Barry Bonds, we are reliably informed, is a large and well-known person who hits balls around a field with a baseball bat; as it happens, the larger he grows, and the harder he hits them, the better he is known.
Opinion among the cognoscenti is divided right down the middle about whether or not his record of home-runs deserves any respect, being that Mr. Bonds may have juiced himself up on steroids to get this far. In fact, scratch that “may”. Nobody disputes that he did; the dispute is only about whether or not the record counts. Counts in their hearts, that is: because it sure as hell does count for the official record.
And that is what the entire debate is all about. Everyone is asking himself (the askers are almost all male; most females apparently do not have the time for America ’s Pastime) whether or not the record counts for him, personally.
People often say they follow sports religiously, or are fanatics about their team. Here is another religious metaphor for that sporting experience: the record may be official, but does it *really* exist for you? It’s all a matter of personal faith.
Both sides have pretty good arguments, but what does it matter? We’re all going to hell anyway.
Opinion among the cognoscenti is divided right down the middle about whether or not his record of home-runs deserves any respect, being that Mr. Bonds may have juiced himself up on steroids to get this far. In fact, scratch that “may”. Nobody disputes that he did; the dispute is only about whether or not the record counts. Counts in their hearts, that is: because it sure as hell does count for the official record.
And that is what the entire debate is all about. Everyone is asking himself (the askers are almost all male; most females apparently do not have the time for America ’s Pastime) whether or not the record counts for him, personally.
People often say they follow sports religiously, or are fanatics about their team. Here is another religious metaphor for that sporting experience: the record may be official, but does it *really* exist for you? It’s all a matter of personal faith.
Both sides have pretty good arguments, but what does it matter? We’re all going to hell anyway.
4 comments:
Ah, yes, the ol' "Sports Team as Religion" motif. A good one to pull out when small-eyed guys who play too many games start blabbing about sports. Touché, old boy.
Touché.
Maybe I should've admitted that I have faith In Sachin Tendulkar's ability to pull the final triple century out of his hat, too.
R
I'm glad to see the crisis of existence has now reared its head in regards to sports. Maybe you could start a show on ESPN: "The Buddha and the Baseball."
Sam's such a patronizing prick.
Post a Comment