Amateur better than pro?

Amateur better than pro?

We’re too pro nowadays in our approach to sport. We turn weekend R&R

into pro intensity/stress/$.

Pro is only around to *SELL* *THINGS*. Ouch. It turns people into things.

Amateur is higher.

The world forgot that when it let pro into the Olys. (But the ‘world’ isn’t

the people: it’s the illusionists who pull the strings, the advertisers,

and what people let themselves turn into.)

Olys are originally an homage to internatl brotherhood, put aside rivalry

(arms for sure, but I think rivalry too), and come together. It’s

ABSOLUTELY 100% NOT “US vs. THEM”. Anyone who pushes THAT

angle you know is not your friend. They’re using the Olys just like

they would and do use you.

Sport is originally a celebration of WORK and NEIGHBORLINESS.

It distills the effort of work into a symbolic event.

Bike racing is an homage to transport/commuting/carriage.

We’d do best not to forget that. To push for that kind of integration

as our goal. To doubt/suspect anyone who says otherwise (barring

good reasons I’m forgetting of course). Litmus test! Sports are

a litmus test for honor, humility, etc.

Now, athletes are those who are set aside for sport. It’s a sacrifice

for and of them.

Citizen sport? It seems like it’s best simply as a test or display of

the vigor/prowess built by your life, NOT apart from your life.

Thus let the bike commuter show us what he’s got. Let the hod

carrier lift a prize-winning weight.

I don’t quite know how to fit the modern keyboard jockey into

this picture. Hmmmm, at any rate I don’t think we want to encourage,

elevate or celebrate those who have excess energy due to excess

stress buildup in their lives. Someone who is idle and pent up all

day who then goes out and tears the world a new one—not the

best role model, even tho such a person might well be fastest.

Sports is indeed about role models.