Thursday, October 09, 2003
Off My Chest
Well, Jordan says he will not play for Phil if he gets the call. But that is easy to say, since Phil hasn't called. I wan tot talk more about this, I really do, but something else has come up. It seems, as two of my professors have illustrated, there is a prevailing thought in academia that one cannot be both intelligent and sport savvy. Of course, as most my readers would attest, I am fairly sport savvy. Using that argument, then, I am not intelligent. This, of course, upsets my personal beliefs that I am, indeed both. And, I might add, I am not willing to dismiss one in lieu of the other.
You see, most people look at the issue like this:
Sports fanatic<------------------------------------------------------>great thinker
And they place themselves somewhere on that line. Of course, the relationship is not linear at all. In fact, I am finding most literary critiques will run a similar course. For example, disponents of pop culture will see a relationship like this:
Popularity<-------------------------------------------------->Greatness.
Now, of the first, I could cite numerous examples, dating back to Batiste, of people who were both great thinkers and sports fanatics. The Greeks, it seemed, found a place in society for the man who enjoyed the ancient texts as well as the Games. In fact, some of today's writers, of which at least one is a Harvard graduate, have chosen to extol the merits of sports. I will, with more vigilant study, cite specific examples and post them when they are made apparent to me. This, of course, just being a preliminary rant.
Of the second, I like to cite Shakespeare, and the globe theatre. Shakespeare was both widely popular (and untouchably so by Marxist critique) and, it is hardly arguable, among the greatest of writers in any period. However, there has, at least in America ( I will not speak for countries I know little about) come to fruition a popular thought that anything which is touted as "popular" must sacrifice greatness in the process. I can, of course, think of many examples which prove this line of thinking true, from rap music to sit-coms, from melodramatic soap operas to Danielle Steele. But, fortunately for me, I must only find one example of something that is both popular and great, or at least an example in which that relationship is less linear. To wit, it seems I have but to open my ears. I am now listening to Dave Matthew's new CD, and it sees to me this is a prime example. Here is a band which has endured the test of time, if such a thing still exists in modern culture (a separate, but in this case, pertinent, case study in and of itself), and which has not sacrificed quality to do so. There are no references to sex or nudity in the efforts to sell CD's, nor profanity, nor racy music-videos. In fact, as far as arrangement goes (professedly, I know little about this, as well) it seems they are on a track which has not been heard in some time. The band employs a violin, as well as a horn section, and a singer who can accurately bend notes. Many of their contemporaries would not even know those things could be used in a modern context. And yet, Dave Matthew's enjoys immense success. One could be dismissive of this idea as a fluke, and that exception does not disprove the rule. But, it stands to reason, logically, that if one example can be found so readily, others exist (this does not follow necessarily, but is inductive, and quite strong, as well).
I don't know how this debate will end. And in fact, it may never. I also do not know its origin, whether it be a social cop-out or a legitimate matter of dedication. I do, however, feel there is room for the possibility of a coexistence between these thoughts, and the avenues should be explored. As I think on them more, and listen to my contemporaries, I will try and explore and answer this tough question.
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Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Jordan's back, again(again)
Hot off the rumor wire..Michael Jordan might play basketball again: FOR THE LAKERS.
This is the scenario: With Kobe pending a rape trial, and coming off a horrible knee surgery, he may not be able to play for a good portion of the season. Phil Jackson has been quoted as saying he would call Jordan if Kobe could not play. Since Jordan fits Kobe's roelr perfectly (in fact, he invented it) and knows the triangle offense so well, and since he would have a better supporting cast (Shaq, Payton, Malone-of which he played with on the dream team) he would be a productive member of the team. Also, it would be the first time an NBA team had so many legitimate all-stars, and future hall of famers since the Celtic dynasty.
When I have more time( and have thought it through more) I will comment on what this means to myself and other Jordan fans around the league, as well as the impact it has on Basketball and Jordan's now changing legacy.
Stay tuned
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Friday, October 03, 2003
Just not sure anymore
Howdy, all you blog fans (and by that I mean Jeremy, Josh, Carly and anyone who accidentally finds the site while looking for NBA.com). I have so much to report, I don't even know where to start.
Well, here goes, anyway. Carly and I moved out of the cabin and into a house with Josh and Val. Not a bed set-up, and the rent is about the same. We get a basement, too. That means I get to punch things, horray for me. And I have a good space to work out, whenever my bench arrives. Speaking of arriving, we got our furniture. It is amazing, and comfortable, and looks all grown up. Since then, people have been coming in and commenting on how nice our house looks. It certainly is a step up from the antiquated furniture that used to live in the house. Remarkably, that furniture has disappeared. If anyone has leads as to the whereabouts of said furniture, please, keep it to yourself.
The vikings are 4-0. That's right folks, they beat the packers, the lions, the bears, and the 49ers. Add the Falcons to that this weekend, and that's a quick 5-0. My prediction:
Vikings 38-Falcons 10
Sounds harsh, so let me break it down...
Moss will get two TDs
Burleson will get one
Kleinsasser will get one
and Moe moe will see one as well.
They will stop a drive at short red zone yardage, and we will boot one in.
For the Falcons:
T.J. Duckett will see a touch, and they will get a Field goal. I might want to add another field goal, but I won't.
Let's see how close I come. Maybe this will finally get me writing for NFL.com
At any rate, I can't say enough for the viking's linemen, on both sides of the ball. Our O line is giving either QB (frerotte or daunte) enough time to make good choices, and clearing the way for our running back by committee. I wonder how everything will look when Bennett makes a return. I would like to see a couple more weeks of committee, just to get things straightened out. We will see. On D, I think we have 7 ints. That's just sick. Good, fast pass rush, and a veteran leader, and we are one of the top ten defences in the league (we were the bottom ten last year). All that spells deep play-offs. Though it is still along run to the superbowl, I am starting to think it might be this year. Again, we will see. Lots of game time left to hash out.
And now, the moment you have all been waiting for...
WE RESIGNED KG. That's right, wolfpack, we have the big ticket for five more years. I hate to say it, but the lakers seem to be on the right track this year, saying they are going to take everything through the now healthy shaq. But, if someone else draws them in the first round, our losing streak is over. Plain and simple. If someone else knocks them out, then we are the champions. That's a lot to say, but I really believe it. We have an improved defense, and an amazing offense. Franchise record wins is a certainty this year.
School, which started out strong, is already fading fast for me. The classes seem to be too much routine and not enough challenge, so I have stopped going to a few of them. Of course, I can't keep that up, but a brief respite is all I think I need. I pop in to say hi, and make sure the Prof still knows I exist, then I take a day or two off. Nothing big, but it keeps me happy. I have yet to miss practicum. That, in and of itself, is a testiment to the dedication I have to proving Cobb wrong.
That's it for now, I think. I have a ton more to say, but I want to say it later, so it looks like I am writing more. I think I am going to figure out a way to get more people here, or else start a new blog which is dedicated to sports. Maybe both. We will see. We will see.
Oh, and Josh...
ANIMALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
SLAUGHTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
HUMANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
SLAUGHTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
There, that's my qoute of the week.
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