12/03/24
July 02, 2013
Whitlock: Gangster Culture Has Corrupted Sports: "Aaron Hernandez is a reflection of where we are as a society. Like Allen Iverson and an endless plethora of fatherless and directionless modern athletes since the end of Michael Jordan's reign, Hernandez saw his athletic gifts as a platform to represent where he was from, not where he hoped to go," writes Jason Whitlock. "I am not surprised to learn that a 23-year-old professional athlete covered in tattoos is linked to several violent acts, including 'accidently' shooting a man in the face. Modern athletes carry guns. They do drugs. They mimic rappers and gangster pop-culture icons. ... Popular culture has so eroded the symbolic core principles at the root of America's love affair with sports that many modern athletes believe their allegiance to gangster culture takes precedence over their allegiance to the sports culture that made them rich and famous."
Popular culture has so eroded the symbolic core principles at the root of America
- Every old person since 1778
I'd suggest it's a more accurate thesis that page views have corrupted sports writing.
posted by yerfatma at 06:12 PM on July 02, 2013
I just started off on a rant and got waaaayyyy to far into it when I realized I was getting worked up over another bullshit Jason Whitlock column designed expressly to stir controversy. So I deleted my rant. Because I don't want to fall into his trap, because it is baited with stupid.
posted by tahoemoj at 07:28 PM on July 02, 2013
I'm surprised he didn't blame Marilyn Manson for corrupting sports.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:38 PM on July 02, 2013
I knew Elvis Presley would lead to no good.
I didn't expect to see Whitlock blame tatts. This guy has moved into early onset codgerhood.
posted by rcade at 09:29 PM on July 02, 2013
Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience...
posted by MeatSaber at 09:43 PM on July 02, 2013
Reminds me of the lunchroom table's weekly discussion, "Those damn kids, they just ain't like the previous generation!" Repeated since kids have been around.
posted by jmd82 at 09:56 PM on July 02, 2013
Yeah, man, mob based gambling totally wrecked the Chicago White Sox back in the 10's.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:11 PM on July 02, 2013
Why is Whitlock hating on Jigga Man so much?
posted by Whizbang at 10:24 AM on July 03, 2013
Gibbons, in his Roman history, explained that "get offa my lawn" was a cliche even as the Republic became the Empire. Though instead of lawn they said parthenon.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:34 PM on July 03, 2013
What's the Latin word for FUPA?
posted by beaverboard at 05:19 PM on July 03, 2013
psst, "parthenon" is Greek...
posted by MeatSaber at 06:35 PM on July 03, 2013
The Romans stole pretty much everything from the Greeks, so what's your point? ;)
posted by billsaysthis at 12:10 PM on July 04, 2013
Ty. Cobb.
Okay, we're done here.