I'm old enough to remember when a fan's connection to a sports team was largely dependent on where he or she grew up or was influenced by family or friends. Increasingly, there has been a movement of fans becoming displaced and jaded in there home town loyalties.
Sometimes this is based on the lack of a team present (for example, Los Angeles has no current NFL team to call its own since both the Rams and Raiders left town. In addition, Seattle is without an NBA team since the Sonics left and moved to Oklahoma City).
Other times, however, it centers around team performance (see the Los Angeles Clippers) that prompts fans to bolt for greener pastures.
My feeling though is this: Athletes, regardless of professional sport, have become larger than life personalities and hometown loyalties have given way to rooting for whoever is your favorite player or players.
An example of this is that, although I root for the Lakers and Dodgers (since I grew up in Southern California), I have many players I root for in the NBA and in MLB that aren't playing in LA. As much as I like the Dodgers, I'll watch the Yankees because of Jeter and A-Rod. As much as I love the Lakers, I like watching other NBA teams too because of guys like Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, and Tim Duncan, etc.
That is not to say that people, millions of fans, don't root for the home team because many do. I'm just saying that you'll be more apt to find sports fans looking beyond their own hometown for teams they like and want to follow and cheer for.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
All things MJ
Michael Jackson is dead. We've read the headlines for years in the National Enquirer and other tabloids and just attributed it to Michael's penchant for the dramatic or the insatiable need for adoration, attention, or fame. So the news of his passing is shocking and tragic news for several reasons.
Michael Jackson, as a human being, was as flawed as rest of us. The two trials that he endured on charges of child molestation will forever taint him and cast him as a sort of villain in the eyes of many of his critics. Sadly, Michael will never be able to ever get a chance to redeem himself in the court of public opinion. There are many out there who feel that Jackson was indeed guilty of inappropriate conduct with young children who visited his Neverland Ranch.
The real fact behind this whole tragic saga is that we, fans and detractors alike, will never get the opportunity to know what really happened. And that part of Michael Jackson's public life will never go away just because of who Michael Jackson was and is to people. So, as a consequence, his very public missteps will live on in infamy and coexist with the legacy he left behind.
Michael Jackson, the artist and humanitarian, left a rich legacy behind that very few before or after him could ever hope to match. On his artistic merits alone, Michael Jackson will forever been celebrated as a musical genius, an innovator, and one of the all-time great artists of our time.
Rest in peace, Michael Jackson. You will be forever remembered.
Michael Jackson, as a human being, was as flawed as rest of us. The two trials that he endured on charges of child molestation will forever taint him and cast him as a sort of villain in the eyes of many of his critics. Sadly, Michael will never be able to ever get a chance to redeem himself in the court of public opinion. There are many out there who feel that Jackson was indeed guilty of inappropriate conduct with young children who visited his Neverland Ranch.
The real fact behind this whole tragic saga is that we, fans and detractors alike, will never get the opportunity to know what really happened. And that part of Michael Jackson's public life will never go away just because of who Michael Jackson was and is to people. So, as a consequence, his very public missteps will live on in infamy and coexist with the legacy he left behind.
Michael Jackson, the artist and humanitarian, left a rich legacy behind that very few before or after him could ever hope to match. On his artistic merits alone, Michael Jackson will forever been celebrated as a musical genius, an innovator, and one of the all-time great artists of our time.
Rest in peace, Michael Jackson. You will be forever remembered.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Sarah Palin
So the illustrious Governor of Alaska officially announced that she will be resigning from state office. Which brings me to the observation that this is nothing more than sending a message to Democrats and those within her own GOP party that she intends to run for President in 2012.
Palin is one of those public figures you just love or love to hate. It seems to me that her exit from state politics in Alaska is her attempt to send a signal to Washington and the world that she means business and has her eyes on the White House in 2012. Only time will tell.
With that being said, I believe that, for better or worse, Palin's legacy as a public servant will always be tied to the historical Presidential election of 2008. Sure, Barack Obama won and made history doing so, but it was one Sarah Palin who consistently made headlines whether she wanted to or not.
While some would argue that it was Palin's candidacy that ultimately helped bring down the GOP's hope of capturing the White House, it must also be pointed out that Palin helped energize a segment of the voting public to actually go out and vote. I would argue that Senator McCain would not have gained the kind of support he did from conservative voting women if not for Sarah Palin.
While all this is now long been moot since Barack Obama is now President, Governor Palin's recent decision to resign from office as the chief executive of Alaska has many people already speculating that a run for the White House in 2012 is basically inevitable. For that to happen however, Palin and the GOP must recast themselves entirely and strive to become a party that is willing to step outside the box and attract more voters.
If the success that now Secretary of State Clinton enjoyed during her long campaign in 2008 is any indication, then the answer is that someone with Sarah Palin's apparent willingness to lead may be able to bring the fractured remnants of her GOP party back from the political abyss. Palin has proven that she can grab attention and make a name for herself on the national stage. The question, however, remains whether she is able and willing to do the hard work and make the sacrifices necessary that will prove that she is capable and courageous enough to be the kind of leader that can transcend political rhetoric and help move this country towards fulfilling its potential for greatness.
Palin is one of those public figures you just love or love to hate. It seems to me that her exit from state politics in Alaska is her attempt to send a signal to Washington and the world that she means business and has her eyes on the White House in 2012. Only time will tell.
With that being said, I believe that, for better or worse, Palin's legacy as a public servant will always be tied to the historical Presidential election of 2008. Sure, Barack Obama won and made history doing so, but it was one Sarah Palin who consistently made headlines whether she wanted to or not.
While some would argue that it was Palin's candidacy that ultimately helped bring down the GOP's hope of capturing the White House, it must also be pointed out that Palin helped energize a segment of the voting public to actually go out and vote. I would argue that Senator McCain would not have gained the kind of support he did from conservative voting women if not for Sarah Palin.
While all this is now long been moot since Barack Obama is now President, Governor Palin's recent decision to resign from office as the chief executive of Alaska has many people already speculating that a run for the White House in 2012 is basically inevitable. For that to happen however, Palin and the GOP must recast themselves entirely and strive to become a party that is willing to step outside the box and attract more voters.
If the success that now Secretary of State Clinton enjoyed during her long campaign in 2008 is any indication, then the answer is that someone with Sarah Palin's apparent willingness to lead may be able to bring the fractured remnants of her GOP party back from the political abyss. Palin has proven that she can grab attention and make a name for herself on the national stage. The question, however, remains whether she is able and willing to do the hard work and make the sacrifices necessary that will prove that she is capable and courageous enough to be the kind of leader that can transcend political rhetoric and help move this country towards fulfilling its potential for greatness.
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