This sounds like some overly-educated type looking down his nose at the attention that a lot of people give sports.
There is a lot to bash on the MSM about propaganda, but this is nonsensical.
Why do cities have newspapers?...They are beyond boring and the news is old the minute you open the paper.
Because it’s the only part of the newspaper that’s interesting, and has fact readily available enough to eliminate most bias.
Newspapers have sports sections because lots of their readers are sports fans who like to read about sports. Like me.
The sports section sure beats the propaganda, um, er, "news" section.
Why?
So they can sell ads in it to a male-focused audience (that’s where the car tire, etc ads are) and MAKE MONEY FOR THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE NEWSPAPER?
Why?
So they can sell ads in it to a male-focused audience (that’s where the car tire, etc ads are) and MAKE MONEY FOR THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE NEWSPAPER !
Also, since the sports section was typically only read by males, that’s where the advertisers that cater to men could most effectively place their ads.
Many younger people do not realize the main reason newspapers published news and other articles is to get readers to also read the advertisements which generated moat of the revenue.
The ONLY reason to read USA Today is because of their sports section.
The only thing this article is missing is a cogent thought or purpose.
It makes no point whatsoever.
How does putting cartoons and other stuff in the sports section “an artificial demand for “sporting stuff” far beyond the natural appetite of even an English-speaking people”?
Rubbish. I guess we’re supposed to be enlightened and outraged.
bflr
Don’t buy newspapers. It only encourages them.
Can you say contrived? I knew that you could.
Newspapers have a sports section to keep the average reading grade level around seventh grade. Without the sports section, the average grade level of most newspapers would be around fifth grade.
Newspapers have a sports section to keep the average reading grade level around seventh grade. Without the sports section, the average grade level of most newspapers would be around fifth grade.
~ H. L. Mencken (1880 – 1956) Journalist – magazine editor
Sports offer a very public venue for competition. “I am stronger/faster/more skilled than you.”
My team/tribe/city-state/nation is better than yours.
Thumping one’s chest and giving a good old Tarzan yell is only so satisfying. Something more is needed.
Thus, many sports serve as an opportunity to “blow off steam” and even a substitute for war. The Eastern Cherokee name for lacrosse is da-nah-wah’uwsdi (”little war”); in the Mohawk language, Tewaarathon means “little brother of war”.
Today’s “metro-sexual”, effete pundits (or as Rush labels them, “the new castrati”) often do not understand this.
They bemoan the violence of the NFL and college football. However, both are better for society and safer than the Crips and the Bloods or Hatfields & McCoys.
If partisan fervor gets too strong, as in English soccer hooligans, or NBA Championship Winners (or Losers), society has to step in and remind folks that this is a SUBSTITUTE for war, not the real thing. It’s a GAME, people.
Sports offer a very public venue for competition. “I am stronger/faster/more skilled than you.”
My team/tribe/city-state/nation is better than yours.
Thumping one’s chest and giving a good old Tarzan yell is only so satisfying. Something more is needed.
Thus, many sports serve as an opportunity to “blow off steam” and even a substitute for war. The Eastern Cherokee name for lacrosse is da-nah-wah’uwsdi (”little war”); in the Mohawk language, Tewaarathon means “little brother of war”.
Today’s “metro-sexual”, effete pundits (or as Rush labels them, “the new castrati”) often do not understand this.
They bemoan the violence of the NFL and college football. However, both are better for society and safer than the Crips and the Bloods or Hatfields & McCoys.
If partisan fervor gets too strong, as in English soccer hooligans, or NBA Championship Winners (or Losers), society has to step in and remind folks that this is a SUBSTITUTE for war, not the real thing. It’s a GAME, people.