Jay D Weaver's Thought for the Week - This is Sport?

This is Sport?

Gold!!!

In the millennial year 2000, the nations of the world again convened to play games at Salt Lake City. Well, I guess playing really is the operative word to describe what went on. Many of the participants and their coaches acted like children. You know, "You cheat!"; "He hit me!" "I'll take my ball and go home!" and so it goes. I was under the impression that the competition was the most important thing, and victory was second. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

I suppose the real problem is that the games have been taken over by the professionals. The gold medal is only a stepping-stone towards the real "Gold." Future professional athletic careers, and more importantly, endorsements, are the real goal. I suppose prospective agents, managers, coaches, etc. are really behind this push for gold at any cost.

The games have become so politicized, and commercialized that they almost resemble bloodless warfare. I think we should change the Olympic anthem to Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Nah! Don't count on things improving. They will only get worse. It sort of makes you long for the days of Avery Brundage.

After all, the same things have happened to professional sports, major college athletics, and even to high school athletic programs. Midget and Little League sports have been taken over by the adults. Where is the fun in all of this for the young people?

One of my favorite poets, Robert Frost, put "gold" in perspective:

Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
- Robert Frost

Return to Poetry and Music Commentary