July 6, 2007 6:00 AM
Sports goes to the Dogs
I still can't seem to fathom why all of a sudden stuffing hot dogs down your gullet has become a spectator sport. I thought Poker coverage was bad but the recent barrage of eating contests on TV is just beyond me. I mean really, who cares if some idiot wants to eat 60 some odd tubesteaks in a single sitting. Are we, as a society, really that bored?
I can remember in high school at our annual newspaper staff party one of our photographers responded to a dare by wolfing a jar of whole jalepenos. He spent the rest of the night as green as one, too sick to enjoy the evening (which consisted of one of the greatest steaks on the planet at a place called Cattlemen's just outside of Fabens Texas). Didn't make sense then, doesn't make sense now.
I haven't been blogging much lately, partly because I didn't have much to add to the cartoons and partly because of a personal family medical crisis. I will continue to bring you cartoons as often as is possible in the coming weeks and will blog when I can. I've always thought of the readers of win,lose & Drew as friends of mine so I thought I give you an update as to why I've been in and out of the paper a bit lately and why I haven't been jumping on some obvious topics for cartoons (the Avs signings come to mind). Thanks for reading. It means the world to me.
Drew
July 6, 2007
6:59 AM
Tom writes:
1. Poker
2. Eating Contests
3. Bowling
4. Car racing of any kind
5. Ice skating
6. Dancing of any kind
7. Hunting (killing things)
8. Surfing
9. Fishing tournaments
10. Ultimate Fighting
These are not sports. Not one of them. Some aren't even activities. It's easy to see why there are so many problems in the world when people spend hard earned money to support idiotic events such as these.
What's next? Professional dating? Oh yeah....there are already "reality shows" for that.
Sadly, society will wake up far too late to realize that we have squandered millions of chances to do good with the time and money that is wasted on some of these so called events.
And I'm not saying that basketball, football, and baseball are above the previously listed events. Hockey, however, seems more honest to me. I can't really say why, except that maybe it's because it's a North Of The Border game.
July 6, 2007
8:37 AM
Rex writes:
An eating contest, of any kind, is a slap in the face to the millions around the world who, everyday, go with out food. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
July 6, 2007
9:45 AM
Chris writes:
Tom, I agree with you an all of the aforementioned except for ultimate fighting. The reason being: there are both an element of offense, and an element of defense. This is how a sport is defined. It is not just a couple of juiced up guys hopping into a ring to entertain a few morons, although that is the impression we get on t.v. A lot of quick wits and split-second decisions go into a fight. You have to beat the guy with both your fists AND your mind.
July 6, 2007
10:09 AM
Jack Rhoads writes:
Thanks for your art and comments. Whatever is going on, we wish you and your family the very best.
July 6, 2007
11:43 AM
Tom writes:
Silly me....
I forgot......
11. ANYTHING X-Game related (i.e. snowboarding freestyle, snowmobiling, snow motocross or any other kind of motocross.)
12. Horse-racing.
13. Staring contests (just in case ESPN ever tries to go this route, at least I'm ahead of the game in denying it being a sport.)
14. Spelling Bee's. (Good Lord. It's nice for the kiddies, okay, but for what reason do these need to be sponsored and shown on national television?
15. Strongman competitions. Enough said if you've ever watched 3 seconds on one.
16. Bodybuilding. Simply put.....I am not interested in seeing steriod-laden people in g-string underwear at any time, especially not on national TV.
July 6, 2007
3:20 PM
MJ writes:
car racing might not be a sport in Tom's book, but they sure make ALOT of money going in circles.
July 6, 2007
3:55 PM
Father writes:
Tom- this is America, remember? If you don't like it, turn the channel. What you rave about hating, others obviously enjoy. True, some on your list are not sports, and to argue if they should be shown or could be a heated debate. But to blame society for wasting time on them is just stupid. To tell a young child not to spell?? To call out surfing as a non sport? And motocross? Tell you what, take a trip in 2 weeks, on the 21st and 22nd of this month down to the thunder valley AMA races and tell me motocross is not a sport. I'll meet up with you down there and let you take my bike for one lap and I guarantee you will be winded, arms pumping, heart racing. I like most of your rants, but on this one, you're way off. Stick to the Iverson bashing.
July 6, 2007
8:17 PM
Bronc in C-Springs writes:
Yeah Tom. Your rants about the Rocks and Iverson/Carmelo are usually right on. Can't fully agree with you on this one though. Your list does have some definite "non-sports" on them......but a few (UFC especially) are nothing but "sport".
July 6, 2007
10:10 PM
Brian writes:
Tom,
Is there anything other than hockey that you consider to be a sport? Because right now I am convinced you spend all day brooding about sports that you don't like...
July 7, 2007
2:55 PM
Tom writes:
What I like to do is rock the boat.
And judging from the responses here, I'm doing a dandy job.
Thank you.
At any rate....It's simply disgusting what the U.S. population considers "entertainment", okay....?
Pro Wrestling? In otherwords, distgusting individuals in tight pants performing theatrics in a boxing ring. What a complete waste of money and time.
Motocross and car and truck racing......A complete waste of fuel and a lot of polution to go along with it.
Tractor pulls and monster trucks? Good God.
Basketball used to be a great game until it changed for the worse. The game became a haven for gang-bangers and way too young persons looking to make money. What you got and still have are young immature brats leaving school WAY too early to go off and play a GAME.
Yes, hockey is dear to me, but not NHL hockey. I'm talking about hockey as a game. Local small, independently owned rinks where young men and women learn to play as a team and a unit. Where unselfish play is unheard of.
Golf is not a sport either, since it is individual play. I'm sure there are some that will be disturbed by this fact, but, it is NOT a sport. So get over yourselves.
Oh, and Father....this USED to be America. It will come closer to returning to being America when A certain George, Dick, and company find their way back to Texas and Wyoming and the like.
Also....I would never even dream of accepting an offer to ride a motorcycle of any kind. Too many people get killed on them each year and it's only a matter of time until we start seeing more deaths in these so called "competitions" due to people trying to push the limits too far. And also, you, Father, do not seem to follow your own advice and "turn the channel" from this blog. If you felt that strongly about "turning the channel, then you would have ignored my post. Explain that.
Children can spell, fine. But to make a competition out of it is stupid. What ends up happening is that these kids are pushed so hard by their parents, just as child beauty pagent queens and gymnasts are that it can destroy a childs innocence. They are made to feel that if they don't win, then they aren't worthy.
It's absolutely sad.
July 8, 2007
5:05 PM
Tom writes:
Oh....good God! Hahahaah!!!!
So during the Rockies game, the tarp goes flying.....A bunch of Phillies go out and help at the VISITORS PARK, and ONE Rockie player goes.
Goes to show exactly what kind of people play for the Rockies. A bunch of self-important idiots.
And the Rocks are losing, and will be going into the break on a loss. I love it.
What a bunch of rubes on the Rockies roster. Now, maybe they'll finally get back to playing divisional games and get their asses handed to them like they deserve.
July 9, 2007
7:14 AM
Rob writes:
So I guess even complaining about what is or isn't a sport could be considered a sport.
sport /spɔrt, spoʊrt/
–noun
1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.
2. a particular form of this, esp. in the out of doors.
3. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime.
4. jest; fun; mirth; pleasantry: What he said in sport was taken seriously.
5. mockery; ridicule; derision: They made sport of him.
6. an object of derision; laughingstock.
7. something treated lightly or tossed about like a plaything.
8. something or someone subject to the whims or vicissitudes of fate, circumstances, etc.
9. a sportsman.
10. Informal. a person who behaves in a sportsmanlike, fair, or admirable manner; an accommodating person: He was a sport and took his defeat well.
11. Informal. a person who is interested in sports as an occasion for gambling; gambler.
12. Informal. a flashy person; one who wears showy clothes, affects smart manners, pursues pleasurable pastimes, or the like; a bon vivant.
13. Biology. an organism or part that shows an unusual or singular deviation from the normal or parent type; mutation.
14. Obsolete. amorous dalliance.
–adjective
15. of, pertaining to, or used in sports or a particular sport.
16. suitable for outdoor or informal wear: sport clothes.
–verb (used without object)
17. to amuse oneself with some pleasant pastime or recreation.
18. to play, frolic, or gambol, as a child or an animal.
19. to engage in some open-air or athletic pastime or sport.
20. to trifle or treat lightly: to sport with another's emotions.
21. to mock, scoff, or tease: to sport at suburban life.
22. Botany. to mutate.
–verb (used with object)
23. to pass (time) in amusement or sport.
24. to spend or squander lightly or recklessly (often fol. by away).
25. Informal. to wear, display, carry, etc., esp. with ostentation; show off: to sport a new mink coat.
26. Archaic. to amuse (esp. oneself).
July 9, 2007
7:20 AM
Tom writes:
Thank the Powers that be for the old "copy and paste" method, eh Rob?
Or did you type that from memory?
Anyway...It's still incredibly silly that we cheer people for stuffing ungodly sums of food into their pie holes. Exactly what has this world come to?
July 9, 2007
9:44 AM
Father writes:
Oh Tom, I like listening to you, hence the reason I don't "turn the channel". I am on the level with you for the NBA, and your rants about selfish players, and heck, I'll jump on board about Bush and crew. But, again, what you think is a waste of time and money, isn't the case to others. Pro Wrestling, as lame as it may be, sells out arenas everywhere. Monster trucks, as redneck as they may be, sells out arenas everywhere. Tell me when you were little that the thought of a huge truck crushing cars wasn't entertaining? And don't be scared of motorcycles, anything can kill you, but you won't know till you trade in your keyboard for 2 wheels. And, actually, emissions and pollution on motorcycles has been highly regulated and the pollution has gone down. In the last 5 years most "motocross" bikes have gone from 2-stroke to 4-stroke, putting a smile on mother natures face. Also, most street legal bikes get a minimum of 30 to 40 miles per gallon. Some smaller scooters get double that. Now, the spelling bee. Granted, there are some parents who push their kids, but thats going to happen in anything, not just spelling. Should it be telecast on ESPN, I don't think so, but somebody does, and thank god you aren't in charge of what we can and can not see on TV, or we'd all be watching intramural hockey.
July 9, 2007
10:01 AM
Rob writes:
Yep, good ol cut and paste. Gotta use those kindergarten skills somewhere. Nyah nyah. It's funny that hockey is the only sport and ice skating isn't when really the only difference is that Tonya Harding's team never bothered using a puck. Keep rocking the boat though we enjoy watching you fall in the water.
July 9, 2007
12:13 PM
Tom writes:
No, the thought of a huge truck crushing a car was not entertaining. I was a little more mature than your 8-12 year old kid of today. I was busy with learning.
Watching a car get crushed is pretty much a complete waste of time.
As far as motorcycles, they can and DO kill people, regularly. I have lost a very good friend to one. And many people I know have lost people to them as well. They are complete danger, no matter how many miles to the gallon.
That's my take.
July 9, 2007
1:56 PM
Father writes:
Well- sorry to hear about your loss.
How about some Iverson bashing to cheer you up?? He just lost his court case, hit me with something funny.
July 10, 2007
12:04 PM
Tom writes:
Poor Allen Iverson.
Now he'll have to play an extra 3 minutes per game this coming season to pay for his legal fees.
Poor, poor Allen.
We all should have it so rough and have the opportunity to rid ourselves of financial responsibility when we make serious errors in judgement.
Now, I await the latest from Carmelo Anthony. Will another of his friends get busted with a few grams of blow, or a water bong? Stay tuned. He's probably due very soon to make big news. He's been quiet for a while now.
July 10, 2007
4:41 PM
Father writes:
YES!
November 1, 2007
9:16 PM
Chad writes:
Ok here it is motocross is the best sport ever i used to think basketball was when i was young when i found motocross its so awesome and dont say all u have to do is sit on a seat and twist ur wrist heck i bet ne one that thinks that could barley get going on a bike out of first gear b4 they killed it let alone take a lap at millville across 70 foot triples and 100 foot tables in the heat of summer forcing around a 220 pound bike now thats a sport look at nascar tony stewart could proly hardly run a half mile all "real" not fake motocross guys knows you have to be in better shape to ride a one race than play a full game of ne other sport.
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