{"id":6670,"date":"2016-09-15T06:32:01","date_gmt":"2016-09-15T10:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=6670"},"modified":"2016-09-15T06:47:42","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T10:47:42","slug":"who-chooses-what-we-see","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=6670","title":{"rendered":"who chooses what we see?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"photo-1444012183556-ad267375edb4\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Maybe I just shouldn\u2019t go here. Maybe today\u2019s angle would be better left unstated \u2014 like we sometimes do with that younger generation and the teens around the house\u2026 we don\u2019t say anything \u2014 just stay silent. We sit back, allowing reality to slowly sink in, wondering at what point the embedded irony will speak for us\u2026<\/p>\n

First full disclosure: the Intramuralist is a fervent football fan. No, not that hot, burning with intense passion kind of person \u2014 I mean, it doesn\u2019t ruin my day if my team loses, and I don\u2019t \u201chate\u201d 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 \u201cwatch-8-games-on-the-screen-at-one-time\u201d exercise. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 I mean Los Angeles \u2014 Rams vs. the San Francisco 49ers. Ah, yes\u2026 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.<\/p>\n

As he kneeled (because in my opinion, kneeling looks better than sitting),<\/em> ESPN\u2019s cameras focused on him, maybe four, five times. Play-by-play broadcaster Chris Berman and sideline reporter Lindsay Czarniak supplied ample info on Kaepernick\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

No problem. Each of us is free to choose how to respond to Kaepernick\u2019s actions. As stated here previously, the Intramuralist does not care for Kaepernick\u2019s 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 \u2014 and actually sing \u2014 because I\u2019m mindful of all those who\u2019ve fought for us, who\u2019ve fought for that flag, who\u2019ve defended us so that we could be free\u2026 and express those varying, individual opinions.<\/p>\n

But the target of today\u2019s post isn\u2019t about Kaepernick. In fact, I don\u2019t really pay all that much attention to him. Today\u2019s post is about the irony of what happened later in the game.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, even as a football fan, the game was kind of boring. There wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Knowing I needed to hit the hay (as two games in one night creep past my weeknight bed time),<\/em> it had become a bit of a yawner to me\u2026 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 \u201ctime\u201d 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).<\/em> A funny thing then happened\u2026<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 and here\u2019s where my yawn instantly morphed into an ironic chuckle \u2014 Berman said something along the lines of, \u201cWell, we don\u2019t show you that because we try not to pay too much attention to people like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

What? You mean you are choosing for us<\/em><\/strong> what we should see and what we should not? You are choosing for us from a media-perspective what is worthy<\/strong> of our attention?<\/em><\/p>\n

Fascinating. Just fascinating.<\/p>\n

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,\u201cHey, somebody has run unto the field. Some goofball in a hat and a red shirt. Now he takes off the shirt! He\u2019s running down the middle by the 50! He\u2019s at the 30!\u2026 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\u2019re chasing him! They\u2019re not gonna get him! Waving his arms, bare-chested \u2014 somebody stop that man! Oh, they got him! They\u2019re coming from the left! Oh! They tackle him at the 40 yard line!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Harlan had a little fun. He also allowed the audience to decide for themselves what was important.<\/p>\n

Respectfully\u2026
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maybe I just shouldn\u2019t go here. Maybe today\u2019s angle would be better left unstated \u2014 like we sometimes do with that younger generation and the teens around the house\u2026 we don\u2019t say anything \u2014 just stay silent. We sit back, allowing reality to slowly sink in, wondering at what point the embedded irony will speak … <\/p>\n

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