I was just listening to an interview on Ecotalk with Betsy Rosenberg, and she was interviewing David Epstein, a journalist with Sports Illutrated who co-wrote a story with Alexander Wolfe about global climate change and is featured on the cover of the current issue of Sports Illustrated. The article shows Florida Marlins' Pitcher Dontrelle Willis standing in water up to his thighs, and the cover says "As The Planet Changes, So Do the Games We Play: Time to Pay Attention". The name of the article is Going, Going Green. Thanks to A Siegel for finding the article!
Because of copyright laws I don't feel comfortable showing the cover here on Daily Kos, I can show you the link for the current issue. According to David Epstein, baseball bats are at risk because they are made of Ash, which is threatened, the Winter Olympics and the Iditerod are losing ground and the ability to continue, and high school and college football coaches can no longer do the drills of their kids that they used to do, except at night - because it's too hot and dangerous for the kids. On a brighter note, Indycar has gone to 100% ethanol now. There's a lot more on the interview on Ecotalk. You might want to pick up a copy to show Sports Illustrated how much interest there is in this issue and that you appreciate their efforts to reflect a green attitude (now we just need them to use 100% recycled paper!). I'm picking up my copy tomorrow.
I'm not a sports fan, in fact I'm one of the most sedentary people I know, and my idea of sports is hiking around on my property with my dog or belly dancing, and I NEVER WATCH sports, nor do I enjoy competitive sports, so I never watch them on TV. But...
It's part of the human experience and we are seeing the repercussions of global climate change on the most basic aspects of most peoples' lives in this country. Today, here on the Central Coast of California, it peaked above 90 degrees. And it looks like it's not going to go down anytime soon. This is March folks! It's normally in the 50's and raining now. And it ranged from 45 degrees this morning to 90 - in about 3 hours... I'm worried, but not surprised... though I hoped this wouldn't happen just YET. I guess I'm mainly just frustrated that's there's nothing I can personally do, and I'll probably have to buy an air conditioner for our house, which just feeds into the cycle -- but honestly I don't know how else to make my situation livable. Avoiding extreme heat is one reason why I decided to live here in the Redwoods!
I drive a Prius, I use compact fluorescents, I conserve wherever I can, but I'm faced ... as we all are... by a behemoth of complex problem.
Anyway, it's happening. I'm afraid we are in the feedback loop that the IPCC warned about because it's apparently, at least from my experience, accelerating. I at least can't deny it, and fortunately even Sports Illustrated is admitting it now. So send them some love by subscribing for being honest and real, or pick up an issue this week, even if you never regularly read SI. That's what I'm gonna do (because honestly, I don't watch sports!). And I will send them an LTE, thanking them for their coverage of the biggest issue that faces the planet. It's the least I can do.
See ya'll at Yearly Kos!