[Peace-discuss] NCAA and Penn State

[Carl G. Estabrook]

My sports hero today is Lionel Messi, an ectomorphic family man...

"Diego Maradona believes Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo" (Argentine TV programme TVR).

--CGE

P.S> To be serious, I've been a fan of American football since I played in high school; my family had season tickets to the 'Skins, as everyone in DC refers to the local NFL team.

My youngest daughter used to win bets in high school because of her football knowledge; she recently said that one of the happiest days of her life was when the 'Skins won the Super Bowl, when she was eight. 

But this year I'm about to break a half-cnetury habit and not watch them or any other NFL team - not because of the Paterno scandal but because of the concussion scandal. Far too much evidence has emerged about brain-damaged football players, young and old. (I don't include myself, Jenifer). 

The sport should probably be banned, like boxing. I see no way by rules- or equipment-changes to avoid the shocking damage some of my favorite players received, some of whom have suicided as a result, and many of whom have substantial mental deficits that come from concussions. But there's far too much money in it to ban it. 

That's why I'm watching Messi and his colleagues this year. 


On Jul 24, 2012, at 4:01 PM, E. Wayne Johnson 朱稳森 wrote:

> I did not know Joe Paterno but I do notice that he was a perhaps
> one of the greatest football coaches that ever lived.  Although
> I have pretty much eschewed football and the watching of it 
> as pretty much a waste of time, I was fairly interested the sport back in
> high school and I recall that Paterno was a great coach from back then.
> Apparently he was a lousy administrator judging from the available
> data on the results.  Nevertheless I dont imagine that Paterno was lionized
> for his skills in administration.
> 
> They say ya need leather balls if you want to play rugby and 
> American football is a descendant of that sport.  
> It seems that Americans want sports stars who are something of a blend of King Kong,
> Sandra Dee, and Caspar Milquetoast.
> 
> <moz-screenshot-41.png>
> 
> Whether we like it or not, those who seem to excel, really excel, 
> at tough competitive sports tend to be those like Pete Rose, Tyrus Cobb,
> OJ Simpson, Daryl Strawberry, Orlando Cepeda, Bobby Knight, Michael Vick,
> and other "Animal Mothers" who behaviour oft repulses the polite society.
> Even badminton seems a bit too aggressive at times even if you dont play 
> it with a real dead bird.
> 
> It's something of a Samson syndrome that those who seem to have near super-human
> ability in the deeds of the flesh also seem to have near sub-human issues with
> the lusts thereof.  
> 
> I suppose that Amerikans need a scapegoat at this low point when there seems
> to be little remedy for the crumbling decay.  I don't find that this latest 
> lynch mob thirsting to dig up Paterno's bones and burn them on some dung hill
> is motivated by anything other than jealously pure and simple.
> 
> If there is a little less craze about sports in general particularly at universities
> it could be a good thing.
> 
> I agree with the writer even though I would note that
> dominative/coercive sex with boys is a natural extension of homosexual
> behaviour.  I find it very strange that the society never 
> does call attention to that ugly fact.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 07/25/12 2:37, Jenifer Cartwright wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Hey, All -- 
>> Here's my hero, Dave Zirin, on the subject of NCAA and Penn State:
>> www.thenation.com/blog/169002/why-ncaas-sanctions-penn-state-are-just-dead-wrong#
>> He was also eloquent this morning on DN!
>> www.democracynow.org/2012/7/24/penn_state_students_bear_brunt_of 
>> --Jenifer
>> 
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> 
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