The Olympics

[Peter Romanienko]

        If I have nothing erudite to say about some Pynchon matter, at
least I can fulminate about sports and the like. It's just like religion
and has become the new opiate of the masses. When I hear friends and just
strangers talk about how we (meaning whatever autochthonous team) did last
night or what we need to do is this and rattle off the last 3 years of some
running backs average yardage per game, or run, or season a-and give stats
that make my head reel ( but he sure would make a great trivial pursuit
partner who could compensate for my complete ignorance ((purposeful)) of
sports trivia) I just can't feel anything but pity.
        I think sports at an amateur level is good for the exercise and
teamwork aspect, but it eventually gets poisoned by overzealous,
egomaniacal little-league coaches and high-schools that are known for their
continuing state championships and lowest 10th percentile reading scores
whose students only go on to college if they can throw a ball. People
should get a life and not allow passive involvement to be their savior. I
know some families that center around a sports team or event without which
any quality time would be non-existant. And to top it all off, while
leafing through a tuxedo catalog looking for a tux style for my impending
marriage, I see vests with football team logos emblazoned on them. I could
picture it now... Do you promise to love, honor, obey, a-and root-root-root
for the home team, Go GIANTS, Yeah!!! Woof, Woof, Woof !!! I'd walk out of
that church in a second, of course wondering what came over me to go inside
in the first place. My $.02 of non-Pynchon posting.

Peter Romanienko