So today, Allyson took along some of my SI and ESPN magazines to my doctor's office to donate to the lobby. I haven't been reading them, but I haven't been able to get myself to stop receiving them. It's like the last thread of the cord that I'm hanging on to at this point, even if it's only to hold it in my hand and look at the back cover (not the front).
And before I get to my one-month milestone this Sunday, I am faced with a conundrum. I've learned that my favorite athlete, Hines Ward, is a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Now, you have to understand that I love this guy. If I let myself go full-on fan, I could write a few paragraphs about how much I like him as a player, as a statesman, and as a person. I live in fear of learning that he has a darkside, much as I did with Mark McGwire. And of course, here's my addiction to being a fan. I think Dancing with the Stars is stupid. I kinda like dancing with Allyson, but I don't want to watch people dance on tv, and I certainly am not going to spend money to vote for my favorite... but it's Hines Ward. I now find myself wanting to watch and follow his progress. Seriously, my man-crush on this guy is embarrassing.
It's yet another example of how afflicted I've become as a sports fan. I will be reflecting on this past month sometime this weekend, but I am facing a real question - is this something I want to fix, or something I'm just curious about trying to live without, knowing that I'll be back into full sports mode in time for pitchers and catchers to report next spring. I still come home and start to punch in the number for ESPN on the remote without even thinking. I'll be commenting on that and more soon.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
And then there's this...
The Republican (presumptive) candidate for the US Senate from Virginia, George Allen, has written the following book: http://www.amazon.com/What-Washington-Learn-World-Sports/dp/1596985984 about what Washington can learn from the sports world. Also known as, the exact opposite of what I said yesterday. Nice timing, huh? You can own your own copy for less than $4 on amazon.com =)
Monday, February 28, 2011
The name on the front of the jersey isn't as important in the sport of politics
I've been hinting at this post for a while, and after another seemingly sleepless night, it's time to finally broach the topic I guess. I've had this hypothesis simmering in my mind for about a month now, regarding why politics in the US has seemingly been devolving of late. Basically, I believe that in the end sum, our current state of politics is about two teams ('parties') competing for the winning score on the day of the big game every November.
I'm not going to fully develop this theory tonight, but want to build it piece by piece. Tonight, I want to keep it simple. It's important that we realize that what we're seeing now in the US government is both old hat and a new "ball game". In the early days of the republic, it was not uncommon for fist fights, cane attacks, and the odd duel to break out over political disagreement. My recent visit to Monticello reminded me of what "civil discourse" was in the old days. But, today is different in a very fundamental way. Back then, the disagreements and incivility were often based solely on ideology - two (or more) opposing viewpoints on what was best for the country. Lies and deceit were certainly used, but in my optimistic heart, I believe that the intentions of all parties was to forge a solution that preserved and perfected our union.
I see no such noble intent anymore. I believe the discourse, if it could be called that, is about the scorecard. How much money did your party raise by the deadline? Which team has the most points (i.e. seats/votes) when the game (i.e. vote) is over. The strategies are about winning for your team, not about perfecting our union. It make great headlines anytime you can get 1 or 2 people to break with their team to actually try to explore compromises. During Madison's presidency, Dolley would hold regular dinner parties at the White House so such conversation could happen on a regular basis. The great legislation of US history has always involved compromise. Even our beloved constitution - the document our armed forces defend and our leaders swear to protect - was a series of compromises.
But now, because all that seems to matter is how much blue or red shows up on the screen on election day, compromise is verboten. Break from the party, especially if you're republican right now, and you're going to be riding the pine faster than that "don't tread on me snake" can bite you in the ass. It was the same in Pelosi's house - she had her team unified and no one stepped out of line unless the team's victory was secured. Our Congress, in my opinion, has stopped leading in lieu of winning the game. And too many of our citizens, I'm afraid, are satisfied with knowing their team won, and not about the actual policies enacted.
I leave you with this, my new favorite Jefferson quote du jour:
"If a Nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization,
it expects what never was and never will be....
If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free,
it is the responsibility of every American to be informed."
It's time for us to be informed, and stop treating our politics like a sport to be watched and cheered, in the hopes that our team drafts the right player in the 2012 presidential entry draft, and that the team functions as one - all the way to victory. I'd rather have leaders willing to ignore the name on the front of the jersey once in a while and remember the one on the back matters too.
I'm not going to fully develop this theory tonight, but want to build it piece by piece. Tonight, I want to keep it simple. It's important that we realize that what we're seeing now in the US government is both old hat and a new "ball game". In the early days of the republic, it was not uncommon for fist fights, cane attacks, and the odd duel to break out over political disagreement. My recent visit to Monticello reminded me of what "civil discourse" was in the old days. But, today is different in a very fundamental way. Back then, the disagreements and incivility were often based solely on ideology - two (or more) opposing viewpoints on what was best for the country. Lies and deceit were certainly used, but in my optimistic heart, I believe that the intentions of all parties was to forge a solution that preserved and perfected our union.
I see no such noble intent anymore. I believe the discourse, if it could be called that, is about the scorecard. How much money did your party raise by the deadline? Which team has the most points (i.e. seats/votes) when the game (i.e. vote) is over. The strategies are about winning for your team, not about perfecting our union. It make great headlines anytime you can get 1 or 2 people to break with their team to actually try to explore compromises. During Madison's presidency, Dolley would hold regular dinner parties at the White House so such conversation could happen on a regular basis. The great legislation of US history has always involved compromise. Even our beloved constitution - the document our armed forces defend and our leaders swear to protect - was a series of compromises.
But now, because all that seems to matter is how much blue or red shows up on the screen on election day, compromise is verboten. Break from the party, especially if you're republican right now, and you're going to be riding the pine faster than that "don't tread on me snake" can bite you in the ass. It was the same in Pelosi's house - she had her team unified and no one stepped out of line unless the team's victory was secured. Our Congress, in my opinion, has stopped leading in lieu of winning the game. And too many of our citizens, I'm afraid, are satisfied with knowing their team won, and not about the actual policies enacted.
I leave you with this, my new favorite Jefferson quote du jour:
"If a Nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization,
it expects what never was and never will be....
If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free,
it is the responsibility of every American to be informed."
It's time for us to be informed, and stop treating our politics like a sport to be watched and cheered, in the hopes that our team drafts the right player in the 2012 presidential entry draft, and that the team functions as one - all the way to victory. I'd rather have leaders willing to ignore the name on the front of the jersey once in a while and remember the one on the back matters too.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Separation Between Competition and Sports
I just got finished with a week that was, somewhat productive, but really the calm before the storm. I spent several wonderful days in the the Virginia Piedmont with some friends/colleagues from work and their partners. It was a great time. My closest friends here in Oneonta are big fans of playing, and I tend to feed off of their energy (read: it gets loud and the dirty jokes and innuendo start flying). And I noticed that, there really is a difference between my enjoyment of competition and my currently unhealthy fandom with sports. When I'm playing the games, I do want to win, and I do let the emotions show, but I am actually playing and there's something to wanting to see that investment in time and effort be rewarded with victory. Granted, I do sometimes need to rein in my "need" to win, but it's far better than it was growing up.
With sports, there is this sad added dimension for me. I hate the other team. Which turns into hating the other school, demonizing the other players, growling at the Michigan bumper stickers on cars on the highway, loathing the guy in the Green Bay Packers sweatshirt while visiting Monticello (Allyson caught me clenching my fists). It transcends the competition itself and really makes me feel unbalanced. Especially, say, when I know someone whom I like, and then learn that they are a fan of "the other team". Why does my perception of them change? How can I justify their being my friend and then their not being my friend because their car is blue, and I prefer green.
Sometimes the choices people make matter in the calculus of long-term relationships. Values matter. Groups you support matter. Your actions matter. The deity you worship, if there is one, matters. In the send the sum total of these terms of the equation ought to add up to a positive correlation if you expect the relationship to last. The team you support, the brand of coffee you prefer, or my favorite, if you insist that anything but Heinz Ketchup is ok - these ought to be at best orders of magnitude smaller than the rest. They are for my wife and I, which is why we're together. I know I'm capable of properly valuing sports and sports rivalry properly against the truly important things in life. The fact that it has been such a struggle, is why I still have plenty to write and think and yes, even pray about.
The alarm will go off in 4 hours, so I can hopefully finish some grading before classes start. I guess it's time for sleep.
With sports, there is this sad added dimension for me. I hate the other team. Which turns into hating the other school, demonizing the other players, growling at the Michigan bumper stickers on cars on the highway, loathing the guy in the Green Bay Packers sweatshirt while visiting Monticello (Allyson caught me clenching my fists). It transcends the competition itself and really makes me feel unbalanced. Especially, say, when I know someone whom I like, and then learn that they are a fan of "the other team". Why does my perception of them change? How can I justify their being my friend and then their not being my friend because their car is blue, and I prefer green.
Sometimes the choices people make matter in the calculus of long-term relationships. Values matter. Groups you support matter. Your actions matter. The deity you worship, if there is one, matters. In the send the sum total of these terms of the equation ought to add up to a positive correlation if you expect the relationship to last. The team you support, the brand of coffee you prefer, or my favorite, if you insist that anything but Heinz Ketchup is ok - these ought to be at best orders of magnitude smaller than the rest. They are for my wife and I, which is why we're together. I know I'm capable of properly valuing sports and sports rivalry properly against the truly important things in life. The fact that it has been such a struggle, is why I still have plenty to write and think and yes, even pray about.
The alarm will go off in 4 hours, so I can hopefully finish some grading before classes start. I guess it's time for sleep.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Quick Note
I'm going to have limited internet access the next few days - so there's going to be a lull in the posting for a while. That said, it's both a good and bad thing for me. I've been personally ITCHING to go to espn.com to read up on sports and baseball and where things stand with football, and to see if PSU has a chance to make the NCAA tournament... Bad news - there will be cable where I'll be, and I doubt everyone else will want to immediately block ESPN just because of me.
I am being sorely tested right now. The urge to watch sports is so bad that I've found myself forcing myself to turn on C-SPAN just to take my mind off of wanting to watch sports. (Why C-SPAN? because I do find it interesting to watch government work (sort of), there's no commentary, it's just unedited truth, and mostly, it's still competitive. I swear it's still sports in a way, and I'd like my team to win)
I am being sorely tested right now. The urge to watch sports is so bad that I've found myself forcing myself to turn on C-SPAN just to take my mind off of wanting to watch sports. (Why C-SPAN? because I do find it interesting to watch government work (sort of), there's no commentary, it's just unedited truth, and mostly, it's still competitive. I swear it's still sports in a way, and I'd like my team to win)
Friday, February 18, 2011
A League of Their Own
So I had DVR'ed this movie the week before the ban began, and today, while waiting for the plumbers to install a new hot water heater after a major failure today, I decided to watch it. Not really thinking about being sports-celibate, not truly caring... And yes, I've seen it before, but not for years.
Allyson came home right after the great scene that the movie is famous for. (sidenote: best line in that exchange to me is "Use your head, it's that lump three feet above your ass!", which of course causes the crying) But as the movie went on, and they ended up in the world series, I started getting into it. I started explaining to Allyson about why missing the cutoff man is such a no-no, and how modern ball players screw that up all the time too, then I started talking pitching strategy. "If the batter knows you know her tendencies, then the catcher has to change it up. You can't throw three straight high heaters, thinking she's gonna keep swinging and missing, you have to throw the third one in the dirt damnit, just to keep her honest. Some great catcher she is!", referring to the main character Geena Davis plays who is the catcher making the pitch calls against her kid sister the batter. Next thing you know, kid sister smacks an inside the park home run (I knew this already) and wins the world series. And how did I feel? Pissed. Angry. Kinda yelling a little bit at the absurdity of that pitch call. Yes, I'm a Rockford Peaches fan too, I guess. I was definitely into it, and it was a fake game to which I knew the outcome well in advance.
Of course, Geena's character is my total opposite. Great ball player (except in that instance), but totally willing to walk away and not give another thought to the game. She could let it go, or compartmentalize it, or something. Not me. I'm still annoyed by it 4 hours later, and willing to admit that clearly, I have violated the spirit of my celibacy period (only took 12 days). Still, I was so thrilled to see Cooperstown, Doubleday Field, and the outside of the HOF in the movie, if for no other reason than they're home to me now. I love going over there and dreaming about my favorite game (in spite of the futility of my hometown team). There is an exhibit on the AAGPBL there which is well done (and nothing like the one in the movie).
Guess I'll hop back on the wagon in the morning. And for the record, I would have told the pitcher to throw one behind the kid sister's head, just to mess with her - Bull Durham style.
Allyson came home right after the great scene that the movie is famous for. (sidenote: best line in that exchange to me is "Use your head, it's that lump three feet above your ass!", which of course causes the crying) But as the movie went on, and they ended up in the world series, I started getting into it. I started explaining to Allyson about why missing the cutoff man is such a no-no, and how modern ball players screw that up all the time too, then I started talking pitching strategy. "If the batter knows you know her tendencies, then the catcher has to change it up. You can't throw three straight high heaters, thinking she's gonna keep swinging and missing, you have to throw the third one in the dirt damnit, just to keep her honest. Some great catcher she is!", referring to the main character Geena Davis plays who is the catcher making the pitch calls against her kid sister the batter. Next thing you know, kid sister smacks an inside the park home run (I knew this already) and wins the world series. And how did I feel? Pissed. Angry. Kinda yelling a little bit at the absurdity of that pitch call. Yes, I'm a Rockford Peaches fan too, I guess. I was definitely into it, and it was a fake game to which I knew the outcome well in advance.
Of course, Geena's character is my total opposite. Great ball player (except in that instance), but totally willing to walk away and not give another thought to the game. She could let it go, or compartmentalize it, or something. Not me. I'm still annoyed by it 4 hours later, and willing to admit that clearly, I have violated the spirit of my celibacy period (only took 12 days). Still, I was so thrilled to see Cooperstown, Doubleday Field, and the outside of the HOF in the movie, if for no other reason than they're home to me now. I love going over there and dreaming about my favorite game (in spite of the futility of my hometown team). There is an exhibit on the AAGPBL there which is well done (and nothing like the one in the movie).
Guess I'll hop back on the wagon in the morning. And for the record, I would have told the pitcher to throw one behind the kid sister's head, just to mess with her - Bull Durham style.
a relevant link...
Who knew I had something in common with Bieber Fever! http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2011/02/for-the-love-of-bieber.html (Thanks Leslie)
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About Me
- Todd Ellis
- I'm passionate about educating everyone about weather and the climate. (P.S. Climate change is not a belief, but a documentable scientific phenomenon) Plus, I'm an avid sports fan, who has sworn off sports for the year. That ought to be interesting...