January 11, 2016 (Monday)
As I looked at the TV schedule for this evening, I saw that the programs I usually watch are canceled or replaced with reruns. I wondered why as I ran down the list until coming to ESPN. Oh, yes, that’s right–I almost forgot that tonight’s main event is the college football championship game between Alabama and Clemson. Evidently, schedulers for the networks decided that most people will be watching the game. It’s not guesswork, of course. Scientific surveys tell the programmers what they need to know about who watches what and when.
The NFL has begun playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl on February 7. There will be plenty of football over the next few weeks.
People around the world enjoy sports. This universal interest comes into full focus when the Olympics are held. Competition between the best of the best athletes is freely mixed with national pride. Individual attainment is coupled with patriotism as excellence takes center stage on the world scene.
As football in the U.S.A. fades from view, baseball and basketball get our attention. Some folks like soccer and others prefer hockey, as every sport has its fans.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could settle all our differences with a good game? Alas, such thinking is pure fantasy. As Jesus said, “There shall be wars and rumors of wars,” and that has certainly been proved as a fact of history. We no longer sanction duels; at least we’ve accomplished that. Peace on earth still eludes us.