From: mazzarel@hilbert.berkeley.edu (Ariel Mazzarelli)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Re: WC negative press in chicago
Date: 14 Aug 92 21:53:36 GMT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley Math. Department.
NNTP-Posting-Host: hilbert.berkeley.edu


Thank you Linda for bringing this to our attention. Now let's just score
this article on racism, xenophobia, and ignorance, shall we? And don't forget
who to respond to if you feel the need...

>     This is an article found in the Chicago Sun Times July 1 issue.  It was
>written by Steve Rosenbloom and all responses should be directed to him at
>the following address:
>
>Attn: Steve Rosenbloom
>Editors of the
>Chicago Sun Times
>401 N. Wabash
>Chicago, IL 60605
>USA
>
>==============================================================================
>                SOCCER'S SO-SO BIG SHOW ALIEN TO LIFE WE KNOW
> [...]
>     Or maybe I'm missing the excitement presented by the rare opportunity to
>have hundreds of thousands of haughty Europeans and fans of drug cartel
>countries invade Chicago in two years to go crazy over a game that has no
>rules, no goals, and no point.  Sort of like having Steve Sax and Frank
>Thomas take infield practice.

Racism: Two points. Europeans are no more haughty than US folks are <whatever>.
Ignorance: 5 points. Nobody would pay to see infield practice.
Xenophobia: 10 points. "Fans of drug cartel countries"? Gee. The US sure 
	    does some drug and gun business, wouldn't we say?

>     Frankly, penalty-kick enthusiasts, they can take their silly game and
>dangerous fans and stay out of Chicago, stay out of the United States, stay
>out of this hemisphere.

Ignorance: 10 points. If you call this the Western Hemisphere, that includes
	   South America. If you call it the Northern Hemisphere, that 
	   includes Europe. Whatever you call it, it includes Central America.
	   So what would Mr. Rosenbloom do, kick THEM out too?
Xenophobia: 5 points. The 'stay out' phrase is always an automatic 5 points.

> [...]
>     Anyway, I think Germany beat Argentina, which, if you believe Nazi
>hunters, is like beating your own farm team.  But given its history in wars,
>Germany needed to win something this century.

Racism: 10 points. The Nazis are condemned worldwide. They practiced genocide,
	as you'll recall. And genocide is not considered a good thing in
	Germany or Argentina.
Ignorance: 8 points. Argentina derives very little of its football from
	   Germany. If you must seek foreign influence, try Uruguay, Italy,
	   or Spain.

>[...]
>     So, because they scored a goal, the Germans come here for the 1994
>opening game in Soldier Field.  Let's see now.  A team with a predictable
>offense and an inability to score that's playing in Soldier Field.  Gee,
>that'll be different.

Ignorance: 5 points. Germany only has trouble scoring when the opponent is
	   of roughly equal caliber. What team doesn't? 

>[...]
>     Chicago's latest exercise in futility, the Power, drew all of 1,000 fans
>to an outdoor game recently.  Soccer fever, forget it.

Ignorance: 15 points. The recent match between the US and Italy drew about
	   35,000, didn't it? High point total because it was a local event.
Racism: 3 points. If Mr. Rosenbloom had more friends of Italian heritage 
	(of which there are surely many in Chicago) he would have heard of 
	this. Low point total because with his personality, Mr. Rosenbloom
	must have trouble making any kind of friends.

>     But, wait.  The World Cup is bigger than all that, they tell us, as if
>such a thing is even possible.  It's the Super Bowl of soccer.  Which is like
>being the Chanel of insect repellents.

This must score for something, but I wasn't sure what. Ignorant, possibly
xenophobic and racist (insect repellent?!)... the judge had trouble scoring
this one. Add one point to each category.

>[...]
>      Remember, too, the city couldn't handle the "celebrations" that followed
>the Bull's championship - and the Bulls won.  Jeez, just imagine what will
>happen if the English team loses - and, remember, those fans are professional
>whackos.
>      About the best we can hope for is they'll send the English team to
>Detroit, a city that knows how to throw a sports riot.

Ignorance: 20 points. The Bulls riot had little to do with basketball--there
	   are these problems called RACISM and POVERTY and UNEMPLOYMENT and
	   GOVERNMENT HIPOCRISY and MEDIA INDIFFERENCE that are the cause of
	   these events. Lots of points because Mr. Rosenbloom is part of
	   the media. And of course lots of points for hoping that Detroit
	   gets some trouble too.
Xenophobia: Automatic 10 points for the summary reduction of English fans
	    to 'professional whackos'.

>      So, in all, World Cup '94 ought to be a fun time.  We'll get to see the
>world's best play a game where nobody scores and a bunch of people get hurt.
>Plus, we'll play host to thousands of foreigners who act like we should be
>grateful they're dropping their lira on us.
>      So, make your plans now for that June event: "Waste of Chicago."

Ignorance: 5 points. Scoring does take place, and often enough to be exciting
	   to enough people to make this the WORLD'S most popular sport. As
	   for 'a bunch of people get hurt', I hope the comparison is not 
	   being made to that pumpkin-tossing vehicle of violence that is
	   played in this land.
Xenophobia: Automatic 20 points for the 'thousands of foreigners' phrase, as
	    'foreigner' was the only thing that bothered Mr. Rosenbloom in
	    that phrase.

Total score:

Ignorance:  69
Racism:     16
Xenophobia: 46

And they pay this guy to write this stuff. Sick.

Ariel Mazzarelli