A Full Glass of Haterade

I consider myself more of a fan of specific sports rather than individual teams. This is because all to often I feel that fans are clouded by their support for the team to the point where they are unable to simply enjoy the sport that they claim to ‘love’. Living in Toronto I often see and hear people talking about the Maple Leafs or the Blue Jays, but rarely about the NBA or MLB. I don’t have any ill feeling towards these fanatics as they are important to making the leagues that their teams play in profitable and exciting. However, I sometimes notice that when I do watch games involving the teams that I do like that it there is heightened sense of engagement in the game and I often find myself paying closer attention, criticizing every play and on the edge of my seat if not standing. There is definitely an appeal to cheering for ‘somebody’, over simply watching the game.

Over the past year I have discovered that there is another lens through which one can enjoy sports and that is through the filter of disdain. Like a number of people, I was caught up in the melodrama that was the Miami Heat. There is no need to rehash the discussion but the Heat’s actions and comments prior to and during the season but me squarely into the ‘haters’ faction.

The Heat were not the first team or athlete that I obviously rooted against but even I was surprised by extent to which I found myself involved in each moment of the game. It was a new experience for me and I was enjoying every struggle and embarrassing moment throughout the season and into the playoffs. In the end, I like so many others was rewarded with a Miami Heat defeat in a extremely exciting NBA Finals. At the moment the result was clear I felt a brief sense of jubilation as my hate for the Heat was vindicated. However the feeling wasn’t satisfying. It was then that I realized that hate for a team while useful can never replace the passion one feels when actually supporting a team or athlete. Maybe I’m just an overly optimistic individual but for me this love/hate thing is just too complicated so I think i;ll just go back to being an objective observer.

 

An Aging Man’s Reflections on Hip Hop

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My relationship with the hip hop genre can best be described as a tumultuous. Its like that one friend everyone has whom they have known for several years and yet can’t explain why that friendship exists. They are loud, abrasive and you generally disagree with what they say. At the same time you keep hanging out with them.

Maybe its because hip hop is just a part of me. So many memories like rushing to the local HMV (yes we actually had to leave our house to buy our music back then) to get the latest Wu-Tang Clan album. Beyond the memories, I have always appreciated the honesty and gritty aspect of hip hop. At the same time I couldn’t relate. Many of the popular artists of that time wrote about what they experienced. As a result my albums contained lyrics based on life in the projects and a different approach to love and relationships (Thats a creative way of putting it). I didn’t grow up in that type of environment and I didn’t desire to. Maybe for some this lifestyle was intriguing but I kept listening and justified it by simply separating the music from the message. I know that even back then hip hop was more diverse but the impact of the ‘thug lifestyle’(Couldn’t find a better term) on the mainstream in particular was obvious. The era I grew up in saw the deaths of the genres biggest stars Tupac and Biggie.

For a long time a made the choice to move away hip hop, at least those artists whose message I didn’t agree with.  I turned to other types of music including but not limited to rock, alternative and even dance.  What I always admired about these genres of music was their incredible diversity. Even within these categories there were all sort of sub genres and it felt that combinations of music were incredible.  It bothered me that the same options were not available in hip hop. Often artists that did not live a certain lifestyle were considered ‘weak’ or ‘soft’. Those who tried to break out of the mold were pushed to the margins and became irrelevant (The Roots being one exception).

There is something about hip hop that keeps me coming back for more. When I think about hip hop now there seems to be movement that is taking place. There definitely is still a lot of emphasis on a lot of the same themes that existed when I grew up (Let’s face it those things sell) but the image that a lot of artists portray seems to be different. Artists like Drake, Lupe, and Kayne are being seen alongside artists like Lil Wayne and Rick Ross.  Could it be? Are these artists no longer considered ‘soft’? Does this mean that hip hop is actually developing sub-genres? I think so. What makes me happy is that not only are these artists mainstream but they didn’t have to change themselves to achieve. These artists have also made me appreciate even more genre as a whole.  I think there is more than enough room for a variety of artists with a variety of messages.
 
  Much like my that friend that is so different from you, I can’t seem to leave this music.  After some thought one has to consider that maybe its because you actually appreciate their honest, abrasive personality.  Maybe its because you’re slightly envious of their ability to be so raw with what they say, or maybe its simply because they are so damn cool. Whatever the reason you cant let them go and maybe its for the better.

 

Parity in Sports Part 2

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One of the key points behind the claim that parity is good for sport is the idea that it is the best way of maintaining the interest of all fans.  The argument is that fans unsuccessful cities will lose interest if they feel their chances of winning are limited from the start.  I think it is important to differentiate between fans of a sport and fans of team. If you are a supporter of a team, you may believe in the value of creating parity. Parity represents hope and chance which are key ingredients for keeping people interested.  Living in Toronto I would even argue that some fans of teams have very little interest in how successful their team is (Leaf fans i’m talking to you).

However those of us who genuinely enjoy the sports they are watching are more interested in watching excellence. For me there is no better way than to have the best to play with the best.  It is more entertaining to watch a league with two great teams that compete with each other than watch  30 equally balanced yet mediocre teams.  I think that parity is a great concept but when it comes at the expense of quality there is a problem.

I find it very interesting that in the North American supporting culture there is such an emphasis on parity when  the world we live in does not appear to have the same values.  We have all heard the phrase “Life is not fair”, and yet we want sports to be? In business, few would suggest that Starbucks is unfairly competing with the independent coffee company at the corner and that a more level playing field is required so that everyone can compete equally. I guess that any comparison between parity and the business are dependent on if one believes that teams and leagues act as partners or competitors but this is a debate for another time.

When Lebron, Bosh and Wade decided to ‘take their talents to South Beach’ I was amazed by the reaction. Opponents claimed it wasn’t fair, that they were taking the easy route to winning and that it will lead to end of the league.  While I dislike the manner in which they left their teams (Why would you act like you’ve won the championship when you haven’t even played a game), I couldn’t understand the outrage. As a fan it’s great to have another great team to compete in the league.

When it comes to individual sports nobody would suggest that we have to increase parity so the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Tiger Woods are not as dominant as they are. Rather we admire their abilities and revere their talents. Sports much like life isn’t fair and I think its better that way.

 

Parity in Sports Part 1

>In the world of sports every athlete engages in competition in the hopes that they will eventually be considered the best in their respective endeavor. Whether it be team or individual sports most  athletes aim to be the best. The idea of creating parity in sports is seen as a necessity in some sporting environments, and completely neglected in others.

North American sporting culture, particularly team sports, seem to be consumed with making the teams in their respective leagues as balanced as possible. All of the four major North American leagues (NHL -I’m Canadian I have to include them-, NBA, NFL and NBA) utilize a player draft system which rewards those teams that preformed the worst with the best young talent.  Leagues have also introduced salary caps, revenue sharing and other measures aimed at creating an environment whereby it is possible for any team to win.

How successful have these measures been in generating parity? It is difficult to determine.  A look at the champions of each league since 1980 reveals that the NBA has had the fewest number of different champions (8), while baseball have had the most with 19.  The NHL and NFL lie somewhere in the the middle 13 and 14 respectively (Thanks wikipedia!).  I think the lack of parity in the NBA is related to the limited size of each teams roster. Teams are able to remain at the top without having to change as many parts as is required in other leagues. With the exception of basketball there have been few so called dynasties in modern day sports.  I have heard about the Oilers, Islanders of the early 80s in hockey or the Yankees of the 1940s and 50s in baseball.  However, when I think of modern day dynasties in those sports it becomes more difficult.  The evidence would suggest that parity in sports will continue to grow.

The trend towards parity seems inevitable in all sports, but is it a good thing? Is diversity better for sports? I don’t think so and I will make my case in Part II.

 

The Toronto Sporting Landscape: Partial Fan’s Perspective

>There has only been one city that I have called home my entire life.  Despite my close connection to the city of Toronto, my love has not translated to a love for its sports teams.  As a child I do have memories of not only cheering for the likes of Alan Bester, Daniel Marois and Al Iafrate, but thinking they were the greatest players on the planet. But my affinity for Toronto sports teams faded as I progressed into puberty.  While most of the city was celebrating the first of the Blue Jays World Series Victories, I clearly remember hiding my true feelings for the team that had eliminated my beloved Oakland A’s on route to becoming the eventual champions.  The addition of the Toronto Raptors to the sporting landscape also failed to capture my interest.

I’m not sure when it happened, but my feelings changed.With the exception off the Maple Leafs (I’ll get back to them later) passion for Toronto sports teams has blossomed. Where once I laughed at the Blue Jays, I now cheer for them and I wouldn’t say I bleed purple, but I must admit that I have been rooting for the Raptors in recent years.

There is no real explanation as to the sudden shift in my allegiances.  Outside of my childhood I have never considered myself a ‘fan’  of any one particular sports franchise. Living in Toronto and watching the way Maple Leaf ‘fans’ obsess and support with an almost Lemmings-like devotion has pushed me away from the Leafs in the past and still does today.  I think that is why my support may have swung to Toronto’s two other major sporting franchises (Only slight disrespect to the Argos, Rock and TFC intended…just joking). Because while love for the Maple Leafs in this city has never wained, the same cannot be said for the Raptors and Blue Jays. Since the departure of Air Canada and more recently Chris Bosh, it feels that the Raptors are increasingly becoming an afterthought.  Similarly, the Blue Jays are experiencing record low attendance despite fielding a competitive and entertaining team. Now that the fanfare has died down it seems that the Toronto ‘fans’ have also left.

  I’ve always enjoyed cheering for the underdog, and in a town where hockey is number one I enjoy cheering for the two teams that are bleeding fans left, right and centre.  So as both hockey and basketball season approach I know which Toronto team I will be following more closely.  Maybe it will take a decline in support for the Leafs to capture my interest in the team, but I live in Toronto so that will never happen…….right?

 

Greatest Athletes Ever?

The last of the four major tennis Grand Slams is currently being played  in Flushing Meadows, N.Y this week.  The U.S Open is entering the semi-final round and will conclude this weekend.  As a general sports fan I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid watching at least a portion of tournament.  Instead of only catching a couple matches I have found myself watching glued to the TV watching countless hours of tennis, so much so that i regretfully only saw the final half hour of President Obama’s health care speech last night (side-note: man can he deliver a speech!).  I have always had a fondness for tennis and outside of soccer if there was one sport that I would have liked to play at a high level it was definitely tennis.  This despite me never taking a tennis lesson.  I can still remember watching my favorite tennis player growing up Michael Chang (Strange choice I know but I always loved the smaller players) chasing balls all over the court using his speed and technique to defeat much stronger and more powerful opponents.  I think this is why I like tennis.  It is one individual against his or her opponent with little influence from outside influences such as referees and umpires.  In some ways it reminds me of the ancient battles in the Coliseum (minus the senseless violence). The beauty of tennis lies in the contrasting styles of play that exist between players.  No two players are alike.  Some rely on quickness, finesse while others utilize power and strength and others still rely on their ability to anticipate and out think their opponent.  The truly great players are able to combine all these attributes on route to victory.

Those who are fans are extremely lucky to be watching some of the most dominant players that the sport has ever seen on both the male and female circuit.  Roger Federer and Serena Williams are two of the most dominant tennis players ever.  What is even more incredible is that they have done so in completely different ways.  Roger is the consummate professional, he is almost robotic in his approach, rarely showing emotion almost always in control but with a level of ability that almost makes it unfair against his opponent.  Serena while not possessing the same level of success as Federer (she is not considered an automatic to win every time she is on the court) is dominant in my opinion because she has almost single handedly changed the way women’s tennis is seen.  I still prefer to watch women’s tennis not solely because i’m a guy but also because women’s tennis tends to rely more on long rallies a variety of shots and utilizes the entire court, making it more appealing than the powerful and shorter rallies that men’s tennis often produces.  However Serena has changed the rules and uses her superior strength, energy and athleticism to overpower her opponents.  She is an extremely emotional player but when she is able to channel her emotions she is very close to unstoppable.  In both cases one gets the feeling that the only person that is able to beat them is themselves. Are they the best male and female players ever?  I don’t know.  And I have always thought this debate is meaningless because no one will ever be able to come to conclusion. That is why I like to use the word dominant, because the only way to evaluate their abilities is against their competition.  In recent year Rafael Nadal has proved a great foil for Federer, both in his style of play and his abilities.  He is energetic, emotional, engaging and an equal in ability.  As Roger’s career winds down(although he is yet to hit 30, i’m sure he has more grand slams to win) it appears Nadal’s is the successor.

It is not only within the tennis world where the debate about the best of all time debate is strong.  Tiger Woods dominance in the golf world, Usain Bolt’s obliteration of track and Field’s sprinting records and Michael Phelps Olympic performance in Beijing are all examples of how I would argue that this is the era of the individual sport athlete.  Not only are these athletes winning at the highest level but they are doing so at a level that is miles ahead of their nearest competitor.

At the same time in the North American landscape in particular as spectacular as these accomplishments are I still feel that team sports receive all the acclaim.  Individual sports still have their fans but I still feel that team sports are king.  Tiger Woods has been one of the few athletes that has been able to transcend the sport he plays and receive the acclaim he deserves but why not the others.  If Roger Federer or Usain Bolt been American would the media machine have been more willing to promote them? Believe me I love team sports as much as anybody but I just find it strange that in North America where so much emphasis is placed on the individual that when it comes to sports the preference is for team sports.  Perhaps it is the identification of teams as representing the city you live in, maybe its something else.  I just think that many are missing out some the most dominant individual sports athletes of all time, and thats a shame

 

Smartphone, Smart Choice?

I have always prided myself in having the ability to discern between needs and wants.  I not quite sure if this means that I am frugal or prudent, but in any case I try to make an effort to live within my means.  I try to avoid making impulsive decisions, and often by the time I make my choice I am fairly confident that I have made the best selection according to my needs and wants.  At the same when I consider buying something I become totally obsessed with that item.  I search the Internet for various opinions and reviews about the item almost to the point where I convince myself that the thing I wanted to buy is flawed and therefore unnecessary.

My most current obsession are smartphones.  I already posses a cellphone and it preforms every single thing that I require of it.  I don’t even like using the phone (see previous post), but there is something about these devices that keeps drawing me in.  I have always tried to stay away from items that have ‘trendy’ or lcool’, as I find that often people surround themselves with things they don’t need simply because ‘everybody else has it’.  But I must admit that the ‘things’ that these phones can do is extremely ‘cool’.  It is almost impossible to not notice just how many people have these phones.  In many instances it appears that these phones do serve some business related function, but increasingly younger and younger people are beginning to use these phones.

As these phones continue to flood the market the line between need and want becomes more cloudy for me.  I know in my head that I really don’t need it, and logically I should probably wait until a later date before I take the plunge, but…… have you seen what they can do!  On paper there is no debate…It will be mine, oh yes it will be mine!

 

Something Missing

I have recently had a lot of free time on my hands and have returned  to my traditional source of comfort, the T.V.  As a sports fan and more specifically a soccer fan, I have been anticipating the start of the European soccer season.  I am so happy to see that coverage of the UEFA Champions League has shifted from TSN to Rogers Sportsnet.  In the past nothing was more disappointing than tuning in to watch a quarter final match only to find out that curling had taken its place (all offence intended…only in Canada could curling receive more viewers that soccer).  With the baseball season winding down, and hockey, football and basketball on the horizon, there are plenty of sporting options.  At the same time something was missing from my television experience.  I then realized that it has been almost a month since The Score’s Sports Tonight has been cancelled.  The Score Tonight was the only highlight show that didn’t take itself too seriously.  The combination of Sid Seixeiro and Tim Micallef was extremely entertaining and their plays of the week segment was unmatched in Canada.  The pair continue to work for the The Score but the feeling is not the same.  I think the show was unable to capitalize on what I think was a younger demographic.

I’ve tried to find a replacement sports highlight show but have been unsuccessful.  The other two stations have many flaws that make them virtually unwatchable for me. I understand that we live in Canada and for the majority of Canadians, sports discussions revolve completely around hockey, but the emphasis on hockey is almost to the point of being ridiculous.  I often feel that other sports shows are completely missing out on large segments of the population, particularly those living in cities where other sports such as soccer and basketball have a larger following. The Score is a refreshing change to the way sports is covered in Canada,  their emphasis on entertaining the viewer while at the same time covering sports and events that are outside of the mainstream Canadian sports environment mean that I will continue to make it my primary Canadian sports channel.  Now if only The Score could do away with the WWE, I would be extremely satisfied.

 

Hip-Hop: A love hate relationship

I have always felt that in terms of my musical taste I listened to a variety of genres.  At any given moment I could be listening to pop music, classical, heavy rock or electronica.  While my tastes may be eclectic, I usually will go a month or two listening to one type of music until I get ‘tired’ of it and move on to something else.  Noticeably absent from my rotation was Hip Hop or rap music.  When I began listening to music rap was the only genre I listened to.  As I got older, my interests in other styles increased (How could anyone avoid Nirvana during the 90s!) but rap was always my safety net.  Then something changed..I began to listen to the lyrics and felt a disconnect between the words being spoken and my experience.  I did not grow up in the ‘hood’, I did not smoke ‘weed’ on the corner and I didn’t have sex with ‘ho’s’.  I still liked the beats but the images and lyrics were not relevant to me and so rap was no longer relevant to me.

At the same time I always thought the ability of an MC to paint an image, at the same time being able manipulate and play with words in a creative manner requires tremendous skill.  I know that there are many artists that do use rap and hip hop (I’ve never been able to distinguish between the two) in a positive manner and do not resort to simply glorifying an undesirable lifestyle. I have been listening to a lot of hip hop recently, probably more than I have in the past several years.  I still cringe at the sexist and violent nature of the lyrics and I am not sure of how long it will be before hip hop is once again off my play-list. Often these artists argue that their words are not an attempt to glorify their lifestyle, but rather paint a picture of the life they have lived. I just wish that there was some way for these artists to use their creative talents to describe more than this one experience and become true storytellers.   I hope that someday I will able to say that I listen to rap music without feeling that I am doing something that I feel guilty about.

 

Proud FM?

When I bought my mp3 player, one the features that i thought would be useful was FM.  I have to admit that I rarely listen to the radio but every once in a while I will try it out.  During a spell of boredom I tried to fill out the 30 preset station slots available.  After a 5 minute search I had a total of 7 (and believe me it was a stretch to find numbers six and seven).  After some time I stumbled upon 103.9fm which was playing some catchy top 40 pop music.  Desperate to add to my collection I added the station.  I listened for a short while and learned that I had found the home of Proudfm. I was curious about the station and this being the Internet age I had to check out the website. The station is catered to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community (GLBT).  

I continued to listen to the station off as they play a wide variety of club, current and older pop music.  My problem was that I found it increasingly difficult to determine what distinguished this radio station from any other.  What made this a GLBT radio station?  The artists I assume were not exclusively part of the GLBT community? I couldn’t understand how music which many claim as being universal could be seen as GLBT-themed.  The subject matter during the typical host banter in between songs was sometimes GLBT based and sometimes not. I think the biggest indication of the stations influence in the GLBT community can be found in the advertising. It was at this point that I realized the stations best attribute is not in the music but rather in the potential to sell to an extremely specific group.  A lot of the ads to me seemed to be for products goods and services (petite clothing, cosmetic surgery, careers in massage therapy etc.), that in my opinion are based on a stereotype of the Gay community in particular.  

This subject of stereotype is perhaps the biggest issue.  I am conflicted between the idea that there should a medium through which the concerns, ideas and opinions of various groups are expressed and the belief that often these methods only seem to foster existing stereotypes about the group in question.  I have often felt this way about the television station BET.  Its audience has demands about what they want to see and hear, and there is a benefit from the ability for black people to share, express and be entertained in this manner.  At the same time as one of the only sources of exposure, I sometimes feel that it portrays a very specific experience of black people. As with any community there is not exist one singular shared experience or preference for entertainment, but as with any community it becomes difficult for minority voices to be heard.  

The difference between BET and proudfm to me is that at least in terms of music there is an ability to define the music not as black music but as urban music, and thus they are able to incorporate a wider audience of music fans.  I don’t think it can be said that there is ‘gay’ music unless its being used in a negative or stereotypical manner.  I am not sure if this differentiation exists or not but anyway I’ll keep on listening.