George Carlin’s wry view of sports offers lesson to be learned
Most people didn’t realize it, but the sports world lost a visionary on Sunday. George Carlin went to that great roof in the sky.
The roof?
“Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck,” Carlin said.
I don’t know if he was a Frisbeetarian. I don’t even know if Carlin was a sports fan. He certainly didn’t look like much of one with his scraggly face and ponytail.
But Carlin knew something about sports that most jersey-wearing, face-painting fans could learn. He knew not to take them too seriously.
Of course, when you make fun of religion the way Carlin did, you probably don’t worry about getting hit by lightning for ridiculing football. I don’t endorse making fun of God, but a sport is not a religion.
The problem is people treat them that way. If their favorite pursuit or team is made fun of, they break into one of Carlin’s most famous routines.
Seven Dirty Words.
You can’t say them on TV, but you can sure say them to sports columnists. Especially when they say your sport isn’t really a sport.
Do you know when your sport has really arrived? As an ode to Carlin and a test of your sport’s true status, here are his views on fun and games.
“There are really only three sports: baseball, basketball and football. Everything else is either a game or an activity.”
What about soccer?
“Anything where you can’t use your arms can’t be a sport.”
Running?
“Running isn’t a sport because anybody can do it . . . My mother can run. You don’t see her on the cover of Sports Illustrated, do you?”
Hockey?
orlandosentinel.com
6/24/08
Magnolia Tribune
