Think of the Political Process as a Sport. You’ll Live Longer.
Today, Senator Barack Obama will take the podium in the Denver Broncos’ Invesco Field to make the most important speech of his life. The confluence of sports and politics is incidental here, but maybe, just maybe, we should approach them in the same spirit.
As sports fans, we already embrace the concept of defeatism; that is, we’re already well-seasoned in the acceptance of defeat. Whether our team’s winning percentage is .800 or .300, we lose plenty. And as a result, we’re better prepared to enter the world of political pathos than the average man or woman.
Are sports and politics really that different? We invest time, money, emotion, and energy into both, and the cruel truth is that our investments do not ultimately affect the process in a meaningful way. We can vote, and we can provide moral support by contributing to crowd noise, but in the end, we are largely passive observers of a process that will play out independently of what we do or how we feel.
Surely I’m not alone when I say that recent political history has made me feel like a Kansas City Royals fan. Lately, and for the preservation of my sanity, I’ve chosen to view politics as a sport (the politicians have beaten me to this by years and years). If things go my way, I cheer, but if things don’t go my way, I can say, “aw come on, bums, you’ll get ‘em next year,” and step away.
With this in mind, when you watch Mr. Obama speak tonight, have fun. He is the Michael Jordan of his medium. And whether he’s playing for your wishes or against them, you can’t help but give him your respect. That’s entertainment.
That’s entertainment.
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