In the world of sports it is common to hear people complain about teams “running up the score”—playing hard to score additional points or runs even after the outcome of the game has been decided. Some cases of running up … Continued
Thus far I have extolled the benefits of sports, but it would be remiss of me not to note a few caveats: First, athletic competition is not an end in itself. Notice that each of the benefits I mentioned underscore … Continued
In the first two installments of this series, I discussed how sports have aesthetic value and provide clear examples of excellence. In this post I want to highlight another significant way in which sports are valuable. 3. Athletic competition builds … Continued
In the first installment of this series, I discussed how sports provide clear examples of excellence. In this post I want to highlight another significant way in which sports are valuable. 2. Sports have aesthetic value. Why is it that … Continued
In my previous post my alien friend challenged the notion that sports are inherently valuable. My actual view is not quite as extreme as that of this unrelenting extraterrestrial (who enlightened me on many other subjects, I should add). I … Continued
The other day I was walking across campus, minding my own business, when there came a sudden flash of light and the low, pulsing hum of something other-worldly. I ducked and covered my eyes. When I looked up, there it … Continued
With the start of another NFL season, I’ve been thinking about an alarming statistic associated with the league: 78% of former NFL players either go bankrupt or experience severe financial distress. This is astounding because the base salary for rookies … Continued
People abuse the English language in many ways, but I am never more bothered than when I hear the word “literally” misused. Take a perfectly good idiomatic hyperbole like “scared to death,” for example. Why do some folks insist on … Continued