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MisterE
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 29, 2014 - 11:10pm PT
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I'll start with
surrogate male success.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Oct 29, 2014 - 11:11pm PT
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sublimated metaphysical desire
much like music
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Oct 29, 2014 - 11:20pm PT
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tribalism...
ancient stuff indeed... all the way back in recorded history...
Bk VIII:104-151 The Sports Contest
With this he led the way and all followed. The herald hung the ringing lyre on the peg, and led Demodocus by the hand from the hall along the same path the Phaeacian nobles had taken to see the games. They headed for the gathering place, and a countless throng went with them. Many fine young men rose to compete: Acroneos and Ocyalus, Elatreus, Nauteus, Prymneus, Anchialus and Eretmeus, Ponteus and Proreus, Thoon, Anabesineos, and Amphialus, son of Polyneus, Tecton’s son. Euryalus too, the equal of Ares, destroyer of men, and son of Naubolus who in looks and form was the finest of all the Phaeacians after peerless Laodamas. And flawless Alcinous’ three sons as well, Laodamas, Halius and godlike Clytoneus.
The first trial was a foot race: they all sped from the mark along the course set out, raising the dust from the ground. Faultless Clytoneus was quickest, and taking the lead he reached the crowd, leaving the rest behind by as much as a furrow’s length in mule-ploughed land. Then they tested each other in painful bouts of wrestling, where Euryalus beat the best. Amphialus then leapt furthest, while Elatreus conquered with the discus, and Laodamas, Alcinous’ fine son, won in the boxing. When they were all satisfied with the contest, Laodamas, said: ‘Friends, let’s ask the stranger whether he’s practised in any familiar sport. He’s a fine build in thighs and calves, with two strong arms, a stout neck, plenty of strength. Nor has he lost the power of youth, he is only wearied with suffering. There’s nothing like the sea to sap a man’s strength, however tough he might be.’
Euryalus replied: ‘Laodamas, what you say is right. Go and challenge him yourself, and make the challenge a public one.’
At this Alcinous’ fine son came to the centre, and spoke to Odysseus: ‘Sir stranger, come, enter the contest too, if you have any skill as seems likely, since there is no greater glory for a living man than that which he wins with his own hands and feet. Come, prove yourself, and throw off your cares. Your journey will soon start. The ship is launched now and the crew are ready.’
Bk VIII:152-198 Odysseus enters the Games
‘Laodamas’ replied resourceful Odysseus, ‘why provoke me with a challenge? My mind is on trouble not on play, since I have toiled and suffered greatly in the past, and now I long only to return home, and so I sit in your gathering and plead with your king and people.’
Euryalus answered then, mocking him to his face: ‘Indeed, stranger, you look like a man unused to manly sports, more like the captain of a merchant crew, trading to and fro in a sailing ship, careful for his cargo, keeping a greedy eye on freight and profit. You are no athlete.’
With a dark look, resourceful Odysseus replied: ‘Stranger, you speak unwisely, you are a man blinded by foolishness. How true it is that the gods seldom grace men equally with their gifts, of mind, form or speech. One man is meagre in appearance, but the gods crown his words with beauty, and men delight in him as he speaks sweetly in modest eloquence, conspicuous in a crowd, and looked on like a god as he crosses the city. Another seems an immortal, but his words lack grace. You too have exceptional looks a god could not better yet your mind is crippled. You have roused my spirit by speaking rudely. I am no novice in your sports: indeed I was one of the best when I had my youth, and strength lay in my hands. While now I’m constrained by pain and suffering, since I have endured many things in my passage through mortal warfare and hostile seas. And yet, though I’ve suffered deeply, I will join your contest, since your speech has stung me, and your words have riled me to the heart.’
With this he leapt to his feet, still wrapped in his cloak, and seized a discus bigger than the rest, thicker and heavier by some way than those the Phaeacians normally used in competition. Spinning around, he sent it from his huge hand, and it hummed as it flew: the Phaeacians cowered, those lords of the ship and the long oar, beneath the flying stone. Flung smoothly from the hand, it sailed past all their marks, and Athene, in human likeness, pegged the distance, then, spoke to him: ‘Stranger, even a blind man, groping with his hands, could find your mark, by far and away the furthest, and separate from the cluster. You can take heart from this, at any rate: none of the Phaeacians will meet or pass it.’
Bk VIII:199-255 Odysseus declares his skill
Noble and long-suffering Odysseus was pleased by her words, happy to find a genuine supporter at the games. He spoke to the Phaeacians now with a lighter heart.
‘Match that, you youngsters: I expect I’ll send another along, as far or further, in a moment. As for the rest, since you’ve angered me deeply, if anyone has the courage and the spirit, let him come and prove himself, in boxing, wrestling, running, it matters not: let any of you Phaeacians try, except Laodamas. For he’s my host, and who would quarrel with the one who shows him hospitality? Only a worthless idiot would challenge the man who welcomes him to a foreign land. He would ruin his own good luck. But the rest of you I’ll not deny or disdain, wishing to know your skill and be matched with you. I am no lightweight in any of the sports men practice. I know how to handle a polished bow with skill, and I was always first to pick off a man in the enemy ranks, however many comrades stood with me to shoot at the foe. When we Achaeans fought at Troy only Philoctetes surpassed me. But I count myself the best by far of all the other mortal men on earth, who eat their bread. Still, I would not claim to compete with Hercules, or Oechalian Eurytus, archers who vied with the gods. That’s why great Eurytus died swiftly, and never reached old age in his halls, because Apollo, challenged to an archery contest, killed him in anger. And the spear I hurl further than others can shoot an arrow. Only in running I fear one of you Phaeacians might best me, since I’ve been thrown about by the waves, and on my raft I could not exercise, and my legs are weakened.’
They all stood silent at his words. Only Alcinous answered, saying: Stranger, since you are not ungracious, but wish to emphasise the skills you possess, and were angered because this man taunted you at the games, making light of your powers, in a way that none would who rightly knew how to speak; come, listen to what I say. Then you may recount it to some other hero, as you feast in your home with your wife and children, remembering our skill, the talents Zeus endowed us with from our forefather’s days. We may not be the greatest boxers or wrestlers, but we run fast in the race, and we are the finest sailors: and ever the feast is dear to us, the dancing and the lyre, fresh clothes, warm baths, and bed.
So come, you finest dancers among us Phaeacians, perform for this stranger, so he can tell his friends when he reaches home how we excel not only in swiftness of foot, and seamanship, but in dancing too, and in song. Let someone go quickly, and fetch Demodocus his ringing lyre that is somewhere in the palace.’
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Oct 29, 2014 - 11:27pm PT
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Grand Faloon. . .A False Assocation...
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MisterE
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2014 - 11:31pm PT
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Well put, Munge!
Nicely quoted, Ed - the salad days...
Seems like it is not the same now? Although I agree with the tribalism - in a very loose sense of the word.
Edit: Agreed. Bullwinkle
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Oct 30, 2014 - 08:10am PT
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Professional Sports Fanatacism is...
...very little different from religious fanatacism and fanatical patriotism.
And, along with those two, is at the root of much evil.
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kaholatingtong
Trad climber
Nevada City
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Oct 30, 2014 - 08:18am PT
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... a fantastic waste of time, if you got nothing else going on.
edit: and I suppose I was more referring to enjoying professional sports, rather than the fanaticism as well. That sh#t... beyond me.
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Oct 30, 2014 - 08:28am PT
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.... hooliganism. Hooliganism is.....
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WBraun
climber
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Oct 30, 2014 - 08:38am PT
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What a bunch of stupid blather.
Climbers are such pussies.
Always against sports.
Sports are good and if you don't like them go sit on your rock and turn into stone where birds roost and sh!t on yer head .....
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MisterE
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 30, 2014 - 09:43am PT
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Werner is painting a broader stroke than the OP:
Professional sports is non-participatory for 99% of the people who watch them.
The draw of the fanaticism and cult-like behavior of the observers has always eluded me - I would rather just be out doing some non-professional sport.
Good bait, though - fortunately I just had breakfast...
;-)
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Oct 30, 2014 - 09:47am PT
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....a helluva lot of fun.
Baseball fanatacism, that is.
The other sports....meh.
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son of stan
Boulder climber
San Jose CA
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Oct 30, 2014 - 10:24am PT
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I, not events, have the power
to make me happy or unhappy today.
I can choose which it shall be.
Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet.
I have just one day, today,
and I'm going to be happy in it.
Groucho Marx
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Oct 30, 2014 - 10:27am PT
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Huge business....there will come a day when professional sports eill constitute one of the largest segments of the GDP.
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Oct 30, 2014 - 10:32am PT
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Beer during innings, pullups between, on topic bitches.
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WBraun
climber
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Oct 30, 2014 - 10:39am PT
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Just see....
MisterE is a lot smarter and doesn't fall for the "Duck" bullsh!t .....
:-)
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WBraun
climber
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Oct 30, 2014 - 10:50am PT
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hahaha lol
Russ for the kill.
Russ double pumps the ball and throws the 95 mph zinger to first for the out ......
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kaholatingtong
Trad climber
Nevada City
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Oct 30, 2014 - 10:57am PT
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Theres a lot of things I disagree with in Wallings troll, but let me cut to the the meat and gravy : baseball, or anything that demanded some athleticism. the part where he implies baseball requires athleticism... I laughed.
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kaholatingtong
Trad climber
Nevada City
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Oct 30, 2014 - 10:59am PT
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Keep trying.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Oct 30, 2014 - 11:09am PT
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Ever try to hit a 90 mph ball? Or 80 mph? 60 mph?
Just for the hell of it, go to a batting cage one day. It's harder than shit!
Lots of respect to anyone who can do this consistently, with accuracy and good placement.
i.e. Sandoval...that guy could almost instantaneously adjust to any kind of pitch thrown to him, and get a hit. Respect.
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