“Sports, The Big Morality Lie, and the End of Games”
We’ve loved sports for as long as we can remember. I was always the one that could do it, so I’ve never known every nerdy tidbit; or remember where I was for the late game of the 1993 NFC Divisional Round. But as age begins to take your can-do, turning it into more of an attitude that will also eventually fade; it’s the knowledge above and beyond the games that have me feeling like I don’t care about them anymore.
Everyone is a critic – and the less someone can do, the more criticism becomes their expertise. It’s the natural way of sports and entertainment and those that live it, love it, make money off of it, and the like. And the nerds have killed it.
The only thing more bothersome than metrics in sports is fake morality. Anyone that has ever breathed sports, understands that they are a metaphor for the wonders of life. Sports can teach you things that are applicable to every day and can be applied in situations outside of an arena or stadium; or away from a field, diamond, rink, or pitch.
And suddenly, my disinterest in being a fan, has me thinking about this weekend’s parlay picks.
Beat the odds. But not like that. Make a big play, save a coach’s job, make your mark – don’t you dare celebrate it and let your opponent know it. That’ll be 15 yards, and a tongue-lashing from Brian; the shitty sales executive that wins with nepotism; as less successful fans rain boos and cups full of $13 beers as if they are the ones on the brink of elimination.
They argue the pettiest pseudo points about the guys they don’t want to surpass their childhood heroes – and man, what’s the line on Washington versus Atlanta? Stop being invested and think investments.
Fans argue about what’s rigged when their nemesis hoists trophies; in turn, journalists gather in cliques and form group thinks that regurgitate narratives drummed up in production meetings, across competing stations.
Fans love you when you win for their city and give them the gumption to set trash cans ablaze in celebration. The same fans that call bench players scrubs, while they have their finger in their chest, signaling they’re available for the pickup game they don’t get picked for. The same fans that will remind an athlete that they help pay his bills, as they wear a jersey with a name, not theirs, across their back.
And then, come to social media spaces and attack each other – just without going viral like some of these clowns have done so far this year – Suns in 4.
And by the way, the line is Washington -1.5.
See ya Sunday!
