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September 30, 2016
Why blogging is likely going to lighter in the next few days (and an inquiry for commentors)
My all-time favorite bi-annual sporting event has gotten started this morning, and I hope and expect to be spending much of next few days watching the action and/or refreshing this official scoring webpage. Here is an image that will reveal my strong rooting interests:
Though it would be a real stretch to try to assert that there is some kind sentencing significance to this sporting event, I do think this post provides a useful opportunity to inquire of commentors concerning an assertion made deep into the comments of this post from earlier this month. Specifically, an assertion was made that this blog's "comment crew ... is 95% people who hate Amerikkka."
I expect that people who in fact "hate Amerikkka" would be be rooting hard against the USA and may be quite eager to report (perhaps in the comments to this post) that they are hoping the USA team loses this event and other contests that pit Americans wearing our flag against contestants representing other nations. So, if you consider yourself a member of this blog's "comment crew," I am genuinely interested to hear which team you may be pulling for in this competition.
September 30, 2016 at 09:42 AM | Permalink
Comments
Prof. Berman, Did you see the clip of the speactator sinking the putt during the practice round? Fantastic. I am rooting for Team USA, although mostly I'm roooting for good golf. And I do not believe that those who comment here hate America. Even when we vehemently disagree, I hope and believe we are struggling toward that "more perfect union." I think that as a people, we have to stop assuming that those with whom we disagree are evil or stupid or ill-intentioned, and instead seek to understand each other's point of view so we can build our nation up instead of tearing it down.
Posted by: defendergirl | Sep 30, 2016 10:06:35 AM
I did see that, defender girl, and the very best part was how excited and gracious and fun the Euro team folks were about the whole experience. To have healthy fun and to show respect for opponents, not only in sports but also in politics/policy and in life, is central to how I want to experience/engage with sports and politics/policy. Glad you agree and also that we see ourselves as all on the same team in these settings.
Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 30, 2016 10:16:33 AM
That thread went on pretty long after I moved on from it. The reference to the "Redskins" brings to mind a case the Supreme Court granted for argument involving offensive marks.
Anyway, I don't "hate Amerikkka" but the sorts who say things like that perhaps won't believe me. My apologies, but my interests go to baseball and football. In that respect, I'd be okay if the Blue Jays go far, but main rooting interest are U.S. teams.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 30, 2016 10:32:21 AM
Because I refuse to be willfully blind (unlike some commenters on other blogs) to the faults and deficiencies in this country (and the LAW - bow your heads please,) does not mean that I hate this country. I strongly disagree with those commenters who say that the most important job for our government is to keep us safe, that without security you cannot have freedom. No, by far the most important job of our government is to secure our liberties. A tyranny can keep you just as safe, if not safer if you are on the "right side".
Posted by: albeed | Sep 30, 2016 6:14:06 PM
I too enjoy the Ryder Cup. Argh, only up 5-3 after this morning. Look Out, here come the Europeans.
Watching bad putting is almost as bad as listening to a politician's speech.
Posted by: albeed | Sep 30, 2016 7:00:05 PM
Golf is for losers. It is the only sport in the world more boring to watch than baseball.
Posted by: ohwilleke | Oct 1, 2016 1:21:04 PM
"I think that as a people, we have to stop assuming that those with whom we disagree are evil or stupid or ill-intentioned, and instead seek to understand each other's point of view so we can build our nation up instead of tearing it down."
Well, pray tell, defender girl should I think of Barack Obama who freed the murderer of five American servicemen, Musa Ali Daduq. Hatred--yep.
Posted by: federalist | Oct 1, 2016 1:30:25 PM
One opinion argues the game got much more jingoistic in recent years:
"The Ryder Cup started in 1927 as a friendly biennial team match between professional golfers from the United States and Great Britain (later Great Britain & Ireland). No money is on the line. The US almost always won, but a good time was had by all. In 1979, the opposing team was expanded to include all European golfers and it became VERY competitive--with Europe having won the cup 11 out of the last 18 matches. Now the whole thing has become an insane, jingoistic spectacle with fans here constantly shouting "USA! USA!" and some even making noise in the backswings of European players to rattle them--something that almost never happens in a golf tournament. US fans are also cheering missed putts by the Europeans, another totally classless act. It's like a Trump rally. It's a small thing, but it is another indication of how out of hand things have gotten."
If true, that's unfortunate and in bad taste. This isn't soccer.
Posted by: Joe | Oct 1, 2016 6:44:35 PM
"Well, pray tell, defender girl should I think of Barack Obama who freed the murderer of five American servicemen, Musa Ali Daduq. Hatred--yep.
The anti-Christ of Anecdotes! You cannot win arguments when all anyone puts forward are anecdotes out of meaningful context.
So you support murder - duh?
Faux Conservatives.
Posted by: albeed | Oct 2, 2016 7:09:47 AM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/golf/2016/10/03/danny-willet-says-his-brother-was-correct-in-calling-american-ry
Now why am I not surprised that this is Doug's favorite event...
Posted by: Daniel | Oct 3, 2016 3:14:24 PM
Eager to understand your meaning, daniel. I love the sporting event --- seeing multi-millionaires who are among the very best at their jobs compete only for pride and the joy of competing --- but I very much dislike any and all disrespectful/boorish boorish fans, whether they are rooting for the same side I root for or against it.
I think the golf was amazing all weekend, though maybe your own interest in denying objective facts would lead you to conclude that the results of this competition reflect some kind of structural bais. (Indeed, I wonder, daniel, if you might be eager to question whether vast majority of the golfers who have played in the Ryder Cup are males between the ages of 19 and 40.)
Posted by: Doug B. | Oct 3, 2016 7:12:17 PM
@Doug
I was thinking that watching the Ryder Cup must remind you of this blog. There you are... among the best of the best... writing only for pride and the joy of influence...and then in the comment section a baying mob of American imbeciles...
Golf...blogging...the metaphors are everywhere...there is no escape!
Posted by: Daniel | Oct 3, 2016 9:43:20 PM
Ah, Daniel, you kill me with kindness. Thanks for this amusing comment and compliment. It makes me think I ought to shout "come on" and do a fist-pump every time I hit "publish" on a really good post. Also, for the record, I surmise that 99.9% of the fans (along with 99.9% of the commentors here) are lovely, respectful and thoughtful Americans (and non-Americans), but the other .1% can and will skew perceptions of the whole bunch.
Posted by: Doug B. | Oct 4, 2016 7:58:03 AM
