How Soccer Explains the World...

How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization by Franklin Foer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Just finished a highly entertaining book about how soccer incorporates aspects of globalization. From Nigerians in Ukraine, to an English team without a single royal subject in its lineup, from sectarian strife in Scotland, to the nationalist Catalans, this book gives the history of some of football's most impressive clubs and explains how politics, economics, media, culture are all influenced by the passion for the beautiful game.



I had no idea football was so intertwined in so many cultures. It's practically a secular religion, and it's a powerful, powerful force.



Of particular enjoyment was the final chapter about how soccer explains America's "Culture Wars".


View all my reviews.

Record keeping...

Today The Sweetie™ and I had a chance to visit Salt Lake, and two things I saw there reminded me of the power of keeping records: journals, diaries, scrapbooks, blogs.

First was "Up" (in Dolby 3-D!), an absolute treat of a film. Kick my teeth in if I spoil this for you, but a very adorable scrapbook plays, not a pivotal, mind you, but, for me anyway, a powerful role in the film. It recorded the life a husband and wife had created together, and despite being a complete fabrication of some very creative animators, the scrapbook still managed to deliver a punch to the gut, reminding me how incredibly vital, how crucial, how beautiful it is to set those memories to something more tangible, more permanent. Needless to say, thinking about my grandparents and my parents and others whom I know who have given so much of themselves to one another and to their children and to those they love made me a tad emotional. Thinking about the life I'll get to create with my special someone took me over. the. edge. I want these memories and these examples archived for generations and generations to enjoy and admire.

Speaking of archiving, The Sweetie™ and I then ventured over to the LDS Church History Library, located directly east of the Conference Center to take an open house tour of the brand new building. We saw how different media was being digitized and preserved (one of the most impressive things I heard was President Spencer W. Kimball's voice before he had throat cancer. Let me just say right now I was floored by his power.), how old documents were restored, how the Church maintains its physical documents (paper at 55º F, film at -4º F as I recall), and why the Church keeps its history in the first place. It was all very, very...I don't know how to describe it. It was just amazing. And that idea to keep records, to document, to testify, was driven home with such force...really, I can't put it into words. The experience there was fantastic, and what really blew my mind was that the Library is open to the public. It's kind of like the Library of Congress, I guess, only mormofied.

Mancard revocation...

A notion that exists among many men I know, including myself, is that of the "mancard": that symbolic, yet prestigious, document that identifies you as a red-blooded, heterosexual male. Normally, the card is vigilantly protected, but, we all face moments that test our resolve. Like too moving violations, infractions of the "man code" can find you with your mancard revoked.

So, it's with hesitation I present to you the pilot episode of "Glee", a new show on Fox, coming this fall, showcasing a group of misfits with a passion for singing. I confess...I have a weakness for catchy tunes, cover songs, and Jane Lynch, so having Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" performed by a high school show choir, hearing "Glee's" version of "Don't Stop Believin'", and watching Lynch compare cheerleading to waterboarding and hepatitis, I've found myself struggling to keep a hold of my card.

If you have a second or a couple thousand, take a look. I think you'll like it, no matter what your mancard status.

Here's their take on Journey:



Here's the full episode:

The Soccer Project...

My friend Abe tipped me off to a genius idea of a film project by two American collegiate soccer lovers. They travel the world, playing pickup soccer games in 25 countries, sharing they joy of the "beautiful game" with a few of the 3 billion people on this planet who play...just to play.

Enjoy the trailer, here. (I'll try to find a way to embed it later.)

In the meantime, pitch these kids a few bucks so they can have the film ready for the World Cup in South Africa next year!

Yes, I am lazy...

I have no other explanation for the neglect of my blog besides a fierce and persistent case of laziness. But I'm back, and while I'm not going to get you all excited with a promise to blog my head off, I will start writing now, I think.

How Twitter is killing my blog...

I haven't blogged in ages, and I fix the blame squarely upon Twitter. Microblogging, as the term seems to be called, is just so much easier. I have a 140 character limit, so I know I don't have to think too much. Blogging is a bit tougher, because I'm under pressure to actually say something of substance. Why can't I just be inane and superficial all the time? Again, much easier. Twitter is easy, feedback and engagement with other twitterers is quick and easy, I am seriously neglecting my blog.

I may have to stage a self-intervention.

Here's me: brentito on Twitter

Curse, you, Twitter! I hate how much I love you.

Why Temples?

Wiser...

Can I just say I'm grateful for people *ahem* smarter and wiser than I am *cough* Kory *cough* who take the time to help less fortunate people like me to take a step or two towards being like them? I can? Well, folks, I'm grateful.

See, HBO is airing this episode of Big Love on March 15, 2009, entitled "Goin' to the Chapel", which will reportedly re-enact sacred ceremonies within the LDS temple. "What in the WHAT?!" you say. Yeah, pretty brazen, right? My initial reaction was outrage. How dare they! And I sent HBO an email and blogged about it and thought that I was pretty on top of things for doing so.

But, then Kory had to burst my bubble and show me what a Public Affairs representative in California had to say, which prompted me to look to the media page of lds.org for an official response to HBO's nefarious plans. Both the PA rep and the Church counseled members not to respond to HBO and avoid drawing any more attention to the issue. Huh. Really? You mean it's better to ignore those kinds of affronts and publicity stunts? And now I have to think about what I've done? Ugh. Thanks, thanks a lot! Thanks for making me think about it for two seconds instead of getting all offended and reacting the way I did. Sheesh!

Seriously, I'm thankful and glad that bubble was burst. Kory and the PA representative and the Church's media department have the right idea.

Brothers and Sisters, "Big Love" is not a ratings winner and we don't wish to build their ratings for them. TV Guide does not experience the readership it once had. Some of your friends and neighbors will see the images in print and see our temple ceremonies acted out in the drama. Perhaps the greatest position of strength for us, is to stand by our beliefs and teach the gospel.

An excerpt or two from the Church's statement really drove home the point that now, more than anytime in the history of the restored Church, is not the time for reactionary measures, especially for a desperate show with less than 2 million viewers a week using a publicity stunt to get higher ratings.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series.

[W]ith a global membership of thirteen and a half million there is no need to feel defensive when the Church is moving forward so rapidly. The Church’s strength is in its faithful members in 170-plus countries, and there is no evidence that extreme misrepresentations in the media that appeal only to a narrow audience have any long-term negative effect on the Church.

"The greatest position of strength...is to preach the gospel." "There is no need to feel defensive." Uh, that's pretty wise.

Don't get me wrong...plenty of issues exist (like Prop. 8) that merit our energy and attention because of a large-scale effect on our society. Big Love, however, doesn't come anywhere near to meeting that threshold of concern, so I feel pretty silly, now that I've added some fuel to the fire.

So, what's the lesson here? We, as Latter-day Saints don't need to react to every little offense that crops up, especially when it's the kind of reaction our detractors are hungry for. We have the momentum behind us that as we live according to the gospel and take the time to share the truth with others, avoiding insignificant controversies, we are using our energy in the most effective and uplifting manner. Next time, I think I'll take a page from the smart kids' book.

HBO's Big Love - Goin' to the Chapel

UPDATE: Read this statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

UPDATE 2: Read what I think about the issue now.

One of my friends sent an email to me today describing an upcoming episode of "Big Love", a show on HBO focused on Utah polygamists who "officially" aren't LDS, but who, by living in Utah, might as well be Mormon to the vast majority of the population who think Utah = Mormons = polygamists.

So what, right? We're used to it, right? Here's the deal, though: unless we take action, next week's episode, as reported by TV Guide, is set to have the show's characters re-enact sacred temple ceremonies.
















If you're not LDS and you're reading this, you may wonder why such a portrayal would be so offensive. I don't know really how to put it into words, but for me, the closest I feel to God is when I'm in the temple. The way I go about approaching Him, even though it's the same holy and sacred experience for millions of Mormons, is extremely, extremely personal. So, to have these things broadcast is just insensitive and ugly and in incredibly poor taste.

So, I'm asking you to do something right now. Go to HBO's website (link provided below) and calmly, nicely, but forcefully express your thoughts and feelings. Whether you are LDS, whether you are not, whether you love Mormons, whether you hate Mormons, we have enough in common to know the right thing to do is respect others' religious beliefs and practices, yes? I hope so.

So, go here to make your opinion known, and tell HBO to not air this episode.

Here's what I wrote HBO:

Allow me express my utmost dismay and sorrow at your upcoming episode of Big Love, "Going to the Chapel", featuring a re-creation of sacred ceremonies within Latter-day Saint temples.

The lack of respect for and barely-masked hostility towards something sacred and holy for millions of Latter-day Saints around the globe is unconscionable.

I do not argue your right of creative expression or free speech. At times, however, things are best left unsaid and unexpressed, especially when such actions are cause for so much offense and distress for millions. Where is your conscience? Where is your compassion?

The Temple is a sublime place, and the ceremonies conducted within its walls are just as beautiful. They are not displayed in public or discussed in great detail because of their extremely personal and sacred nature. The communion with God one feels while at the Temple is holy, and it is not, despite your claims or wants or desires to the contrary, for public exhibition.

I urge you, in all civility, to reconsider your decision to broadcast this upcoming episode of Big Love featuring temple ceremonies. The episode is inappropriate, insenstive, inhumane, degrading and saddening for all involved, not just Latter-day Saints.

By degrading us, you do no service to yourselves, your craft, and your viewers.

Back from hiatus!

I've gone nearly a month without posting something. Inexcusable. Please forgive me. Not that you hang on my every blogging word...please, I'm not that egomaniacal. Still, there's a certain connection with and even an obligation to, I would say, with those who take the time to navigate here, so, yes. What can I say? My next post promises to be fascinating! How's that for some blog bait?