Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand
Greetings,
Here are two of my recent philosophical comments from two other blogs. The first comment relates to Western materialism and professional sports. The original article discusses David Beckham's move from Real Madrid to Major League Soccer. The second comment relates to world-view and Grey's Anatomy, which I have never actually watched. The original article discusses what Isaiah Washington has been put through because of his negative comment.
http://redeemingthetime.blogspot.com/2007/01/beckhams-millions-jackpot-or-insanity.html
I have been a European soccer fan for several years and was fortunate enough when I lived in Manchester to have home membership for Manchester United and away membership for Arsenal. As a student I viewed a handful of games. At the time Beckham played for United he was a hard working above average player, but not the best on the team. Beckham coming to L.A. is seemingly largely about the MLS increasing media exposure. In a sense this move reflects the notion in our society that bigger is better and since the MLS is not a major sport in North America they will pay a player likely past his prime, a ridiculous amount of money. In my opinion the NHL in expanding to many non-hockey markets in the United States is as well suffering from the bigger is better mentality. To a point, I do not blame a business or organization for wanting to expand, but the MLS is not going to become a major league by throwing money at a player they are overrating, and the NHL is likely never going to be a major sport in much of the United States. This move by the MLS is largely a bunch of hype attempting to convince North Americans that soccer is becoming major league on this continent and I deny that soccer is becoming that popular here. Soccer may be growing in the United States but the top American athletes will largely continue to play football, baseball, basketball, golf and other sports at a high level rather than soccer. Kirk you mentioned the love of money, but when I think of how of the MLS and the NHL are making all these attempts to become very popular in the United States, I reason there is also a love of success going on here. In other words an attempt to eventually match the success of the NFL and European Soccer. As a Christian I think that there are much more worthy pursuits.
http://professor-howdy.blogspot.com/
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A thoughtful article. If I had made such a negative public remark I would apologize. It is one thing to disagree with a person's lifestyle but another to disrespect a person with a term. I would then refuse to succumb to any further pressure from groups that would think I needed counseling and such. An apology for a bad word is one thing, but an apology for a world-view is another. Any further discussion would require a debate on the world-view issue. With God's help I would aim not to offend anyone on my blogs or academic writing, but if I did offend and was wrong I would apologize. However, I would refuse to be pressured into acting as if my world-view was incorrect just because certain people in Hollywood and the media did not agree with it.
Russ
