Nuffnang

Isnin, 20 Januari 2014

Akim - Google Blog Search

Akim - Google Blog Search

Everything That's Wrong With America - The Public Professor

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 08:51 AM PST

Based on all the indignant finger-wagging, you'd think that Richard Sherman's antics last night represent everything that's wrong with America.

In case you missed it, Seattle Seahawk Cornerback Sherman kinda lost his shit after making an outstanding play that effectively sent Seattle to this year's Super Bowl.

Immediately after the game, Sherman he was interviewed by FOX sideline reporter Erin Andrews.  She proffered the standard question for that situation:

"Take us through that last play."

Players almost always sidestep these questions and respond with irrelevant chatter.  But instead, Sherman went ballistic.  He openly berated SF Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree, the player he'd just bested on the field, and screeched about how great he was.

This was shortly after he'd incurred an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting Crabtree and miming a choke motion to the San Francisco sideline.

As a result of all this, he has been the subject of tremendous criticism.

Was it bad sportsmanship?  Absolutely.  Does it represent everything that's wrong with America?  Hardly.

You wanna know what's really wrong America?

It's all the stuff from yesterday's game that we're NOT talking about today.  Let us count the ways.

#1: The Gruesome Injury to San Fransisco Linebacker NaVorro Bowman

Like Sherman, Bowman is one of, if not the very best player in the league at his position.  In the second half, during a scrum for a loose ball, he suffered an absolutely horrific injury.  I won't link to it, you can find it if you want.  In short, his knee bent the wrong way.  A lot.

Football, America's most popular sport by far, is a brutal grotesquerie, a carnival of violence that has no place in a decent society that cares about its members.  I love the game and watch a lot of it.  But admitting that is not a defense of the sport; it's an open acknowledgement of my own hypocrisy.

Parents of America: Are you worried that your kid is gonna end up a bad sport like Richard Sherman?  Maybe you should be more concerned your kid's gonna end up crippled like NoVorro Bowman.

#2: America is Immune to Real Violence and Even Thrives on it

For evidence of this, just consider the way FOX handled Bowman's injury.  They showed it over, and over, and over, and over, and over again.  Was it a dozen times?  More?  I lost count.

The reason they showed it over and over again was because the play in question should have been ruled a fumble, but was called incorrectly on the field by the refs.

That's right.  FOX repeatedly showed one of the most disgusting things you'll see all year because it was secondary to figuring out a blown call by a referee.

And how did the announcers handle it?  Joe Buck and Troy Aikman actually ignored Bowman's career-threatening injury during most of the replays, simply talking about the fumble-or-not-a-fumble issue as the screen continue to show a human knee ripping to pieces.  As if it weren't happening, or just didn't matter that much if it were.

Are you worried about Richard Sherman saying the wrong things?  I'm more concerned about people like Buck and Aikman barely talking about the wrong things.

#3: The Culture of Deception and Misdirection

To me, far more surprising than what Sherman said during his brief post-game interview is what he didn't say.

Richard Sherman didn't say what every other athlete says.  During these frivolous interviews, athletes generally behave like politicians: they refuse to answer the question.  Instead, they offer up meaningless clichés and predictable platitudes.  And sadly, we've come to accept that as the norm.

Afraid to say anything that can get them in trouble, or worst of all, harm their lucrative endorsement deals, American athletes generally refuse to directly answer any question put to them when the cameras are rolling.  Rather, they just smile and praising their teammates and coaches.

Maybe they thank god.

I can't remember the last time a pro athlete said anything interesting.  Anything worth listening to.  Honestly.  Of course that in and of itself isn't important; they're just athletes.  However, it is symptomatic of a larger problem in our culture.  It's exactly the same approach to mass communication that politicians use to avoid tough questions, "stay on message," and offer heartfelt non-apologies when they get caught screwing up.

Did Richard Sherman behave badly?  Yes.  Was he a bad sport and a sore winner?  Yes.  But you know what?  I'd much rather listen to Richard Sherman honestly speak his mind than listen to:

  1. The bland tripe that usually drips from athletes' mouths
  2. The unfathomably detached ramblings of announcers like Joe Buck Troy Aikman
  3. The sound of NoVorrow Bowman's knee exploding

Pick your poison.

Filed under: Culture, Current Events, Media Matters, Society, The Sporting Life

Stacy tak pernah bercinta dengan <b>Akim</b> dan tak bersedia berkahwin <b>...</b>

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 04:38 PM PST
Dicatat oleh di

Tiada ulasan:

Catat Ulasan

Langgan: Catat Ulasan (Atom)