I should have known this would happen. I haven't posted anything here for a while and I could have predicted it. You see, it's bowl season which annually sees me glued to the tube for the duration. I love college football (basketball too so don't expect much during the Big Dance in March) and bowl games used to be manageable. There were only four back in the day; now there are 31! I don't watch all of them, but probably too many.
I'll also have a problem during the Olympics in February. Being a sports fan does have its drawbacks these days. We went to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and I'll never forget the feeling of family we fans had. We met people from all over the states, sometimes seeing them at several events - everyone seemed to feel like we were all good friends. We won't go to the Olympics again because the ticket situation has gotten out of hand, but I do enjoy watching on television.
The odd thing is that both my mother and my mother-in-law were huge sports fans, rabid actually, but my father and my father-in-law as well as my husband can sort of take sports or leave them. So, while I watch all these games, Dave gets plenty of sleep in front of the TV set. Occasionally he wakes up, asks who's winning or who's playing for that matter, and then settles in for another nap. Life of the party, my husband.
All of this means sports is dominating my life at the moment, but I'm not so far gone that I don't know about the new would-be terrorist with the makings of a bomb in his underwear. I think we should all be patient with screening at airports, but I don't really believe we can be safe from this type of person. We're all in danger all the time, from various threats, but we can't let fear rule our lives. All we can do is watch for danger but enjoy every moment of our lives because you never know how long your life will be.
Having said that, maybe a good New Year's Resolution would be to live life to the fullest and keep nagging worries out of our heads. Life is too short to just throw it away. Happy New Year to everyone. I'll be back in January.
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Sad Day: Fort Hood Shootings
This is a very sad day after yesterday's shootings at Fort Hood. Lots of questions remain of course and since the shooter is alive but on a respirator, who knows if those questions will ever be answered. My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones and comrades and to the wounded and their families.
There is so much violence in this world. As an historian I know there have been other violent periods of history and that our own era is relatively peaceful. The difference is that now we hear more about it, and more of us I believe are actually touched by violence. So many of us have personally been victims of violent crime, myself included, and yet we grow almost inured to it in the news. It takes a personal connection to violence or a big tragedy like this one or the shootings at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY of this year (only 25 miles from my home) to catch our attention.
I'm a peaceful person who abhors violence on any level, but with the wars around the world, continued eye-for-an-eye killings in the Middle East, and American kids beating and killing for "dissing" each other, I almost despair of the concept of peace.
Television, video games, movies, etc. are partly to blame, but that isn't all of it. Even I enjoy the CSI-like forensic science shows on TV and I'm addicted to mystery novels. No, more of the cause is an overwhelming atmosphere of anger that permeates every aspect of life, from road rage to registered sex offenders killing women and hiding the bodies on their property. I see it in teens practically knocking me aside walking down the street, in college football players purposely trying to gouge the eyes of a downed opponent, in drivers shouting and making obscene gestures at other drivers or pedestrians, in the street brawls after a city's sports team wins a championship, and as recently happened just north of Binghamton when someone dropped kittens one by one onto a highway into traffic where they were all killed.
I don't have any inkling of a solution to this terrible situation and that bothers me. How can we all just watch this happening, and yet what in the world can we do about it? The only thought that comes to me is that I think of how I was raised, how fortunate I was to have a good family and security, and I wonder what's become of good parenting. Is that the answer? I'm curious what my readers think.
There is so much violence in this world. As an historian I know there have been other violent periods of history and that our own era is relatively peaceful. The difference is that now we hear more about it, and more of us I believe are actually touched by violence. So many of us have personally been victims of violent crime, myself included, and yet we grow almost inured to it in the news. It takes a personal connection to violence or a big tragedy like this one or the shootings at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY of this year (only 25 miles from my home) to catch our attention.
I'm a peaceful person who abhors violence on any level, but with the wars around the world, continued eye-for-an-eye killings in the Middle East, and American kids beating and killing for "dissing" each other, I almost despair of the concept of peace.
Television, video games, movies, etc. are partly to blame, but that isn't all of it. Even I enjoy the CSI-like forensic science shows on TV and I'm addicted to mystery novels. No, more of the cause is an overwhelming atmosphere of anger that permeates every aspect of life, from road rage to registered sex offenders killing women and hiding the bodies on their property. I see it in teens practically knocking me aside walking down the street, in college football players purposely trying to gouge the eyes of a downed opponent, in drivers shouting and making obscene gestures at other drivers or pedestrians, in the street brawls after a city's sports team wins a championship, and as recently happened just north of Binghamton when someone dropped kittens one by one onto a highway into traffic where they were all killed.
I don't have any inkling of a solution to this terrible situation and that bothers me. How can we all just watch this happening, and yet what in the world can we do about it? The only thought that comes to me is that I think of how I was raised, how fortunate I was to have a good family and security, and I wonder what's become of good parenting. Is that the answer? I'm curious what my readers think.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hi Mom! I'm on TV!
We've been watching the NCAA World Series on television. My husband and I both love college sports and watch this series every year. In fact, we were scheduled to attend the games in Omaha this summer but the lousy economy doomed those plans.
As always, I'm astounded at the lengths people go to just to be on TV for a few seconds. To their credit, the people behind the cameras and in the control booth for ESPN have mostly shown us the cute kids in the stands, and who doesn't like that? They also find pretty girls to show and the inevitable row of shirtless guys with school letters painted on their chests. And don't forget the female Texas Longhorn fans who put their long hair up to look (I guess) like horns. Very funny.
What they can't avoid showing that is beyond my understanding is all the people glued to cell phones who go to any extent to be on camera so they can smile and wave at whoever they're calling. When the camera scans the crowd, look out! People practically trample each other to be on TV.
Then there are the front row folks who are apparently at the game only to hold up signs. "Hi Mom!" "I got here, Joe!" They never seem to actually watch the game.
This year I've noticed quite a few young people who have seats I'd kill for yet they have their backs turned to the field because they're talking/flirting with someone behind them. Maybe I'm just jealous.
It isn't just baseball of course. At the U.S. Open I loved the fans cheering for Phil Mickelson, but then there is always a guy with a huge voice yelling, "You're the man!" or "In the hole!" a millisecond after anyone strikes the ball. Now that's irritating.
I'm reminded of the John 3:16 guy with the multicolored wig. What ever happened to him? And how did he afford tickets to all the big events? Some things are destined to remain a mystery.
As always, I'm astounded at the lengths people go to just to be on TV for a few seconds. To their credit, the people behind the cameras and in the control booth for ESPN have mostly shown us the cute kids in the stands, and who doesn't like that? They also find pretty girls to show and the inevitable row of shirtless guys with school letters painted on their chests. And don't forget the female Texas Longhorn fans who put their long hair up to look (I guess) like horns. Very funny.
What they can't avoid showing that is beyond my understanding is all the people glued to cell phones who go to any extent to be on camera so they can smile and wave at whoever they're calling. When the camera scans the crowd, look out! People practically trample each other to be on TV.
Then there are the front row folks who are apparently at the game only to hold up signs. "Hi Mom!" "I got here, Joe!" They never seem to actually watch the game.
This year I've noticed quite a few young people who have seats I'd kill for yet they have their backs turned to the field because they're talking/flirting with someone behind them. Maybe I'm just jealous.
It isn't just baseball of course. At the U.S. Open I loved the fans cheering for Phil Mickelson, but then there is always a guy with a huge voice yelling, "You're the man!" or "In the hole!" a millisecond after anyone strikes the ball. Now that's irritating.
I'm reminded of the John 3:16 guy with the multicolored wig. What ever happened to him? And how did he afford tickets to all the big events? Some things are destined to remain a mystery.
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