A10 In Review Clipper Nov. 28, 2010
Cyclops
Why I have a fervent interest in sports The views expressed in this column are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily those of the ownership or management of this newspaper.
often encounter readers who are surprised (and sometimes even disgusted) that I have a fervent interest in sports. The comments are varied… “You have an interest in literature and politics, so how can you waste your time on sports?”… “Who cares about a bunch of arrogant college athletes and highly-paid professional players?”… “Oh, I turn on the Super Bowl and maybe watch the Jazz in the playoffs, but I By Bryan Gray don’t have time to follow sports any other time.” My intrigue with sports is that, unlike many other aspects in life, sports is unscripted. In the recent election, for instance, there was absolutely no chance that Sam Granato could beat Mike Lee for the U.S. Senate seat or that Morgan Bowen was going to unseat Rep. Rob Bishop in the 1st Congressional District. In fact, throughout the entire Wasatch Front there were only a handful of tightly contested seats (mostly in southern Salt Lake County). But sports are different. The Wall Street Journal gave the Miami Heat a 91 percent chance of defeating the Utah Jazz on Nov. 9. The Jazz fell behind by 22 – and then won in an improbable overtime. Similarly, I have not heard of anyone who had the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers playing for the World Series.The “experts” envisioned a close one-touchdown difference when the Utes played TCU this month. We all know what happened to that prediction.
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Indeed, life does have its share of surprises from unplanned pregnancies to job promotions/layoffs. But many things in life can be foreseen from reaping a guaranteed 2 percent return on a money market account to the long-term effects of cigarette smoking. Not so with sports. On November 10, for instance, I jotted down the Las Vegas odds on 10 NBA games and six pro hockey games, then compared them to what actually happened. The Utah Jazz were supposed to lose by 9 points to the Orlando Magic.The Jazz instead won by 10. New York was favored by 7 – they lost by 5…Atlanta Hawks were favored by nearly 6 points – they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks by 17…Sacramento Kings were favored to beat the woeful Minnesota Timberwolves by nine – the Kings lost by 10…Cleveland was favored by five points – they lost by eight…Houston,Toronto, and Memphis were all supposed to win – and they all lost. In only two of the 10 NBA games were the odds-makers close (hitting the San AntonioClippers game exactly). The National Hockey games went similarly. Of the six teams expected to lose, four of them won. That’s the magic of sports.While the arts can lift our spirits and show us beauty and unrecognized possibilities, sports immerses us in hope, the concept of hard work, and that desire can sometimes trump sheer talent. That’s why I watch. That’s why I cheer.And when my favorite team loses, I don’t don sackcloth and ashes and wander in the desert. In sports, there’s always next season.
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Changing Thanksgiving traditions
H e r p o i n t/ H is p o i n t
hese days, your family and now one such Thanksgiving table family is enjoying probably is less Thanksgiving in the most “Norman Rockwell” and famous house in the more Modern Family. country. Today’s turkey day fesMany turkeys have tivities naturally reflect been substituted for the diversity that we tofu and veggie enjoy even in fairly lasagna and homogenous even die-hard Davis County. cooks are While some turning to may bemoan the restaurant loss of tradition, reservations. the fact of the matBut all is not ter is that not lost. The many of us essence would fit our of round family Thankspegs into the giving is square intact. Thanksgiving Dawn Brandvold It’s dinner table about that was long-touted as giving thanks and as the ideal. German theologian In fact more than half Meister Eckhart said,“If of adult children not only the only prayer you said have to juggle the inin your whole life was laws, but they may be vis- ‘thank you,’ that would iting mom for turkey and suffice.” cornbread and dad for If you’ve lost the spirit pumpkin pie, as parents of gratitude, shake things divorce, remarry, and up with new traditions. I form new family ties. highly recommend the Give thanks America. St. Benedict’s FoundaThe unemployment rate tion annual Thanksgiving is still stubbornly too morning walk/run. For high, but the stock marthe price of a can of food ket has rebounded. (to be donated to St. Home prices are stabiliz- Anne’s shelter), you and ing and advances in tech- your family can enjoy the nology and medicine brisk morning air. Even have improved our quali- Fido is welcomed to the ty of life. We still have popular event. challenges ahead, but we I give thanks that I also have the will to sucrefuse to let paranoia ceed. color my optimism. I give And let’s face it. “The thanks for faith that good old days” were not beats fear. And, since I that good for many am taking a plane this Americans, and it could week, I’m thankful for be argued that the best the efforts to keep me as days are right now. Consafe as possible. At my sider, that in my lifetime age, if someone finds my there were restaurants X-rayed form exciting, that wouldn’t even serve I’m not only thankful – an African-American I’m astonished.
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ver the river and and a canvas water-bag; through the were full of happy advenwoods, to ture and excitement. Grandmother’s house we I miss those simpler, go.” Those words bring more honest, days. Sadly, back memories of simpler many traditions around days, when Grandma and Thanksgiving are Grandpa lived a short changing. Just drive away and loved traveling to ones could be quickly Grandma’s assembled for an house for impromptu get-togethThanksgiving er or for a major feast 2010 will be very of Thanksgiving. different. Days when the late In the guise of November chill was “protection”, countered by a President welcoming fire George and the hugs of W. Bush family and helped friends. Days progreswhen neighbors Blaine Nichols sives who knew each other reigned and shared a mutual conwith him create the dishoncern for community welestly named Department fare. Days when kids who of Homeland Security. “got out of line” were repThat deeply cancerous rimanded by which-ever body through its pathologadult was closest at the ic agent, the Transportation moment. Security Administration, Somehow it seems that will make Thanksgiving in those “good old days” 2010 and future days a there was a shared sense of very unpleasant traveling personal freedom closely experience for many married to a strong sense Americans. of individual responsibility. Barrack Hussein Americans understood Obama and his gang, openthey were part of a great ly more socialistic than society which offered them even preceding administrathe liberty to become their tions, clearly understand best. that as they now violate There was an underthe person and the dignity standing that a nation of of all air travelers they are free people had estabtaking one more giant leap lished a government that toward intimidating Amerdidn’t dictate, but rather icans in all phases of life. If provided protection from they can again pull this off evils which we might not with immunity, TSA’s strip be able to handle as indisearches and body viduals. fondlings will metastasize In that atmosphere of from airports to other goodness those trips to venues as they intentionalGrandma’s house; whether ly ignore the bad guys and in a rickety old horseexpand their intimidation drawn sleigh or in a rattleof the innocent. trap car with a poor heater, It’s sad to watch good, piles of blankets, bald tires old traditions die.
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