Soccer in Italy

Wow, its really crazy that violence related to sports can get to a leave where the Prime Minister / president or whatever has to shut down a sports league. What if George Bush had to cancel the NFL season cause the fans were out there opnely trying to engage in violence acts against police? Anyway, I think its ridiculous that the Prime Minister of Italy has to shut down the Italian Football League because fans are rioting. This, might not happen at that leave here in America but it happens and I thinks its stupid that fans riot after their team wins a big game. It's dangerous and causes so much unneccesary damage. It serves no purpose what so ever and contrary to what many may think they don't have any right to do it. It is one of those disturbing and utterly useless traditions/rituals/rights of passage that has to been done away but won't until some tradegy happens and then we all of a sudden think its wrong and condemn those who do it.

“He shoots, he scores…”: the art of metis

Summary:
The first extract begins with Marcel Detienne and Jean-Pierre Vernant describing the Greek word metis, a type of intelligence and thought which is applied to extraordinary situations. They remark that metis was never really defined by ancient Greek scholars and thus trying to delve into metis from their perspective only is foolish. Therefore, instead Detienne and Vernant try to discover the wonders of metis by analyzing relevant works of Plato and Aristotle work along with that of the sophists, who they believe bridge the gap between traditional Greek work on metis and that of Plato and Aristotle. In addition, the authors examine Greek Mythology and the goddess Athena (daughter of metis) to uncover other information on the art of metis. This extract does not mention sport at all but connections between the two can be made. One line in particular that illustrates this is, “the individual who is endowed with metis, be he god or man, is confronted with a multiple, changing reality [which]… he can only dominate. This line demonstrates how a sportsman (in our case) can own a moment and totally control a specific situation he faces.

Extract two by Detienne and Vernant begins by reintroducing us to the term agon (competition) and saying that in a struggle the ‘man of metis’ will prevail by using his experience and awareness. Immediately following this the authors go on to describe the many characteristics and traits a ‘man of metis’ possesses. The line, “the man of metis…knows how to wait patiently for the calculated moment to arrive” is a great line that emphasis the intangibles a man of metis possesses. The extract continues with examples from the Shield and the Lliad where the authors give references to where metis is used to describe someone. These references help to give readers a context of when and how metis can be used to describe someone and also serve to help the reader get a complete understand of the term.

Thesis: The thesis is that metis can be analyzed and defined and it is important.

Antithesis: The antithesis is that metis is unimportant or trivial.

Tools:
Mythological Allusion
Theoretical Concepts


Effectiveness of Tools: The tools used are relatively affected but the language used to present the argument can get confusing at times. It takes about 3 readings of the extract to really get a hold of all the main ideas and concepts. However on the first reading one can see how the art of metis can be applicable to sports and the sporting world.

Sports VS. Art

Last week we talked about Sports and Arts and the similarities and differences between the two. I thought that how we were comparing the two was kind of awkward, awkward in the sense that we didnt really draw a line or narrow what aspects of the two we were comparing. I believe the argument started with what in both art and sport could be classified as beautiful and then expanded to if art is compaable to sport and vice-versa. I just wanted to say on the later that I think everybody is entitled to their own opinion but I feel that sport is comparable to some forms of art in certain ways and other forms in other ways. For example Music is very comparable to football for they are both forms of entertainment and both have draw huge crowds (game or concert) however in football there is a great dealof contact between the participants and in music there is none. This is a very basic example but I think I made my point that sports and art are comparable but inorder to compare them you need to narrow down your variables so that you may be able to accurately gauge one versus the other.

The Superbowl : Afterthoughts

Peyton Manning and the Colts won the superbowl on Sunday but more than that Manning finalized his legacy and silenced all his doubters. They always questionned if he could win the big game or transfer his brialliance in the regular season to the playoffs. Well there will be no more of that now that Manning has won a superbowl and has been named Superbowl MVP. [sidenote] To win the superbowl how he won it this year most have been special too as they had to win against a run savvy Chiefs team, the colts supposed weakness. Then also having to win at Baltimore against the best defense in the league (win how they werent use too 15-6). Then again in the AFC championship against the rivaled Patriots and the 'most clutch' QB Tom Brady with Manning ending the game with a game winning Touchdown drive was classic. And ofcourse the Superbowl with Manning being the great QB he is adjusting successfully to the wet and sloppy conditions and taking what the defense gave him. IT WAS JUST MANNING'S YEAR!

Superbowl Prelude

The Superbowl is a week away and all the fanfare and hype associated with it have begun. People are planning where and with whom they are gonna watch the laregest sporting event of the year with. People are paying upwards of $4000 to get watch the game in Miami and the coaches and players are getting ready for the biggest day in their careers til now. This is definitely true of the most marquee guy invol ed in the game Peyton Manning. He has struggled to win the big one especially against the Patriots but he is finally over the hump as he has made it to the superbowl. But is that enough?

Manning has always been compared to Dan Marino, both two of the greatest Quaterbacks ever to lace up a pair of cleats and play the game but QB's who have only achieved regular seaon success and never one a superbowl. Marino got a chance at a suberbowl very early in his career (his 2nd year) but lost to arguably the best QB of all time Joe Montana and never returned. Manning is in the prime of his career with many more incredible years ahead of him but learning from Marino, Maning better make the best of the opportunity as another chance at a suberbowl is never guaranteed even for some the greatest player's of all-time.

In saying all of this I believe Manning and the Colts will win the suberbowl in a close and exciting game. I just believe IT'S MANNING'S YEAR and everything is just falling in place for him to win a suberbowl and to further his legacy. Cause if were never win, everybody would say Manning was the greatest QB to never win a suberbowl and that is not a category any Quarteback wants to be in no matter how great they are because as my favorite NFL head coach Herman Edwards said, "YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME."

**Official Pick: Colts 38-34 in a good high scoring game.

COLTS & PATRIOTS

It's Championship Weekend. And are you ready for this, it's another classic Colts-Patriots matchup. And although Brady and the Patriots have had the upper hand in previous matchups, I have a feeling this year is going to be a little different. I think it's Manning Year. I feel it's only fitting that to reach the suberbowl, Manning should have to face Brady and the patriots, the team which has seemed to have his number his whole career.* This game will be a defining moment in Peyton's career and personally I think he is up to it. I know he has struggled to win the big game, so to speak, and has a pretty bad postseason thus far but we all Peyton Manning is not gonna play 3 bad game in a row. Bottom line, I think its Peyton's year and everyting is set up perfect for the him to make it to the superbowl and hopefully take it home. I must also say though, if he loses this one it might take something from him that will never be able to get back. Lets Go Colts!!!

*Colts won the last two regular Season games against the Patriots,both in New England 2005 & 2006 seasons.

BCS Championship Game

Wow!!! I know everybody watched the game on Monday Night and saw Florida just dominate THE Ohio State Buckeyes in every sense of the word from the 14:44 mark in the 1st Quarter. We all saw this and if your like me, you watched in utter amazement as the #1 team in the country and heavy favorites lost in all 3 phases of the game Offense, Defense and Special Teams (other than the opening kick0ff). But like Chris Burman always says, "This is why we play the games." This is a very valuable life lesson in that until you try and give it your all nothing is impossible and all your goals and aspirations are attainable.