Entertainment not Sport
Does everything you see in professional sports today really surprise you? If it does then you are pretty naïve. Professional sport is not sport, it is entertainment. I am not sure yet if it is a reality show, a tragic comedy or a Shakespearian drama. Whatever it is it is not very appealing to me. As fans we have enabled this aberrant behavior by buying tickets, memorabilia, simply watching the games on TV. That may seem harsh but it is true. Surprise, there is gambling in pro sport. I have seen players in several sports think nothing of dropping $50,000 in a card game or $100,000 in a golf game with their friends. Drugs, come on. We keep demanding more and more and there is so much that the body can give. I really wonder if it would be better to call a spade a spade and open the whole thing up and recognize it for the freak show that it is. I love true sport, not this poor imitation we have.
posted by Vern Gambetta @ 7/30/2007 05:44:00 AM
15 comments
15 Comments:
We know to much except, what it really takes to become an athlete.
The sports world needs to stop following the E! Entertainment world. And start becoming a "true leader in sports".
Come on Vern, come out and say it name the sports that have the problems.
The truth is all sport here in the US is riddled with PEDs. If it goes on at the high school level what do people expect the champions in Pro Sport to be? Clean - Not likely.
Why do the public boo Barry Bonds but not the players on their NFL team - are they blind?
It is strange that now that cycling is trying to clean up their sport they are getting their worst press. What would happen if the same happened in the NFL. Overnight 500 players banned. Or if it were like cycling 1 player a day for 500 days. After a week it would be a shambles and that would be only 7 people.
Beyond the "pro" sports why don't people question other sports such as golf or soccer or rugby. Gary Player didn't know what he was talking about but at least he opened up the debate in golf.
Any thoughts Vern?
Sorry for this rant and it should not be on this blog.
Has Bonds been indicted for any charges?
Why are the feds going after Bonds? Because he took steroids OR he lied to the grand jury.
If the feds are going after Bonds because he took steroids, then why aren't they going after Sheffield (who admitted openly taking it, but did not know it was steroids) or Giambi (who apologized - for what ?).
If the feds are going after Bonds because he lied, then why aren't they going after Rafael Palmeroid.
The media gets the public to drink the grape flavor koolaid wanting to erase all of Bonds record; why aren't they questioning McGuire?
No one questions Ivan Rodriguez, when he reported to spring training 28 pounds lighter in 06.
No one questions Roger Clemens, Schilling, Randy Johnson, Kenny Rogers, Kyle Farnsworth and many more pitchers taking steroids.
Media picks and chooses who should be boo and feeds it to the public.
I think it's because he lied to the Grand Jury and had the opportunity to change his testimony and chose not to
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” The Dr.
Once upon a time, little Billy there was this thing called PRIDE!
You would take it when there was no possible way of winning the game. You would give it when you won. Coaches, players and teams made a soild foundation on it.
Cincinnati Post/Chad Johnson
"I know it's stupid to say and it's not good, some people aren't going to like it but I've set aside (fine) money again, like I did in '05 and that was a ridiculous year where I had fun," said Johnson. "I'm having fun again. I've got to have fun. This is a business and you've got to understand the business, the ins and outs of it, and to keep my mind off of it I continue to have fun. This will be a year to entertain, not just myself but the fans in Cincinnati and around the world. This is going to be a fun year."
RE: Chad Johnson, having fun and being an idiotic showcase are two different things.
Re: #2 Chad Johnson, don't take his version of fun as fun enjoying the game; his version of fun is being an idiotic showcase.
If we would act up like that in our work place, what do you think our employer would do? Fine us or Fire us.
Hi Vern just love your Blog had the great pleasure of going to one of your talks in Sydney at NSWIS and I must say you inspire me. I agree re professional sport but something else interested me re the stuff about the synergist crossover guy and you are so right. This guy is an example of why head coaches find it difficult to work with the athlete development team. Our job is too put theory into practise in the available time we have. It just gets back to the fact that most strength and conditioning experts are all about strength rather then the total development of the athlete. God Bless Dr Craig Duncan
I was just bringing up the entertainment side. It also goes to show it is about the entertainment $. Chad brings fans to the game and that is why his bosses allow it. If we brought increased $ by that behaviour we would be allowed too.
"The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well."
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics
“One thing I have learned as a competitor is that there are clear distinctions between what it takes to be decent, what it takes to be good, what it takes to be great and what it takes to be among the best.” P132.
Let's face it people, the man that dies with the most money DOES NOT win!
Re: Chad Johnson, do you think Barry Sanders had fun in his prime? Except for his offensive line woes :) I would say yes, and he was a joy to watch, no crap, pure talent, pure fun to watch, no jumping, no cartwheels, need more like him on the field and in the training studio (or garage)
Check out a recent article in the Washington Post, "Is It Time For A Flex Plan?"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/31/AR2007073101997.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Jill
Jill
Good stuff.
TC
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