For the past few days, I've thought about sports only a couple of times. I've been busy promoting my book WORDS OF A FEATHER. Occasionally, when nothing is on my favorite newstalk radio program, I recall that in the old days I'd go to sportstalk radio. But I've resisted the temptation.
Then, this morning when I picked up our local paper-- the San Francisco Chronicle--I noticed a headline about Don Nelson, coach of the Golden State Warriors basketball team. Immediately, I tossed the paper aside, angry that the editor thought basketball was important enough to put on page 1, above the fold. I speculated that the Warriors, who were struggling for a playoff space when I turned away from sports, maybe earned a playoff space. I asked myself if I needed to know. I decided in the negative.
But later, when my wife was reading the paper, she looked up and commented, "The warriors are in the playoffs." She doesn't care about sports and, as far as I know, has never attended a basketball game at any level. But she was startled to see the report given so much prominence and she thought I wanted to know.
Have I said before: In this culture, it is almost impossible to avoid information about spectactor sports. This is true even in the tightly controlled world of one's own home.
Showing posts with label newstalk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label newstalk. Show all posts
Friday, April 20, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Day 2: No sports
Driving to work, I almost hit the button for my favorite Sportstalk radio show, "Rhome Is Burning." But I caught myself and instead listened to a recorded book, a biography of Jane Austin.
After dinner, I tuned in a newstalk radio program. The host Gene Burns was badmouthing the British sailors who acted unheroically--as Gene viewed it--in turning their boat over to the Iranians. Gene said that the sailors should have given up their lives to save the boat, and he referenced several heroes such as John McCain and Audie Murphy. I emailed Gene to say that England wasn't at war with Iran, hence the sailor should be judged differently. Gene read my email on the air. But he wasn't persuaded.
Later, I realized that I tend to use newstalk as a surrogate for sports, and maybe I'll need to give it up along with traditional spectator sports. But I suppose a difference is that the newstalk format allows authentic involvement. After all, we are a government of the people, and one of the things the people should do is debate issues that affect the country. Very different from a fan debating whether or not a certain pitcher should be dropped from the starting rotation. Managers don't care at all about the fans' opinions.
After dinner, I tuned in a newstalk radio program. The host Gene Burns was badmouthing the British sailors who acted unheroically--as Gene viewed it--in turning their boat over to the Iranians. Gene said that the sailors should have given up their lives to save the boat, and he referenced several heroes such as John McCain and Audie Murphy. I emailed Gene to say that England wasn't at war with Iran, hence the sailor should be judged differently. Gene read my email on the air. But he wasn't persuaded.
Later, I realized that I tend to use newstalk as a surrogate for sports, and maybe I'll need to give it up along with traditional spectator sports. But I suppose a difference is that the newstalk format allows authentic involvement. After all, we are a government of the people, and one of the things the people should do is debate issues that affect the country. Very different from a fan debating whether or not a certain pitcher should be dropped from the starting rotation. Managers don't care at all about the fans' opinions.
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