to be filled with Italian supporters (we are in New Jersey after all!). However the supporters of the Irish team did everything they could to find tickets and the stadium was overwhelming filled with Irish fans - both visitors from Ireland as well as countrymen living in the U.S. To be part of their experience and share their pride was a feeling I will never forget. Say what you will about patriotism, but this was a special moment. To see 70,000 people united in one cause - winning a soccer game - meant something. Everyone knew it was just a game, but for that moment the world was looking at them and joining with them.

Sorry if I get carried away. I think the media and some of the posters here at Mudcat got carried away too. The media focuses on a few incidents - a fan in Korea setting himself on fire, a shooting in Russia, a player being shot in Columbia - and assumptions are made that EVERYONE has the same level of passion(or insanity). Far from it. It is just a game, and it is life. Like life, people move on. So yes a few tears may be shed at a game out of disappointment and passion, but there will always be another game - that is the lesson from sports.

I highly recommend Nick Hornby's book Fever Pitch to anyone who wants to understand the passion behind sports - or someone who wants to read a damn good book. Hornby expresses it much better than I ever could.

I'm getting off my soapbox now. Sorry!

Ron

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 10:01 AM

I agree with Celtic Soul that sometimes the competitors may take winning or losing too seriously. However, they're the ones getting up at the crack of dawn to run and train and lift weights and all that - we're just the ones who watch, and we have a different perspective.

As spectators we see it as "just a game." For the ones who play, it may be their livelihood. Some athletes make a buttload of money and we think, oh, they have it so easy, they're rich, it's not right that anyone should make that much money playing a silly game.

But y'all, there's a lot that goes into playing a silly game. Practice. Work. Pushing your body to its limits. It's not all fun and games and glamour and cheerleaders and globetrotting.

It's work. And some people who play for a living value that work just as much as anyone else. They get emotional when they lose. They get emotional when they win. How many of you haven't ever been emotional over your accomplishments at work, whatever your work may be?

Sports promote solidarity and teamwork. What's so bad about that? Even for those who don't play sports themselves, the driving concepts behind them can carry over into other things.

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: fat B****rd
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 12:24 PM

Fair comment 'Spaw. I do tend to take the overall picture, but I'm not unaware of extremism. Nice of the Italian manager to sack the Korean player who scored against Italy !!.

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 01:09 PM

Before wrong rumors become truths: The Korean player had been sacked before the world cup had started and the manager said after the loss grinning (and tongue in cheek): We wouldn't take back someone scoring agaisnt us, would we?

As serious as the German goalie Kahn who said before the game against Paraguay: If Roque Santa Cruz (his Munich teammate and Paraguayan attacker) scores against me, he doesn't need to show up in Munich at the start of the new season.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 01:35 PM

One question. Cricket has taken a little stick in this thread, but in Cricket, the ball is in play for 80% of the time. Why does take so long for an American Football game to get 60 minutes of play in ? I seem to recall reading some professional games can take up to 3 hours WITHOUT extra time.

Walrus

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 02:03 PM

Walrus, that's because they stop the clock every few minutes for time-outs, TV commercials, penalties, etc.

Subject: RE: WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
From: Les from Hull
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 05:50 PM

Television around the world has brought games from 'quality' leagues (mainly South American and European). Perhaps more people in North America would watch these games now. If this is to be the case, I've just two words to add. Leeds United.