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proud2BlibKansan

(96,793 posts)
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 10:37 AM Jan 2012

A disturbing movement in this country

At what point does allegiance to a particular group or idea become a problem? Fanaticism in a more palatable form is making its presence felt currently. As the big day - of course we're talking Super Bowl - approaches it is fascinating as a dispassionate observer, to watch the world of normally rational people lose touch with reality in varying degrees. On a side note you can usually gauge the status of "our" Kansas City team by observing the amount of trademarked Chiefs regalia that shows up at garage sales and thrift stores. Pride in a sports team can be a fickle thing.

But then there is the dedicated hyper-fan: usually the most outrageous outward sign being a compulsion to decorate one's body to varying degrees with team colors and logos. It is alarming however to note incidents of pride and team loyalty gone awry. Rabid fans have become quarrelsome and in the extreme, violent inflicting grievous bodily harm in displaying their prejudice against a supporter of a rival team.

And yes even piety has inserted itself into the world of professional athletic competition thanks to the popularity of the Denver Bronco's evangelizing quarterback. Given the mini-furor Tebow's public displays have generated, maybe the subject of sports will eventually take its place alongside politics and religion as best not discussed in polite society.

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Voters proudly support their candidate of choice. In a state that predictably favors the GOP, the loyal opposition has wondered if this is merely out of habit or possibly a degree of peer pressure as the outcome has occasionally resulted in seating winners possessed of questionable judgment. The singularity of this success contributes to an attitude that some regard as bordering on hubris - that sense of arrogant entitlement resulting from excessive pride. On more than one occasion party leaders have claimed in interviews that the state "belongs" to the Republicans.

more . . . http://www.hutchnews.com/Columns/moore-column1-31

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A disturbing movement in this country (Original Post) proud2BlibKansan Jan 2012 OP
I don't watch them anymore. They are so boring. southernyankeebelle Jan 2012 #1
There's no point in watching professional sports anymore TlalocW Jan 2012 #2
Yes I'll agree with you on that. southernyankeebelle Jan 2012 #5
The GOP? proud2BlibKansan Jan 2012 #3
Well they are boring also. It seem now with Tebow becoming the new bible carrier just like southernyankeebelle Jan 2012 #4
One of the things I like best SheilaT Feb 2012 #6

TlalocW

(15,371 posts)
2. There's no point in watching professional sports anymore
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 11:44 AM
Jan 2012

The most entertaining thing about the Superbowl (couldn't tell you who's playing in it or who played in it last year) are the commercials.

Probably at least 70% of the athletes are on something so all records in the playbook (like McGuire's breaking whatever record) should have asterisks next to them, etc.

TlalocW

 

southernyankeebelle

(11,304 posts)
4. Well they are boring also. It seem now with Tebow becoming the new bible carrier just like
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 12:40 PM
Jan 2012

in politics I see no differences. Both are boring and why spend my money at games where my money goes to republicans causes. No thanks. If democrats were smart they would boycot NFL.

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
6. One of the things I like best
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 04:34 PM
Feb 2012

about living in a state that has not one professional sports team, is that people here simply don't obsess on sport the way they do in so many other places. And I've lived in Denver, in DC, and in the Kansas City area, so I know what it can be like.

It's also interesting that people here don't even focus that much on the college teams. Maybe they aren't very good, I have no idea. But it's really nice that the front page of the local paper is never dominated by what happened in the game yesterday. When I lived in DC there were times when the most recent Redskins game was front page news for three days running.

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