2008 Woodie Awards
If Michael were a monarch...
There would be a yearly national sport...
Michael Tate
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
In the United States, the total number of calendar events and objects that is glued to the term "national" is quite significant.
The national bird is the bald eagle, and the national tree is the oak tree. We have national months to celebrate
the culture and ethnicity of minorities, a national park week, a national consumer protection week, and even a national safe boating week.
These have all been recognized by the U.S. government.We also have Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, and various days to celebrate relatives.
Though we the people supposedly
have a "national pastime," we the media tend to focus on football's popularity more so than on baseball's.
Basketball players, no doubt, would want to toss in their clichéd "two cents" for their own sport.
My question is, how can we overcome the debate? Why not just do some real research and come out with it...Which is our national sport?
Baseballers and [American] footballers
can fight about that as much as they want, but in my country the focus would not be on what everyone "knows" is popular, nor even on what is researched to be popular.
Why would I not focus on the sport that is proven to be popular? Because, the simple fact is that those sports are so popular that people almost have to live "under a rock," as is the common expression, to not have made their well-thought-out decision on whether the sport is worth their time.
The yearly national sport in my country would be one of the non-culturally prevalent team sports. The celebrated sport would switch every year.
I believe that it is likely that people would create national organizations
promoting their sport to get their sport to be the "National Sport of the Year." The entire populace would be involved in the decision process, and jobs would likely pop up as supporters of different sports try to gain footing for their favorite athletic (or even semi-athletic) pastime.
The national sport could be anything
from ping-pong to bowling to Texas Hold-'Em. Even academically-inclined people could get involved and try to get quiz-bowling to be the national sport of the year.
But, even for something that is entertaining, I still believe that there should be some enrichment that goes along with the good feelings.
The following truth of history is apparent, though not proven: when people collectively focused their energy toward a specific goal, they are brought together not just in success
but are joined emotionally and socially as well.
In short, I believe that the creation of a process to select and celebrate a yearly national sport would promote national unity.
Hopefully, this unity could bring together all groups of society, regardless
of age, race, gender, etc., etc….You get the picture. Sports have brought unity in the United States, and I think that promoting them in such a way would promote the general
welfare of my kingdom.
The national bird is the bald eagle, and the national tree is the oak tree. We have national months to celebrate
the culture and ethnicity of minorities, a national park week, a national consumer protection week, and even a national safe boating week.
These have all been recognized by the U.S. government.We also have Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, and various days to celebrate relatives.
Though we the people supposedly
have a "national pastime," we the media tend to focus on football's popularity more so than on baseball's.
Basketball players, no doubt, would want to toss in their clichéd "two cents" for their own sport.
My question is, how can we overcome the debate? Why not just do some real research and come out with it...Which is our national sport?
Baseballers and [American] footballers
can fight about that as much as they want, but in my country the focus would not be on what everyone "knows" is popular, nor even on what is researched to be popular.
Why would I not focus on the sport that is proven to be popular? Because, the simple fact is that those sports are so popular that people almost have to live "under a rock," as is the common expression, to not have made their well-thought-out decision on whether the sport is worth their time.
The yearly national sport in my country would be one of the non-culturally prevalent team sports. The celebrated sport would switch every year.
I believe that it is likely that people would create national organizations
promoting their sport to get their sport to be the "National Sport of the Year." The entire populace would be involved in the decision process, and jobs would likely pop up as supporters of different sports try to gain footing for their favorite athletic (or even semi-athletic) pastime.
The national sport could be anything
from ping-pong to bowling to Texas Hold-'Em. Even academically-inclined people could get involved and try to get quiz-bowling to be the national sport of the year.
But, even for something that is entertaining, I still believe that there should be some enrichment that goes along with the good feelings.
The following truth of history is apparent, though not proven: when people collectively focused their energy toward a specific goal, they are brought together not just in success
but are joined emotionally and socially as well.
In short, I believe that the creation of a process to select and celebrate a yearly national sport would promote national unity.
Hopefully, this unity could bring together all groups of society, regardless
of age, race, gender, etc., etc….You get the picture. Sports have brought unity in the United States, and I think that promoting them in such a way would promote the general
welfare of my kingdom.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
John Mikolajcik
posted 10/08/07 @ 12:57 PM CST
Mr. Tate,
I was just wondering under what right do you have to write this article and the views expressed in it? How can you sit in front of you computer and demean the united states for attaching national meaning to events and places? Maybe you chould take a look at the world today sir. (Continued…)
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