the politics of sport
In 1980, the US and some of her nation-friends boycotted the Moscow Olympics over the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1984, the USSR and other communist 'satellite' states/nations boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics in retaliation.
Some people thought sports and politics shouldn't mix. There were also sporting boycotts of South Africa by the Commonwealth and other countries over their policy on apartheid.
My, haven't things changed. Now sport is used as a vehicle for political means.
Here is an interesting article by Dave Zirin in The Nation - What's My Name, Fool?
I found this paragraph interesting:
In addition to becoming a profitable form of mass entertainment, pro sports have become an effective means for the political and financial elite to package their values and ideas. This is why sports in this country reflect a distinctly US project, rooted in aspirations for greatness as well as conquest and oppression. The US is unique in playing the national anthem before every game (and, since 9/11, playing "God Bless America" during baseball's seventh inning stretch--even for all-American teams like the Toronto Blue Jays). We are unique in employing scantily clad women to tell us when to "cheer." We are unique in calling the winners of our domestic leagues "world champions."
Isn't it strange that the domestic baseball league in the US is a 'world series' and the winners are 'world champions' when no other country is invited to play?
*I will mention the revised Declaration of Feline Rights sometime over the weekend.
** Please visit Cooper and Camilla who are good at finding out about things and sharing it with us.
........ooooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooo........
It was a cold day today, and it snowed. It rarely snows in Canberra, so it was a bit of a spectacle. My human had fresh chickens for me when he got home, and they were a nicer size (smaller) so it didn't need to be jointed.
The humans (un-owned by cats), Devi, Mary, Declan and Nell came over tonight, and then Jake's humans, Amanda, Craig and Dane also came over - and they all ate chicken, mushroom (fresh and porcini) and asparagus risotto for dinner.
I enjoyed laying on Declan and Nell's laps.
keisercat@wildmail.com
In 1984, the USSR and other communist 'satellite' states/nations boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics in retaliation.
Some people thought sports and politics shouldn't mix. There were also sporting boycotts of South Africa by the Commonwealth and other countries over their policy on apartheid.
My, haven't things changed. Now sport is used as a vehicle for political means.
Here is an interesting article by Dave Zirin in The Nation - What's My Name, Fool?
I found this paragraph interesting:
In addition to becoming a profitable form of mass entertainment, pro sports have become an effective means for the political and financial elite to package their values and ideas. This is why sports in this country reflect a distinctly US project, rooted in aspirations for greatness as well as conquest and oppression. The US is unique in playing the national anthem before every game (and, since 9/11, playing "God Bless America" during baseball's seventh inning stretch--even for all-American teams like the Toronto Blue Jays). We are unique in employing scantily clad women to tell us when to "cheer." We are unique in calling the winners of our domestic leagues "world champions."
Isn't it strange that the domestic baseball league in the US is a 'world series' and the winners are 'world champions' when no other country is invited to play?
*I will mention the revised Declaration of Feline Rights sometime over the weekend.
** Please visit Cooper and Camilla who are good at finding out about things and sharing it with us.
........ooooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooo........
It was a cold day today, and it snowed. It rarely snows in Canberra, so it was a bit of a spectacle. My human had fresh chickens for me when he got home, and they were a nicer size (smaller) so it didn't need to be jointed.
The humans (un-owned by cats), Devi, Mary, Declan and Nell came over tonight, and then Jake's humans, Amanda, Craig and Dane also came over - and they all ate chicken, mushroom (fresh and porcini) and asparagus risotto for dinner.
I enjoyed laying on Declan and Nell's laps.
keisercat@wildmail.com
posted by Keiser at 22:30
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