(08-19-2019, 11:59 PM)Full Circle Wrote: I feel a rant coming on (thanks Minimalist )
I loathe (is that too strong a word?) any competition that requires judges. If the winner isn’t determined by using a stopwatch, scale, tape measure or any other objective measuring device, or is decided by something obvious like a knockout, a hit target or a group of guys being pulled over a line while doing a tug-of-war (it actually used to be in the Olympics), or by scoring points that can be MEASURED, think basketball, ping-pong, fencing; then it simply becomes a popularity contest.
I’m not saying that gymnasts, platform divers, figure skaters etc. are not athletes, they most certainly are! But stick a judge in the middle of it and I’d just as soon not see it in the Olympics. FFS what is the real difference between someone scoring a 9.5 or a 9.6? Seriously? How the fuck does a human being get so precise? Now they want to throw in break dancing? Well why not? No different than Rhythmic or Artistic gymnastics, Trampoline (no, not kidding), Artistic swimming, Figure skating, Freestyle skiing and Snowboarding. What’s next, Artistic running? WTF is that?
An interesting point.
I always hated team sports. Probably because I sucked; I had one good season in Aussie rules football and one in cricket, at age 17..
Tried every single sport on offer; tennis, track and field and swimming . Sucked at them too.
Have never had the slightest interest in watching any any kind of sport, live or on on TV. Did a bit of ten pin bowling and was quite good quite good , playing tournament for a bit . Elitist of me I know, but I've always considered ten pin bowling a sport for dropkicks of both sexes .
Discovered Shodokan Karate at age 20. Loved it. Got a few colour belts, then got drafted. Did a bit of Judo in the army. Enjoyed it, found it self challenging. Was hard to train, so only got a couple of colour belts.
Oh, played a couple of rounds of golf in the army (we had our own link and club in Malaysia ) Had never played before. Borrowed some clubs and a mate taught me. First round ever, a birdie on the first hole. Completed the first round 3 under par. Thought "Sheeeet, this is easy" Round 2, -------146, around 60 over par. Decided golf was not for me.
"Sports are only a game" Bull-fucking-shit! Worked out very young that there is no such thing as a game in that sense of the word .
The Brits are very keen on using cricket analogies for every day life. The poem below is very famous:
Play up! Play up! And play the game!
By Sir Henry Newbolt
There's a breathless hush in the close to-night
Ten to make and the match to win
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play, and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat.
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote
"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"
The sand of the desert is sodden red-
Red with the wreck of the square that broke
The gatling's jammed and the colonel dead,
And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
The river of death has brimmed its banks,
And England's far and Honor a name,
But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks-
"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"
This is the word that year by year,
While in her place the school is set,
Every one of her sons must hear,
And none that hears it dare forget.
This they all with joyful mind
And bear through life Eke a torch in flame,
falling fling to the host behind-
"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"
Or if you will "An Ode to Jingoism"