ESPN overkill on veterans stuff?

They must have used Joe Biden as a consultant.

 

You must play with cheap balls.

 

Well, we can't fully appreciate anything, especially patriotism, until we have the gym-teacher perspective on it. The service done by our armed forces could not be adequately understood unless famous jocks were included in the coverage. And of course sportscasters bring unique insights that we couldn't get from reporters who cover the military, well, every day.

It's taboo in some sports departments to refer to football games as battles and warfare because use in that context demeans true warfare where the stakes are higher than a groin pull. Insinuating athletics into coverage of warfare seems equally disrespectful to those who are actually engaged in it.

 

The stuff from the Ryders Cup on Kiawah Island coming after the Persian Gulf War made gag. "War on the Shore?"

I still laugh whenever I hear about a golfer making a courageous golf shot.
I don't think a top Tour player can make a courageous shot because it's not like if they put one in the drink they'll lose half their net worth.

 

As others have said, whatever their motives may be, it's focusing attention on the people who are over there fighting and putting their lives on the line. Iraq and Afghanistan have been simplified to "good" or "bad" in most discussions these days, and it's easy to forget for a lot of people that half a world away, there are people -- real people -- waking up and fighting. Regardless of the politics, regardless of ESPN or any other network's motives, these displays can be a helpful reminder of what we're in the middle of.

A lot of people don't need that reminder. A lot of people do.

Besides, ESPN has run some damn good stories this week. I never knew Tim James, formerly of the Miami Heat, was an enlisted man in Iraq. So even if ESPN is doing it to pat themselves on the back, they're coming up with some fresh material too.

 

The Food Network should be doing this, too. Have Emeril in camouflage yelling "BAM!" Bobby Flay could do his Throwdown against mess-hall cooks.

 

Next ESPN should do "Muslim Week". It would do wonders for the image of Muslims in the United States. Boomer could break out his Swami hat and Linda Cohen could wear a burka.