Elizabeth Reinking
Staff Writer
It’s not an overstatement to say Americans are, on the whole, obsessed with watching sports. In the fall, much of the country lives and dies by the outcome of weekly football games, and professional athletes are often treated better than royalty. In the long run, though, does it really matter who wins the game? Do we need to get this worked up over whether or not a guy kicked a ball into a net, ran over a line, or hit a ball with a stick? Honestly, isn’t it all a little silly?
It depends on how you look at it. Were we to judge strictly by the physical actions taking place – a ball in a net, a dive over a line – then yes, our obsession would be slightly misplaced and, dare I say it, ridiculous. But the nation’s passion for sports has less to do with the actual game than with our identities as Americans.
For starters, just look back at the foundations of our country’s success. Let’s all say the magic word together — capitalism. What is American entrepreneurism based on if not competition? Americans love to win. We just love it. It’s so much a part of our history as a nation that it has become an integral part of our collective self. Whether closing a business deal or making the shot, we all want that little rush that comes from being slightly better than someone else.
Our competitive spirit, however, goes further back than the growth of the free market. What is a football game if not a mock-war? There must be a reason why we “kill” the players and “destroy” the teams on the opposing side. In a society where war is seen (one would hope) as a serious undertaking, to play at it seems morally reprehensible. But take away the death, add a round object and presto! All the good feelings of winning with none of the destruction.
Unfortunately, the opportunity to get that rush doesn’t often come about naturally in modern life. In a student’s daily routine of studying, work and class, there are precious few avenues for us to “defeat” our adversaries. Instead, we create them through sports. There’s nothing wrong with this. On the other hand, how many of us have the time and inclination to actually compete? You see, as well as being intensely competitive, Americans are also devoted to laziness. Instead of playing, we live vicariously through our chosen vessels, professional athletes, thereby gaining all of the benefits of athletic competition at a fraction of the effort. It’s American efficiency at its finest.
Is there a need, though, to idolize these athletes as much as we do? The privileges granted to professional sports players have long since crossed the line between deserved and outrageous. But as outrageous as Kobe’s salary may be, it reflects nothing less than his value to American society.
As Americans, we constantly seek to improve. Rarely are things permitted to remain as they are. We invariably choose what we deem to be bigger, better, stronger, or faster. This is what athletes are – they are us, version 2.0. While we ordinary mortals toil away at ground level, the events in our lives barely register as more than a blip on the national radar screen. Contrastingly, these exceptional men and women consistently perform feats of athleticism of which the vast majority of us can only dream. In short, they are our real-life superheroes.
Sure, not all of America’s heroes are rewarded to such an extent. Firefighters and teachers do some pretty cool things I hear, but rarely do Nike and Sprite come knocking on their doors looking to give out endorsement deals. But this assumes that the most valued members are also the most valuable. Not true — just look at Britney Spears.
To those people who proclaimed me crazy for my six-hours-a-day Olympics-watching habit this summer and declared their own pursuits to be intellectually superior: you may well be right. But my love for competition, winning, supernatural physical ability and above all, watching sports, is part of what defines my uniquely American identity and something we should all admit to gladly and without embarrassment. Because whether your preference lies with soccer, track and field, or golf, the bottom line is that watching sports makes our lives all a little bit better. So go ahead – turn on the game.
09-30-2004