Jefferson Review

"Your Liberty is Our Interest"

Home /  Archives / Links / Quotes / Book Reviews / Advertise /Contact us / Subscribe / Calendar

“Why Should I Care?”

By Hal Burge

I read the two articles in the last edition of The Jefferson Review regarding the NBA and it’s recent problems” (“Street Punks and their Drunken Fans”; “Basketball: a Blame Game”), only because I was hoping to find some reasonable answer to the question I have been asking myself since I first saw the deluge of media coverage: “Why should I care?”

The last professional basketball game I attended was with my oldest son when he was 10 years old; he is now 35. We left before halftime, not because there was a fight, or because the game was a rout, or because we were bored. We left because we could not stomach the foul language that was continuously screamed and shouted by the so called “fans” around us. It was the first time I ever heard (and sadly, my son ever heard) a noun that had to do with mother-child incest. We learned that it is possible to construct a sentence that uses such a phrase three times, both as a noun and as an adjective, even to the extent of modifying itself. I sadly learned that professional basketball games were no longer family entertainment, at least not for my family.

It is not a racist observation, simply the truth, to note that this language was coming totally from one particular race of fan represented there. Additionally, it was only coming from those who were there without children. Some were there with women. Possibly today that is not the case. The crude fan language, which I understand still exists, may now cover all ethnic groups. I cannot comment either way, as it has been 25 years since I last attended an NBA game.

I have taken both my sons to Harlem Globetrotter games until they were old enough not to want to go anymore. I can report the following observations:

1. We never heard foul language

2. Nearly all adults there were with children

3. The fan base included people from all races

4. Alcohol is not sold at Harlem Globetrotter games

5. There is no “trash talk” among the players on the floor

6. No fight ever broke out at the games that we attended

7. Adults and children alike left smiling and entertained

It could be that these observations were because the game’s outcome was never in doubt: we knew who would win before we arrived. It is also true that there were no fans cheering for the Washington Generals, or at least there were absolutely no children cheering for them. But I understand that this is nearly the case at most NBA games – the stands are mostly filled with “home court” fans, rooting for one team. It has also been widely reported that the makeup of the fan base in the stands does not include very many family groups, and if it does, they are usually seated up high, away from the courtside seats, due to the ticket pricing structure. Or is that the only reason?

The major argument that usually comes up is that I should care because the players are “role models” for our children. This argument is easily debunked by quoting a truism from George Carlin: “If your kid needs a role model, and you aren’t it, then you are both in trouble” (the words “in trouble” were used in place of another word Mr. Carlin prefers.)

So, after reading the two articles, I am still asking myself the question: “Why should I care?”

Note: It may surprise readers that I would quote George Carlin, of all people, in this letter. He is the king of crude language and a crusader for its accepted use. This is a major distraction for some of us, taking away from the insights he possesses into our culture, insights that cut to the crux and expose truth. I have elected not to throw the baby out with the bathwater in his case, as I have the NBA, for with the NBA, I haven’t yet discerned the baby.

Weather (Louisville) / Mapquest /  White Pages / Business Search / CNN / Dictionary / E-card / MSN