sports

oh man...@adamagee and @briancalcara are definitely not gonna like this post. probably a lot of you too.

the other day i came across a quote from Noam Chomsky, arguably one of the brightest intellectual/philosophers of our time. This quote pretty much embodies everything i've thought about sports for a long time but didn't know how to articulate. here it is:

"Take, say, sports -- that'sanother crucial example of the indoctrination system, in my view. For one thing because it offers people something to pay attention to that's of no importance. That keeps them from worrying about -- keeps them from worrying about things that matter to their lives that they might have some idea of doing something about. And in fact it's striking to see the intelligence that's used by ordinary people in sports. I mean, you listen to radio stations where people call in -- they have the most exotic information and understanding about all kind of arcane issues. And the press undoubtedly does a lot with this.

them and creating a basis for them and advertisers are willing to pay for them and so on.

You know, I remember in high school, already I was pretty old. I suddenly asked myself at one point, why do I care if my high school team wins the football game? I mean, I don't know anybody on the team, you know? I mean, they have nothing to do with me, I mean, why I am cheering for my team? It doesn't mean any -- it doesn't make sense. But the point is, it does make sense: it's a way of building up irrational attitudes of submission to authority, and group cohesion behind leadership elements -- in fact, it's training in irrational jingoism. That's also a feature of competitive sports. I think if you look closely at these things, I think, typically, they do have functions, and that's why energy is devoted to supporting

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ok, i can identify with about half of this comment. first of all, i am NOT a sports hater and i don't think you're an idiot if you watch sports. i mean, one of the greatest albums of the 80's was titled Sports and if you don't know who recorded it then don't tell me you don't know cause i will definitely think less of you. anyway, if i'm with a good group of guys watching a football game i can totally enjoy myself. i love going to cubs baseball games.

and i'm not the nerd who was completely un-athletic in high school and now has a grudge. i started varsity baseball. i even hit two homeruns over the fence.

the part i can identify with is the building up irrational attitudes about submission to authority and the general pointlessness. sports are a fun pastime but the real problem arises when people treat them as if they hold any real importance. i played baseball from the time i was 5 years old all the way through high school. my parents had a rule that i could not miss church on sunday and our midweek service on thursday. in 7th grade i moved to the other side of town and went to a different private league. my coach had a weird grudge against me that i couldn't figure out until one day when he said he questioned my "commitment" because i went to church.

in high school i was chewed out many times by coaches who seemed to think that my whole life should revolve around how far i can hit a ball. the mantras, the diatribes, and the hoopla was just ridiculous. one time i was on a school basketball team and we lost a game. on the way home in the team van i pulled out a harmonica that i had been recently messing with and me and some friends started making up funny blues songs (i could only play one thing). the whole team was laughing until the coach started screaming that we should be more sober and in a bad mood because of our loss. seriously?? it's a freaking game. i played, had fun and would have liked to win, but you can't always win. no big deal, right? but to some people absolute success and absolute dedication to winning a silly game is their life. and furthermore, if it's not your life, then you are a horrible person.

this is more of a rant. i'm not sure i have much of a point to make. i guess i could say to any kids or teenagers out there that exerting yourself and pushing yourself and having fun playing sports is great, but if you have some douche bag coach in your face looking down on you because your life doesn't revolved around something that involves balls and cheerleaders, don't buy it for a second. just let it roll off your back. have fun playing sports. have fun with your friends. enjoy being outdoors. if you score a goal or hit a homerun or make a basket, then GREAT! i'm so happy for you. and ya know, if sports really is your passion and you work hard in the off-season and are hoping to go pro, then more power to ya. but don't get in your teammate's face because he's more worried about a girl in the stands than he is about the game. he's a teenager - he's hard wired to think about girls all the time. just let it go.