There is a similar beauty and grace in both sports and the arts, but comparing the performance of a violin concerto to a successful three-point shot is a deeply flawed argument.Intellectual and emotional truths in sport? Hmm, let me think ...
Although perfection of technique is necessary in both, the arts operate in a different sphere by communicating profound intellectual and emotional truths.
With all due respect Professor Pielke, this is a false argument you are going to lose. The ‘intellectual and emotional truths in sport’ photographs you point to as evidence are quite simply public displays of political and social protest. They have nothing to do with athletic competition, other than the fact that many of them happen to have been televised. In other words, these types of public displays are seen in a multitude of public arenas and forums that have nothing whatsoever to do with sports. This is an unsuccessful attempt to juxtapose the ubiquitous nature of socio-political public demonstrations with sports competitions in hopes of knitting the two together. Well-intended, but it just doesn’t fly.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I am wholeheartedly in favor of applying academic rigor and awarding students with the appropriate degrees in any/all of the various management activities required for commercialized sports.