Sports & Politics for Some. Politics = Sports for Me

Professional basketball and baseball were my All-American go to sports. In fact, there was a time in my life when I was totally tuned in to the NBA schedule. I knew the team’s standings, and I would consistently watch many games – more basketball than baseball.   

My dad used to watch basketball and football games in the den, and he was always rooting for someone – typically the most southern, nee country players. If you were from the south or went to school in the south in places like Arkansas, Alabama or Mississippi, you were in!   

I was once a diehard Knicks fan. I especially loved them when Jeff Van Gundy was coach, Charles Oakley and John Starks were on the team, when game 7 was interrupted by OJ’s slow speed chase. Side note: the only time I ever fanned out was that time I saw Charles Oakley at the Café Wha? Bleecker & 3^rd - Funk Night. 

Before my neighborhood was wired for cable, I used to go to my friend Shawna’s house in Parkchester, “just so I could see the Knicks play basketball.” I confess that I am no longer even moderately invested and excited about professional sports in general. Heck, I even remember being in 7^th grade and watching the Indiana Pacers in a playoff game that went triple overtime. Further confirmation of my long love of the game.  

As much as I enjoyed basketball, I began my one woman boycott in 2003. It was at that point, sitting on my high-horse, I decided the game had become too commercial, and at the same time, the fundamentals of those playing the game seemed lacking. On commercialism, it struck me that we were now in an era where you had to have a cable television subscription if you wanted to see the NBA All Star Game. I remembered watching the All Star Game on ABC. And regular season games, albeit local, on the big 3 networks. Remember the NBA theme song?  “You see the best of basketball when you watch the NBA, when you watch the NBA on CBS…”  

At that time, it also seemed to me that there was an “I” in team. Too many players appeared to be playing for the highlight reel, which bothered me. It wasn’t easy to teach the game when there were so few screens set and dunks attempted and made.   

I learned everything I needed to know about baseball from my Uncle George. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with a colleague that I realized just how much I knew not only about the game, but the players. As a Yankee fan I sat in the free Con Edison bleacher seats at the old Yankee Stadium, where I fondly recall that game when I yelled, “Loooooou,” and you know who turned around? Yep, Lou Piniella! The last live Yankee game I attended was courtesy of a now former season ticket holder Marshall Goldberg. He had seats right behind home plate. I was able to go to 2 playoff games with my brother Bobby, who would succumb to lung cancer two (2) months later. Speaking of baseball, remember the Phenom that was Mark “The Bird” Fidrych?” Any way…  

I was never a football fan, but my friend Sonya taught me the basics one Saturday at a Cornell University football game. She convinced me to go to a game because “my people,” Londell and Aaron were playing. That knowledge carried me through a couple of my Godson’s high school football games. Later, I would go on to watch snippets of NFL games. I decided to commit to watching both the commercials and Super Bowl XL. That was the last football game that I watched. I am no ace referee, but I remember yelling “that was no touchdown,” and thus my interest in football was forever quashed.   

In light of all of the incessant coverage from the overkill that is the main stream and cable television, to comments on social media about this year’s presidential election, I am struck by the passion that Americans have for their political parties and their candidates.  This has led me to conclude that politics and sports aren’t very different. Not much at all. The zeal many sports fanatics display for their favorite sports teams is not very different from that of the politicians and political parties they support.   

Think about it... 

Professional sports teams have salaried athletes/players. Political parties have salaried elected officials and politicians.  

Professional sports teams have paid staff. Political parties have paid staff.  

Professional sports teams have colors, logos and mascots. Political parties have colors, logos and mascots.  

Professional sports teams have patrons and fans. Political parties have donors and supporters.

Professional sports teams don't hand out membership cards. Political parties don't hand out membership cards.

Professional sports teams want you to and encourage you to root for them.
Political parties want you to and encourage you to vote for them.

My friend Phyllis and I have long been political junkies. We have been friends since 1989. The first “campaign” we bonded over was “Dinkins for Mayor.”  At the time, we both worked for the same labor union. She was in the communications department, and I worked in the legislation and politics department. In addition to our work at the union, Phyllis volunteered for Dinkins in Brooklyn.  

In the years since, we have spent many an evening through night – even into the next morning watching election coverage, and commentating.   

·       The two of us, along with another friend stayed on the phone on election night 2000. From 9:00pm until about 6 the next morning. We were fascinated by the coverage. Al Gore was coming out to concede, but he didn’t. George W. said that he just spoke to his brother, and one county hadn’t come in yet. Then there was the pole worker who went home with the ballots in his car. There was Tom Brokaw, live on air, who told the newsroom staff to just give him the paper. Everyone knew they were live. Oh, and along the way, we learned that Daddy Bush called Sandy to see how she was feeling…

·       We watched Al D’Amato in defeat come to the podium in wrinkled shirt sleeves, looking quite disheveled. He had been stuck in an elevator.  

·       When Peter Vallone was all smiles making his concession speech after learning he had lost the NY Gubernatorial race, we realized that he saw the numbers for the City, and he would run for mayor in 2001.  

·       Together, we saw Miss Virginia fall off her chair at the democratic national convention.  

Phyllis and I have been on the phone watching election results for virtually every caucus and primary held this year. We cheer and jeer just as if we were at a game. We get testy and sometimes raise our voices when we agree or disagree with the pundits and political reporters. We strategize about what the next steps should be for the candidates. We look ahead to the next contest.  

Afterwards, we want to see the numbers, the raw data.  

“Wow, he would have been elected mayor if south east Queens delivered for him.”  

“Where did the votes that “Candidate So & So” get come from?"  

“What was the turnout?”  

“That ED (election district) has a very strong GOTV operation.” 

I liken this to our version of color commentary and watching game tape.  

Conclusion: Politics has replaced sports in my life. This season ends in November.