Maybe I just shouldn’t go here. Maybe today’s angle would be better left unstated — like we sometimes do with that younger generation and the teens around the house… we don’t say anything — just stay silent. We sit back, allowing reality to slowly sink in, wondering at what point the embedded irony will speak for us…
First full disclosure: the Intramuralist is a fervent football fan. No, not that hot, burning with intense passion kind of person — I mean, it doesn’t ruin my day if my team loses, and I don’t “hate” any opponent. I just enjoy watching the game, cheering the guys on, appreciating excellent play. In fact, for an extended glimpse into our household, starting last Sunday, our family got back into our fall routine, with 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time commencing our annual “watch-8-games-on-the-screen-at-one-time” exercise. 🙂
Our fandom actually extends into Monday, where on the inaugural annual weekend, the NFL treats us to two games. Game two last week featured the St. Louis — I mean Los Angeles — Rams vs. the San Francisco 49ers. Ah, yes… the 49ers. My sense is that far more than the casual fan is aware of the 49ers these days, as one time starting quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, remains on their roster. He has received increased attention, choosing to sit in recent weeks during the pre-game National Anthem as a stand against perceived police brutality.
As he kneeled (because in my opinion, kneeling looks better than sitting), ESPN’s cameras focused on him, maybe four, five times. Play-by-play broadcaster Chris Berman and sideline reporter Lindsay Czarniak supplied ample info on Kaepernick’s protest, even taking intentional time out at the conclusion of the anthem to share with us a few thoughts about the quarterback, how his protest is perceived to be received, all prior to pivoting back to actual football.
No problem. Each of us is free to choose how to respond to Kaepernick’s actions. As stated here previously, the Intramuralist does not care for Kaepernick’s behavior, as from my limited perspective, he makes his point by disrespecting other people, but I solidly support his right to express his opinion. I support the individual freedom of speech. No one should be forced to stand. I stand — and actually sing — because I’m mindful of all those who’ve fought for us, who’ve fought for that flag, who’ve defended us so that we could be free… and express those varying, individual opinions.
But the target of today’s post isn’t about Kaepernick. In fact, I don’t really pay all that much attention to him. Today’s post is about the irony of what happened later in the game.
Admittedly, even as a football fan, the game was kind of boring. There wasn’t a lot of exceptional play, no razzle-dazzle, and the Rams were especially, offensively challenged. They often seemed to get the ball, run three plays, and then give the ball away.
Knowing I needed to hit the hay (as two games in one night creep past my weeknight bed time), it had become a bit of a yawner to me… that is, until a little unexpected excitement a few minutes into the fourth quarter. With the teams lined up and the Rams futilely attempting to again move the football, all of a sudden the players slowly rose, as “time” had been called on the field. Momentarily, we saw a very enthusiastic 49ers fan come sprinting across the field. He was grinning and laughing and running notably fast (his speed seemingly uninhibited by the other substances in his body). A funny thing then happened…
On ESPN, for a moment, the cameras followed the young man, moving as if to cover him. Yet simultaneous with an awkward silence, the cameras stopped showing the fan. Announcer Berman then shared that there was a fan on the field, but — and here’s where my yawn instantly morphed into an ironic chuckle — Berman said something along the lines of, “Well, we don’t show you that because we try not to pay too much attention to people like that.”
What? You mean you are choosing for us what we should see and what we should not? You are choosing for us from a media-perspective what is worthy of our attention?
Fascinating. Just fascinating.
For the record, I laughed more a day later, hearing tape of the radio broadcast by Westwood One announcer Kevin Harlan. In his all of a sudden, revved up voice, Harlan said,“Hey, somebody has run unto the field. Some goofball in a hat and a red shirt. Now he takes off the shirt! He’s running down the middle by the 50! He’s at the 30!… Now he runs the opposite way! He runs to the 50! He runs to the 40! The guy is drunk!! But there he goes! The 20! They’re chasing him! They’re not gonna get him! Waving his arms, bare-chested — somebody stop that man! Oh, they got him! They’re coming from the left! Oh! They tackle him at the 40 yard line!”
Harlan had a little fun. He also allowed the audience to decide for themselves what was important.
Respectfully…
AR