Before the Game, “Meet the Press” unwittingly juxtaposes
a parallel between politics and sport as outgoing Defense Secretary Leon
Panetta anguishes about the Tea Party threat of automatic budget cuts by
sequester, “Why in God’s name would members of Congress elected by the American
people take a step that would badly damage our national defense? But more
importantly, undermine the support for our men and women in uniform. Why would
you do that?”
In another segment, sportscaster Bob Costas bewails
how “dangerous” and “barbaric” football has become to the point that President
Obama tells an interviewer, “If I had a son, I’d think long and hard before I
let him play football.”
Hard-fought but clean competition is long gone in a
time when winning isn’t enough—-there are bounties to “splatter” opponents and
knock them out of the game. (In the Hagel hearings, McCain attacks like an
obsessed linebacker.)
Elsewhere in the news, public shooting deaths
proliferate as Congress wavers on even small steps toward gun control and
fights every attempt to ease the plight of Baby Boomers who see their expected
retirement melt away in a continuing recession.
On this day of cold pizza and reheated chili, the
aches and pains of Super Sunday will be felt by millions more than the players
who were on the field.
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