I seldom watch sports on TV or elsewhere (although I am told I should really try the ambiance at a stadium), but how can you miss what is happening around Europe this week ? 16 finalists from Europe (in the geographical sense, as Croatia for example is included) are playing each other in the Euro'2004 cup !
I watched half a match in a pub in London last week, and indeed it makes a difference with me seating at home in front of my TV wondering why grown up men keep running behind a ball in shorts, with other grown ups dressed up as if for Rio's Carnaval and screaming like at Paul McCartney's concert ?
My last live experience was a pre-season game from the 76ers in Philadelphia a couple of year ago. Fun, but it lasts forever over there (4 hours for a game ?), with commercials (or their equivalent during time-outs) all the time, making the experience a bit weird.
I have always heard that sports teach great moral values to our kids: they learn effort, collective spirit, focus, etc. So good for their bodies and good for their minds as well.
So does it make sense that all these players at Euro2004 play foul with big close-ups on TVs ? They kick each other, punch eachother, pull the shirts, mimick they're hurt when they are not ? The referee doesn't even challenge half these encounters! Not to mention the racist slogans that appeared earlier last week on the stadiums !
Shame on them. What a bad example for our youth.
Somehow modern sports do not live up to the moral values sport should convey.
Let's hope the Olympic games this year bring a different attitude (and stay free of drugs...).
