Sports Metaphor

Nate Longshore prepares to pass -- Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

by blogSpotter
Have always been sort of amused by how grown men still daydream; they often fantasize about physical endowments and superhuman qualities (e.g. Superman, Iron Man). Tony Stark as Iron Man is particularly intriguing -- he’s an ordinary man who acquires super powers when he dons an iron suit. Grown men have to admit (however reluctantly, deep down in their souls) that there is no Batman, Superman or Iron Man. The fantasy is replaced by a worship of sports heroes -- virile, agile, he-men who exemplify bravery, certitude and quick thinking.

I would venture to say that America’s top sports are football, basketball and baseball. Whenever there is a playoff game, America virtually comes to halt as fans glue themselves to a TV somewhere, anywhere to get the latest score. Draft picks, coaching choices and plays are endlessly discussed in bars and barber chairs across the nation. People like me, who don’t follow sports, may find themselves on the outside looking in.

What strikes me about the “everyman” hero worship is that in point of fact sports heroes are very atypical men. The average height and weight of an NFL linebacker is 6’3” and 290 pounds. A full back is comparatively svelte at an average 6’2” and 240 pounds. The average NBA basketball player is 6’7” in height -- hardly a general height standard. Baseball players don’t reach such extremes although competitive pressure has compelled many of them to artificially strengthen their arms with steroids. What exactly are we celebrating here? These physical extremes are no sign of character -- they are primarily inherited traits that are exploited as sports-worthy by coaches and parents.

Is athletic skill acquired or is it innate? I maintain that a pro athlete “acquires” his skill about the same way that a dolphin learns to swim or a horse learns to run. I think it’s a great likelihood that all the eye-hand coordination and flexibility involved is very innate -- not something that’s given by any coach, practice session or parent (in any way other than parental contribution of DNA). Winning streaks may indicate that a team is “on fire” or indicate nothing at all -- as when A beats B, B beats C and C beats A. Records are tenuous and it’s highly questionable what the ultimate significance is for this heavyweight championship or that football trophy while it’s held, much less after it’s toppled.

Finally, athletic prowess isn’t any predictor of character or moral strength -- think just briefly about the many heroes brought down by gambling, drugs, steroids, marital infidelity and even murder charges. I personally don’t need a sports hero of any sort, least of all a felon. I admire strength of character and bravery but I think it can show up in a young woman who writes incendiary poetry or an 85 year old man who stands his legal ground against City Hall. Strength that matters is in the spinal chord and not the forearm; an ox or a gorilla can show us tendon muscle anytime.

I shouldn't discount bravery or all physicality -- we'd be in a bad way without the brave soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan. There are genuine heroes and even sometimes the "Iron Man" who has great character as well as iron abs. Guess I'm wishing that sports adulation was less cult-like, but that's asking an awful lot. I'll even watch a game here and there myself -- I can't escape from the sports mania that surrounds me. But I doubt that I'll ever be profiled on 60 Minutes as the "ultimate Cowboy Fan" -- life is too short for that.

© 2010 blogSpotter