Don't blame Jesse Ventura and Bill Bradley if sports and politics are becoming indistinguishable. Political news reports rely on sports metaphors so frequently that audiences are accustomed to thinking of elections as "races," debates as "showdowns" and charged campaign issues as "political footballs." But while political commentators are speaking more and more like sportscasters, sports coverage is becoming more and more political. And maybe it's not such a bad idea for ESPN to take a few pages out of CNN's playbook.
Sports purists may argue that the playing field should be kept pure and untainted by political considerations. Ideally, athletic contests should embody the most straightforward ethical principles: Hard work, intelligence, honesty and courage are rewarded on the scoreboard. The proudest moments in sports history came when bitter enemies set aside their differences and forged mutual respect through their common reverence for the game. In the same way, the Olympics give national rivals the chance to meet and safely compete for competition's sake alone. ("Those Russians can't be all that bad -- after all, we can all agree on how to play a good game of hockey.")
This is part of why sports are so popular. Since the game's outcome won't really affect anyone's life, fans can both vent their aggression and celebrate their camaraderie. (Not to mention enjoy a good tailgate party.) But this popularity is where things start to get complex.
Spectators bring all the real-world controversies that players try to leave on the sidelines. And with the guarantee of an audience, sporting events are appealing forums for those who might otherwise go unheard. The same environment that lets enemies engage in friendly competition also serves as a safe and public venue for controversial debates. A high school team might wear black armbands to make a silent statement to the crowds in the bleachers. But when television networks and news media cover a game, the potential audience for such statements is extended beyond the stands to anyone with a TV or a newspaper subscription. With the world watching, the Olympics have become frequent stages for boycotts and demonstrations.
In fact, the media plays a surprisingly active role in shaping social debates. This summer's World Cup soccer tournament prompted discussions about gender equality when American broadcasters and advertisers learned the games drew high ratings. And closer to home, when spectators wanted to show support for a diverse student body at the Virginia / Virginia Tech game, they dressed in all black to be most visible to a live TV audience. One could even argue that the University was given a louder voice in the discussion of college admissions policies just because ESPN2 brought their cameras to Scott Stadium.
Elections may give every citizen a vote, but the media largely determines who gets a voice. So, given that more sports coverage offers people more opportunity to reach wider audiences, maybe it's time we started giving sportscasters a little more respect. If we want to level the political playing field in this country, maybe we need to promote sports both as showcases for athletic talent and as venues for important community discussions.
In fact, if we really want to encourage interest in politics, perhaps C-SPAN should run shows like "US Senate Smackdown!" Ratings would improve, voters would be enthusiastic about issues and our government might run more smoothly if politicians worked in fear of filibusters and deadlocks ending in no-holds-barred, steel-cage death matches.
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