Should we BAN ALL PRO SPORTS including PGA, NFL, ABA, etc

[opihimoimoi]

Until the wars are over?????

We should have a law that sez, if we at war, little or large, there shall be no games. It just not fair to have our men getting shot at while we high fiving. I think if we have such a law, there would be far less calls for the war thing. We would convert to a very peaceful Nation.

Oh well, come, we scuba for Pearls

[oasis]

1. I'll settle for a ban on appearances by the Commander in Chimp

at sporting events.

[commander bunnypants]

2. yep

big yep

DDQM

[dawgman]

3. we are always at war "little or large" and

the games are watched by the men and their families. Don't take away entertainment. Besides what's more frivolous than movies and TV and celebrity watching (access hollywood, ET). People still need entertainment.

If entertainment was banned the revolution would begin because people would look around and realize they've been cheated.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. How About A Ban On Sex Until The War Is Over

That will stop it even quicker...

[ryharrin]

6. Exactly. Lysistrata style.

It sucks for us anti-war men though......(and women I would assume)

[Forkboy]

5. All except the NHL

I mean,let's not get carried away here.

[maveric]

7. Perhaps after the World Series

People need a temporary outlet to get away from the grim realities of the world and country that we live in. At least I do.

[RichM]

8. We should ban them PERMANENTLY. The whole thing is just a device

for diverting people's attention from what is really important.

After basic social goals have been achieved -- stopping the wars are of course one of them, but there are many others -- then it would be OK to go back to mindless vegetating in front of TV screens & rooting for Team X to beat Team Y. Until then, it's a counter-productive social force that benefits the status quo.

[Character Assassin]

10. That's double-plus bad

We should ban them PERMANENTLY. The whole thing is just a device for diverting people's attention from what is really important.

So we ban an industry to use the force of law to get the masses to think like they 'should' think and not be 'diverted'.

Yeah. Uh-huh. Righto.

[dawgman]

13. nice post

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I mean this in a non-hostile way

but that thinking does reflect a totalitarian mindset. That there is a "correct" way of thinking that folks would embrace if they weren't distracted or intentionally venal...


Kind of like Rousseau's concept of being "forced to be free" which along with his panels of censors were the basis for totalitarianism.....

It reminds me of Orwell's 1984 where the government was so intrusive and had total power that the only way Winston Smith and his girlfreind could express their freedom was by fucking.




on edit this was a response to post#8

[RichM]

27. Nope, not a bit "totalitarian." Here's why -

Here in California we often vote on "state propositions." You get to vote Yes or No to questions like, "Do you favor issuing bonds to pay for the Alameda County Park Renovation project?"

Suppose there was a federal version of one of these propositions. Suppose it said, for example:

"Do you favor banning all professional sporting events until 1) all US wars have stopped, 2) health insurance was guaranteed for all American citizens, and 3)....(other similar social goals)

All I'm saying is that I'd vote "Yes" to it. Does that show that I have a "totalitarian mindset?"

BTW, I can't help but notice a certain ironic humor here. You're the same person who is always so gung-ho in defense of US militarism, on these boards. You're not worried at all by the effects of the military-industrial complex on society -- but you're all in a tizzy about canning sporting events? My oh my.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. Au Contraire

I said I would use our military in the following situations:

in wars of liberation

to prevent genocide...

to reverse irredentist moves

and to

to defend against an attack on the U S

therefore these are some of the wars I would have supported

the Revolutiuonary War

the Civil War

WW2

the Korean War

Iraq War 1

the Kosovo and Bosnia operations

Wars I would have opposed

Grenada

Panama

Iraq War 2

I also would add that these wars should be conducted in a manner that reduces casulaties to combatants on both sides as well as civillians.

Also, to curtail a person's freedom until they come around to your way of thinking doesn't sound very small l liberal or very small d democrat...

on edit- I'm glad to disabuse you of the notion that I reflexively support the use of force..

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

31. I bet you have a pair of Spock ears

O wise one.

[opihimoimoi]

35. Anything to bring the troops home and stop this silly waste of lives.

I feel for the parents. wives. husbands, etc who have their people there. They gatta be sweating bullets every damn day.

[leesa]

9. Much as I would like to see Americans end their mind-numbing

devotion to televised and live sports I would never support a ban. These games are part of the neocon mind control....keep them happy with non-stop pointless sporting events and they won't notice the rape of their country and the world. Most American men know jack-shit about their country or the world but they will know every worthless statistic of the sports world.
My neighbor, whose son was in Iraq, had "no time" to learn anything about what was going on before the war...yet he had time to play golf for 6 hours EVERY Sunday. This is the American mentality.

[mlawson]

29. With you 100% !

I am a male, but I have never figured out WHY anyone gives a flying you-know-what about who wins a pro sports event. I visit my neighborhood brewpub virtually every night (walking distance), and my buddies are there, glued to the TVs watching tennis or NFL. They are totally into it. And I sit there wondering what possible difference it could make in their lives, as to who wins????

But politics affects their lives directly, but can they name the nine Dem hopefuls??? HA!!!!!! But at least: come Novener 2004, they will all vote Dem....

[msmcghee]

11. Good idea opihimoimoi

But it seems to me the most warlike nations throughout history are those who put ther greatest emphasis on (violent) sports. Probably the best example is the Roman Crcus Maximus where gladiators killed each other and undesirables like Christians were fed to the lions for the pure entertainment value.

The people loved it - and complained not a bit about the Roman conqest of the whole civilized world that was occuring at the time.

I think the idea of "winning is everything - even if you have to cheat" starts in school with a mindless focus on sports which becomes a metaphor for success, sexual prowess and popularity. Its so much a part of our culture that we don't even see it. Yet all those idiots running around with American flags and "Support Our Troops" stickers a few months ago were the most successful products of that system.

It's too bad too - because sports could also teach real values - like honesty, humilty, hard work, achievemant - but in our (Roman empire) culture it's just another way to justify our domination of others and the idea that "rules are for suckers".

Come - let us check out Haleiva. B-)

[opihimoimoi]

34. Haleiwa is the home of MATSUMOTOs where there is Shaved Ice

with 384756 flavors and ice cream/azuki beans combo. Long lines every day snaking out of the store for .342 miles confirm its addictiveness.

Come, we order a double

[w13rd0]

12. A neighbor had their power shut off...

...so I let them run a line to keep their fridge on and watch the game. We got the extensions strung out, and he flipped on the pre-game show, only to be confronted by the face of the Fraud. We both wretched and changed the channel as quickly as possible. God that disgusting lying puke finds a way to ruin damn near everything, doesn't he?

[Born_a_Democrat]

14. well....maybe just PGA, ABA and NBA

but NEVER NFL :):toast: :beer:

[Catholic Sensation]

15. this better be a joke

because this is by far one of the most idiotic discussions ever.

Are you some former government member from the Soviet Union or something? God damn, even the Stalinist shitheads didn't even consider something so mind numbingly stupid. Sports are a neo-con form of control? Or how about sports are simply something fun to watch and follow. Sometimes I think people get high before they start posting on these forums...

[ryharrin]

18. Well, some people do get high before they post, but that's not the issue.

The original post is just an interesting hypothetical situation commenting on the fact that americans don't have to give anything up when we start a war. If we had to give up our beloved sports (IMHO, take all the pro sports you want, just leave my college FB and basketball), we would be so much more likely to take war more seriously. Maybe not a terribly practical idea, but interesting nonetheless.

[Michael Daniels]

23. I agree....

So I guess sports served served some harmless function during the administration of FDR, Kennedy, LBJ, Carter, and Clinton but somehow got transmorgrified into a sinister plan of evil mind control under Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan and both Bush's.

The far fringe of both parties can come up with some live ones at times.

[opihimoimoi]

36. Yes there is some good shit to be found

But this is a facetious thread. It jus supposed to make us think, IF.......

People laughed when JFK said we going to the moon.

People laughed when Bush W was mentioned for prime time Prez.

People laugh when it is said Bush W will be defeated big time in 04.

Bush and gang are clearly in over their head. All the plans and motives they harbored are now all cancelled by major mistakes/ etc.

Come, we cool off in Maunawili Falls pond.

[KamaAina]

16. Would you settle for outrigger canoe paddling as our official sport?

I mean, it's already *our* semi-official sport, but how about bringing it to the Continent, too? I actually used to go to the one race each year they have in NYC, in the Hudson River.

I mean, think about it: it's non-violent, emphasizes teamwork, doesn't waste energy (like, say, NASCAR), and is the product of an ancient, indigenous Polynesian civilization. What could be better?

Oh, and you get to drink lots of Steinlager (New Zealand) or Hinano (Tahiti) beer afterwards...

[msmcghee]

21. I raced outriggers extensively in the sixties

In southern Cal we had several clubs up and down the coast. Regattas every other week throughout the summer. Yes, that was (is) a great sport. Because it isn't big enough to attract major sponsor dollars - and get sucked into the big sports world, with endorsement contracts and millions riding on the results for those who put up the money to finance it all.

I assume (hope) those So Cal regattas are still happening as we speak.

[quinnox]

17. Doesn't go far enough

All entertainment should be banned while a war is on.

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

30. Does spanking your monkey count?

Cause it can be mighty entertaining.

[Cocoa]

19. I'd be with you any other year

but this is the year the Cubs and Sox are destined to meet in the World Series.

[Blitz]

24. Red or White?

eom

[Cocoa]

25. I meant white, but red would be great too

and also plausible this year.

[theboss]

20. First of all . . .

what is the ABA? I'm clearly missing something.

Second of all, they can have my parlay slips when they pry them from my cold dead hand.

Third of all, do I really want to play in a hold-em tournament with a $100 buy-in when I have played hold-em exactly once in my life? Is it insanity to even think this?

Sorry for going slightly off-topic, but the question is distracting me.

[dawgman]

22. yes you do want to play hold 'em. 100 bucks is cheap.

[Blitz]

26. I played hold'em for the first time recently

It's an interesting game and a learning experience (that cost me more than $100). You'll almost certainly lose your money, but that's the price if education. If I were you, I'd get some practice in a non-tournament (cash table) setting first. Of course, practice can get mighty expensive too.

One day I'd love to play in the World Championship of Poker. I just don't think that the $10,000 buy-in would be a very wise investment right now.

[JVS]

32. No

The tone of some Democrats at this board is getting very alarming.

[Fla_Democrat]

33. Only if my favorite team is

in danger of having a losing season.

[uptohere]

37. only if we srap helmet cams on the units catching the most heat

and have Madden in the trailer with telestrator getting play by play and color. We could even have Bud amd Miller sponsor different units and keep score of haw many "bogeys" get tagged by each. Vegas can offer odds and we can bet on it too !

Maybe we'd better stick to baseball and football... plenty violent enough.