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Why DC is such a weird town, explained through basketball
This has nothing to do with counterinsurgency, but it's a great piece of sports and political journalism:
For people who don't spend much time in Washington, all this can be confusing. What's the difference between hanging out and networking? Isn't a cigar sometimes just a cigar? Washington doesn't really make sense until you understand that a moment almost always exists on two levels. There is the moment itself, not unlike a moment anywhere else in the world. Then there is its political shadow, which is far more significant.
Update: Hahaha. The Onion explains as well.
There's something cool about
There's something cool about that article, but also something really off-putting. Sure, basketball is the new golf in DC. However, isn't basketball *less* democratic than golf as a means to get ahead. Just about anyone can learn to play golf and be pretty ok -- and it's really hard to be good. Basketball is a lot more popular, so everyone played as a kid, but talent of the type described in this article is a lot more based on immutable characteristics. The idea that having played college basketball makes it more likely you will get good jobs in DC now just seems weird. Guess the jocks win again? Though I presume the author overstated the case to sell the piece?
"This D.C. is a lot like
"This D.C. is a lot like junior high: The student body waits to see what the cool kids do. The president -- no matter who -- is the coolest kid. "
Well, there's your first problem, right there. A little piece of my soul would die every day in that town, if I lived there. Kudos to all you that are trying to actually do good things in DC, because I sure couldn't do it.
Related Onion news on
Related Onion news on Machiavelli.
The part that's off-putting
The part that's off-putting to me is the insinuation that basketball is popular because it's democratic and anyone can play it. Obama doesn't play because it's some sort of social equalizer, he plays because he always has and enjoys it. If we had a President who played rugby, we'd be seeing the same ridiculous article insinuating that people in DC are trying to learn to play rugby. Somehow, I don't see the aged power elite transitioning to line-outs and rucks all that well...
Ultimately, the article is about insiders who want to be seen. Fortunately, most of the city has somewhat of a grip on reality, and goes about their daily lives without wondering how they'll get onto the court with the President.
Basketball is democratic in
Basketball is democratic in that anyone can play it, but anyone who has ever played pickup games at a gym knows the way the power dynamics work.
What a needledick town DC is.
What a needledick town DC is.
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