Why it is a necessity to have professional sports

Why Athletes Shouldn't Be Role Models... (somewhat dated but still makes the point) Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model: "I want all the kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I want all the kids to copulate me." New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first." And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skins say: "I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl," Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too." Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann 1996: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh: "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes." Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach: "You guys line up alphabetically by height." And "You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle." Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson hooking up again with promoter Don King: "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton." Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: "That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes." Shaquille O'Neal on whether he had visited the Parthenon during his visit to Greece: "I can't really remember the names o all the clubs that we went to." Shaquille O'Neal, on his (then) lack of championships: "I've won at every level, except college and pro." Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up a six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is." Pat Williams, Orlando Magic general manager, on his team's 7-27 record in 1992: "We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. As general manager, I just can't figure out where else to play." Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at pactice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt." Jim Finks, New Orleans Saints General Manager, when asked after a loss what he thought of the refs: "I'm not allowed to comment on lousy, no good officiating." Alan Kulwicki, stock car racer, on racing Saturday nights as opposed to Sunday afternoons: "It's basically the same, just darker." Lincoln Kennedy, Oakland Raiders tackle, on his decision not to vote: "I was going to write myself in, but I was afraid I'd get shot." Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player: "I told him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care." Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings." Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D: "Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject." Oiler coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all road trips, Phillips responded, "Because she is too damn ugly to kiss good-bye."

get over it. move on. and quit mucking up this site over inane junk. You, Ross, and Randall move on. "A Sports Fan 2"

Let the door hit you in the a - - because there will not be any harm done in there seeing thats where your brain is stuck.

Arrogant stupidity. You're a class act.

Never once said sports were more important than our government. In fact, said just the opposite. Would you not agree there is some underlying reason the average Joe knows more about sports than politics? Could it be sports are something they can relate to? Or maybe because it is just plain fun? Both of which are elements of some deep rooted psychological phenomenon, such as the one I have described.

No matter what aspect of human interaction we wish to discuss, we can point to idiots who act before thinking, have a distorted view of their contribution, or incidents of mob mentality taking over. These idiots ae the minority of fans. Sports teams pull most people in their respective communities together for a common cause and social interaction (a good thing).

Finally, yes, absolutely, I think sports are an uplifting element of our society. Above all else, it shows how successful the American experiment has been in that we can afford to spend the great amount of resources and time to promote these activities.

I hope you enjoyed my original post. I view the sports mentality in a purely clinical sense. I also acknowledge the good and bad aspects. The majority of these over paid millionaires are not much more than pawns used by society to pacify our "need for speed". If not for their physical abilities, they would be a very expendable segment of our society.

I respect your educated candor concerning sports in society. Your findings are based upon scientific and psychological truths. I played football & track in HS & DIV-1 college and made it to the olympic trials twice (qualifying in sprints both times) - I know exactly what you state is true. I have at least a dozen close friends who compete as starters and 3 of them are pro-bowlers in the NFL. I am not a sports fanatic by any means - (Hell I didn't even watch the last 4-5 weeks of football) I loved to compete and win - not concerned with the harboring of trophies, medals, ribbons or salutations.

Much more concerned with what I did on the playing arena that day. It is such a true emotional and primortal albeit instinctual drive to win and conquer but yes we have pacified ourselves down to "touchdowns, 3-pt shots & goals" instead of slashing throats and decapitations. The fire is still in our genes, our spirit and our lives. It does get saturated with lies, corruption, false pride and people who play for themselves or for the bucks. As does most things in society at times. But the true combatants are those who play from the heart and not their bank account.

I respect your honesty. Andy

Here's my objection...The sports gabbers mess up my world and that of many others with their mindless babbling about the upcoming big game...the past big game...the possible future big game...who may or may not play in the big game, or even the big game that is going on right now.

I spend many hours alone, because that's my choice, and have a LOT of radios all tuned to the same station so I have continuity as I move around my house, office, multiple shop areas, my pickup, and the storage areas. As soon as I go around and change all the radios to be on the same station...some moron station manager puts another babbling sports session on. There's no escaping it, except silence.

Wouldn't it be fair to declare maybe 1/3 of the stations to be free of this crap?

Geeze, I recently heard they were even considering changing Grand Old Opry over to a sports jabbering station. Do you sports guys have to listen to ALL the stations at the same time?

George Willer