Yes- this diary has a sports theme. But it's not about sports. It's really about arrogance, or more precisely values and the lack there of.
A recent crossword puzzle in the NY Times had a real easy one. Slugger with 755 home runs, five letters. Simple, the answer was Aaron, of course. The ease with which numbers like that come for even the casual baseball fan has always been one of baseballs greatest charms. In about two seconds any fan could recall Ruth's 714 and 60 and know what the numbers signified. Likewise, Maris's 61. Go to any bar in America and you could probably find out not only Ricky Henderson's stolen base number but also Lou Brock's previous mark and the number of years it stood.
But how many homeruns did Mark McGwire hit to break the record? I'm pretty sure I remember but who gives a fuck now? Bonds new season number- was that one zillion or two? Palmeiro's 500 plus and a ticket to the hall of fame? Not so fast you fucking lying scumbag cheater. How about Giambi's two homeruns to save the Yanks in the Bret Boone game against the Sox? I'm a NY fan, but I'll file that win as one we didn't deserve and reserve my memories for Bucky Dent and Mookie Wilson.
These pumped up assholes are all part of our new national image. The FU Nation. The -every man for himself- I got mine - sucks to be you- Mcmansion living- hummer driving- cigar smoking- In Your Face- French are fags- Muslims should be thanking us- the poor should be grateful- the "I've got no sympathy for them if they didn't evacuate"- flag waving- bible thumping- ass kicking- Fox loving- United States of America.
Look around; everything we see from the leadership down pushes forward this arrogant stance. From Bush's he-man strut to giant billboards that depict a monstrously beautiful SUV parked like a tank and emblazoned with the tag line- "Announce Your Presence". The only thing missing is the liberal squirming underneath the front wheels.
And it's not just about the guys. Anne Coulter and her crocladidic half sister Michelle Malkin can spew venom that would make a snake squirm. And for the kiddies, witness MTV's reality show My Super Sweet Sixteen. This inexplicable vanity fest follows spoiled rich kids around as they prepare for their sweet sixteen parties. It's all there. Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, helicopter entrances, bitch slapped parents, dissed and dismissed non invitees, gushing, brown nosing friends. All showing who's on top and what they think of those below.
This is no Bernard Goldberg rant blaming Hollywood or liberals for the loss of family values. These are the values our conservative pundits and leaders value the most. Mark McGwire was Mister Wheaties box for Christ sake. Yes, he's been embarrassed, as have all the others implicated in the steroid story. But hey, they were just trying to get an edge. It's not like they were one of those East German freaks putting a hurt on some innocent American athletes hopes and dreams. Cheat for America, or your American team and you have an uncomfortable situation. Cheat to beat an American and you have the wrath of all that is great in Gods good earth come down upon you. Just ask Ben Johnson. Now, if you are an American and you really want to see people come unglued, what you have to do is cheat to lose. Or lose by 20 points instead of 8. Never mind being called before congress for a chat or losing your career as an analyst, your ass will be in jail. Of course, the steroid boys don't have that severe legal cloud hanging over them but it begs the question as to why. Could the answer be that they are just a reflection of our win at all costs society?
Think of that cute Humvee commercial. Poor little Jack can't win a race by being the fastest, so he builds his own miniature Hummer and takes a shortcut to the finish line. So what's the message? Cheat! Fuck it! Just win baby. The notion that it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game is antiquated- in a Geneva Conventions kind of way.
That so much arrogance is now part of our culture is more than just disturbing. It is depressing and it is dangerous. In just a generation we have gone from role model to the world to rogue nation of the world. No, we were never perfect. Probably about as good a role model as Mickey Mantle was if you considered all the drinking, carousing and pot smoking. But we did have that moral high ground. We led the way towards Geneva, the UN, to human rights for all. We didn't always live up to it, but we aspired to it. Towards a more perfect Union, if you will.
Now those notions are antiquated. Condoleezza Rice's embarrassing defense of the U.S. position on rendition while touring Europe this week only served to strengthen the world's mistrust of our leadership's ability to be truthful. Meanwhile, MSNBC dutifully muddied the waters by chiding the new German Chancellor for making a diplomatic "gaffe". If the Bush/Cheney reign had a headline, it would be FU world. I like my big honking Hummer. I believe Raffey boy. He did a heck of a job when he played for me. I don't care if those losers didn't get an invitation to my party. It's all about me. Sucks to be you- especially if you live in Iraq.