SPORT... a political beast or simply fun and games???

unsung

I find it strange that not only do I need to work to pay my bills and fund my retirement but that there people such as yourself that want to force me to do the same for others.

Kat

It's time to get off the personal bickering and take every thread back to its topic. Thanks.

HughFreakingDillon

unsung said:

I find it strange that not only do I need to work to pay my bills and fund my retirement but that there people such as yourself that want to force me to do the same for others.

I just want to contribute to society, not my own wealth. that's just me.

HughFreakingDillon

Kat said:

It's time to get off the personal bickering and take every thread back to its topic. Thanks.

oh, come on Kat! it's Friday!

unsung

HughFreakingDillon said:

unsung said:

I find it strange that not only do I need to work to pay my bills and fund my retirement but that there people such as yourself that want to force me to do the same for others.

I just want to contribute to society, not my own wealth. that's just me.

I help society as I do make donations. I could make more if I weren't forced to under threat of imprisonment for things I do not support.

But yes, back on topic. I hope your team makes many points to win the contest it is participating in.

Have a good Friday.

Annafalk

I'm not very sure what this thread is about but i'm thinking that some people really really loves sports and almost live for it. Must it be mixed with politics?

HesCalledDyer

I don't think sports, at their core, are politically charged but they can be (and are) often used as a device for political awareness/corruption. Whether it be by athletes themselves, governing bodies, or actual governments. That's not why I tune in, however. I watch only for the sport. My three favorite sports possibly have the most nationally diverse pools of athletes (baseball, hockey, tennis) but I have never cheered or jeered a team or athlete based on nationality or the politics of their home country. It's the farthest thought from my mind. It's only a game; be competitive but have some fun.

HughFreakingDillon

unsung said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

unsung said:

I find it strange that not only do I need to work to pay my bills and fund my retirement but that there people such as yourself that want to force me to do the same for others.

I just want to contribute to society, not my own wealth. that's just me.

I help society as I do make donations. I could make more if I weren't forced to under threat of imprisonment for things I do not support.

But yes, back on topic. I hope your team makes many points to win the contest it is participating in.

Have a good Friday.

not really a sports guy. except MMA.

you too unsung!

jeffbr

HesCalledDyer said:

I don't think sports, at their core, are politically charged but they can be (and are) often used as a device for political awareness/corruption. Whether it be by athletes themselves, governing bodies, or actual governments. That's not why I tune in, however. I watch only for the sport. My three favorite sports possibly have the most nationally diverse pools of athletes (baseball, hockey, tennis) but I have never cheered or jeered a team or athlete based on nationality or the politics of their home country. It's the farthest thought from my mind. It's only a game; be competitive but have some fun.

Good post. I enjoy many forms of entertainment for their, wait for it... entertainment value. Music, film, TV, sports, art in general aren't by their nature political. All can become political. If we're only focusing on national teams and Olympic sports, then politics obviously play a big role. But sports in general? Nope.

PJ_Soul

I think politics are fair game no matter what the platform. Someone wants to bring politics into sports, great. Go for it. That's what freedom of speech is about, right? As long as the people speaking are allowed to do so under their contract, I really don't give a shit. Sports can be fun and games and still be used by whoever as a political platform. The two aren't mutually exclusive IMO. Giant gatherings of people or huge TV audiences make sports a perfect political platform, so more power to those who take advantage of that. And I don't give a shit about people who don't like it, frankly. I feel the same when it comes to musicians who use the stage to make political statements. I couldn't care less about the fans who don't want to hear it. Tough shit.

catefrances

RoleModelsinBlood31 said:

catefrances said:

RoleModelsinBlood31 said:

catefrances said:

RoleModelsinBlood31 said:

It's only political if you choose or want it to be so. Sport is recreation to me anyway. I've played my whole life and continue to play and coach now in my 30's, and never thought it even could be political until I saw this thread. OP you say you land on one side of the debate, but is this even a debate people have?


No kid wants to play sports so they can get into politics, no one I've played with or coached anyway.

who said anyting about kids playing sport to get into politics?


and yes people have this debate.

and yes i agree sport IS recreation to just about everyone who does it. however that doesnt mean their are no political underpinnnings to sport.


horse racing isnt called the sport of kings for no reason.

I get you, fair enough, but I still think at its heart it's not political, it's recreational. Anything can be considered political at the international level, but I just don't see it that way until people politicize it. If you want to politicize chess, of course you can! but it's a game as well. I was doing yoga for a few hours today and was thinking about this a lot and I still didn't feel like I was doing anything political.

im not speaking internationally here. im speaking of when sports were at their developmental level. though these days sport is used as a pawn when one country chucks a tantrum over something or other... my favourite was when russia boycotted the LA olympics saying at the tie it wasnt because the US had boycotted moscow. that kept me amused for weeks... actually come to think of it im still amused 33 years later. in ancient greece women werent allowed to watch sport cause the men played them in the nude... aside from the homo eroticism involved in that, do you not think it gender bias that women were excluded from not only participation but from spectating. there are so many instances throughout history of women being excluded from sport for often dumbarse reasons. not to mention sports divided along class and racial lines. even where you lived could determine the sport you play and those you were excluded from or considered inferior at. all these acts are political. over time theyve become invisible to those who view(more often than not subconsciouslessly) culture through the prism of the white patriarchy, you may scoff and call bullshit and insist you playing the sports you do is for fun and recreation, and ive no doubt that to be true... however its there nonetheless.

Hey where are you from if you don't me asking? I was guessing Australia for some reason, maybe the rugby made me think it? But it is played a lot of places. You said scrum and dumbarse, and spelled favorite with a u though so I'm also thinking Europe.

Australia.