Thursday, January 01, 2004

Sports v. Reality

Good Morning to You.

Hope you are feeling fine today. Can I get you a number three? Hash browns, two eggs over easy, toast and coffee?

Lots of college football today. Did you see the Texas Tech vs. Navy game the other day?

Texas Tech's team did some kind of choreographed dance number in the end zone after they scored a touchdown. The announcers, the Texas Tech coach, the refs and the fans were not happy. Texas Tech got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

I can't say I blame the players since they see that kind of nonsense on the NFL they probably think it's fine.

The problem I see with the end zone dances, players signing balls or making cell phone calls after touchdowns is that it may eventually blur the line between sport and entertainment to the point where you end up with something like professional wrestling or roller derby. Not a sport and not entertaining either (sorry for you professional wrestling and roller derby devotees...just my opinion).

I love the hoopla around sporting events I just don't like seeing individuals going to extremes to pat themselves on the back. It's classless if nothing else. Plus you could pull a muscle :-)

It's funny how we distort the importance of sports in our culture. We all (fans and players) have to remember it's all a game and not real. Real is a nurse in an emergency room working to save a critical patient, or a soldier in harms way, a mom taking care of a sick child, a pastor counseling someone grieving.

Having said that I'll get back to watching the football bowl games and looking forward to the Golden Gopher Texas Tech basketball game later today. Just trying to keep it in perspective.

Jack