Deep down inside everyone knows that sports are a distraction. They are a way for us to step outside of our lives and and real-world allegiances and to dive into something that is a ‘safe’ gamble. We put a whole lot into these seemingly meaningless matches. In truth we give them meaning. We invest our love and attention in whether or not one team moves the ball across a line more than the other team and in that way our ‘side’ wins. But why? I think we do it because humans are competitive by nature. We, men especially, have little patience for non-zero sum competition. Someone must lose in order for us to feel superior, and in order to feel superior we must feel smart or privileged enough to align ourselves with the winning side. That is why sports are important and it is important that we continue to watch them.
Here is why they are not. We have equated hero status to athletes, pushing aside the scientists, businessmen, and professors that actually advance our species towards expansion or actualization. Maybe it is a function of a species that doesn’t have a future plan past, perhaps, 100 years.
Some Thoughts:
- I am still debating moving the talislegger site whole hog over to wordpress. The problem is, I don’t do anything with the site itself. Ostensibly, Talislegger is supposed to be my website for writing and promoting a certain me-ness. Still, I don’t know what or how I want to do with the website behind 10 minute gasps of coherence.
- I need to improve the attitude I bring to the table when helping the kids with homework. It isn’t fun for them or me, but I cannot show that. If I show my displeasure I will turn them off.
- Still wandering through the darkness trying to find my way back to that place of zen. Once upon a time there was a place in my mind where ideas and actions flowed freely. That is more of a memory than anything else now. It happens to the best of us from time to time. It is a form of writer’s block. I think the proper term is ‘overthinking’.
- Watching the Jets I wonder if they even practice. Seriously, the offensive blackout they are currently under is shocking. I blame Sanchez, but it isn’t all on him. A lot is.