How many times have you heard some pro football player compare a game to battle on a warfield and thought, "my Lord, these guys really think they're that important" or something similar. I know it's not just me. And, sure enough, ESPN.com is usually one of the first media entities to highlight such ridiculous statements by players because we all know that no NFL game will ever be comparable to what's happening in Afghanistan right now.
Well, the same should be true of comparing sports news to the state of the economy today. Especially when unemployment is damn near 10 percent with no major improvement in sight, the national debt ceiling is being raised because the country is something like $17 trillion in debt and the threat of depression/downturn/inflation/recession/[humdrum economic term here] is constant.
ESPN should be ashamed of themselves. We're talking about Roger Federer losing, not General Motors going bankrupt. Jeeez.
I agree and I don't. I agree that it is just a joke. I don't agree that it doesn't add to the social anxiety surrounding this situation we're all stuck in together, as you pointed out. We have the Wall Street Journal, Economist, Financial Times, President, Fed Chairman, etc. telling us how bleak it is...do we really need the number one website in the world for 18-49 males (many of whom are the victims of unemployment) that is supposed to be 100% focused on sports coverage to add to the dialogue about the economy? It's there an NFL or NBA lockout to cover?
Posted by: Joah | Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 11:43 AM
No Soy Chai Latte this morning Mr. Spearman? I think this is being a bit sensitive. A player or team comparing themselves to a Solider or Armed Forces is definitely worth condemning. They aren't out there risking their lives for our country.
This, however, just seems like witty social commentary. A play on a nickname, and trying to make something light & humorous out of a situation we're all stuck in together.
If you want anyone to be ashamed then point the finger at the real culprits, Wall Street. For example, JPM agreed this week to pay $154m in a fraud suit, they misled investors into buying securities, the same securities a hedge fund had helped JPM select for the portfolio and at the same time was betting (against) that more than 50% of the assets would lose money. Tsk Tsk.
It's a crappy situation, a joke here or there helps keep us sane.
Posted by: niraj | Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 11:11 AM