Category: Sport

A Progressive monologue in Ted Lasso

~ jlpagano

“How much more money do any one of you actually really need?  Why would you ever consider taking something away from people that means so much to them? This isn’t a game. Football isn’t just a game. It’s one of those amazing things in life that can make you feel shit one moment and then like it’s Christmas morning the next. It has the ability to make heroes and villains out of ordinary men. People love this game.  My father used to love this game.  You all used to love this game, I’m sure of it…Just because we own these teams doesn’t mean they belong to us. And I don’t want to be part of something that could possibly destroy this beautiful game. Because I would hate for all those little kids and grown-ups out there to ever lose access to that beautiful passionate part of themselves.”

Rebecca Welton [played by Hannah Waddingham] from S3 E10 of Ted Lasso

She may be talking to the owners of the richest football clubs about the formation of a “Super League” but in reality this speech would be suitable for just about any board of any corporation that produces any product needed or enjoyed by the masses.

A very progressive monologue, one might say. JLP

Can you dispute any of these ten points as basic human rights?

~ jlpagano

1. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE FREE.
2. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HEALTHY.
3. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE BRILLIANT.
4. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SAFE.
5. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE LOVED.
6. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE COURAGEOUS.
7. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ALIVE.
8. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE TRUSTED.
9. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE EDUCATED.
10. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

What is your reaction to those ten points?

  1. Is it something like  – “Yes, they all make sense.”
  2. Or is it something like – “No, that’s bullshit.”
  3. Or is it something like – “Hmmm….tell me what the source is first?”

If it is the second one, fine.  Off you go.  You’re welcome to this site, but you probably won’t find anything you want here.

If it’s the third one, fine – here’s the source.

Now you know the source, is your answer 1 or 2?

Just a thought for the day.  Hat-tip to The Edge of Sports podcast.

Sorry we haven’t been posting much lately.  We hope to get back to it soon.  JLP

#IANWAE

NFL quarterback takes a stand for #blacklivesmatter by not standing for US anthem before game

~ jlpagano

It is pretty well known that San Francisco is one of, if not the, most liberal cities in the USA.

It is also relatively well known that the NFL’s franchise owners make up arguably the most conservative group in world sport.

So what happens when the two come together?  We may be about to find out.

Democracy Now! has the story…

Colin Kaepernick remained seated while his teammates stood for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of a match against the Green Bay Packers.

In the interest of full disclosure, the 49ers happen to be the author’s favourite football team.  Do I believe this to be an honourable action by Kaepernick?  In sentiment, definitely.  His heart is most certainly in the right place.

“I’ll continue to sit. I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change. And when there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.”

Do I think it will actually lead to anything being done about race relations among US police?  To use a football term, it’s probably something of a “Hail Mary pass”.

It will be interesting to see how owners, fans & mainstream media react to this “stance”, especially if he proceeds to carry it through the upcoming season.

Can we please stop pretending that ticket touting is the biggest scandal of #Rio2016?

~ jlpagano ~ Leave a comment

When we gather around the watercooler discussing the Olympic games today here in Ireland, according to the media we are meant to be focusing on two topics…Thomas Barr’s agonising 4th place finish in the hurdles despite setting another personal best time, or the ticket-touting scandal involving Irishman Pat Hickey, President of the IOC.

On the Barr story, fine.  Of course we should be celebrating actual sporting success.  While I haven’t really paid much mind to these games, naturally I’m happy when it’s Irish men and women doing so well.  Personally my favourite story is that of Annalise Murphy, mostly because I had the pleasure of meeting her at a rugby event in the Aviva Stadium not long after the 2012 Olympics.  I found her post-event interview a joy to watch because it was so obvious just how happy she was with her medal and that’s what it’s all about from the sporting side of things.

But when it comes to scandals, I couldn’t give a damn about ticket touting.  So a few people at the top were trying to make a quick buck here and there.  What of it.

Why the indifference?  Stories like this one from the Huffington Post entitled The Olympics Are Always A Disaster For Poor People.

Displacement of the urban poor is a hallmark of the modern Olympics, a virtual certainty rather than an accidental occurrence.

In fact, the major beneficiaries of the Olympics are the local and international developers in charge of these projects, as well as the host city’s wealthy residents. The poor lose out.

Sorry if my “bleeding heart liberal”-ness pricks your conscience too much here but I feel that this is what we should ALWAYS be talking about when it comes to the Olympic Games, or any major sporting event for that matter – soccer’s World Cup isn’t much better.