The sports culture offers role models as an explanation to show what it's like to be a real man. Being masculine means being able to inflict pain; therefore, it inflicts violence. However, the relationship between football and the military became very irrelevant to me throughout the film, "Not Just a Game". It became irrelevant to me because I couldn't see the relationship of football and the military until Dr. Kerrie Kauer pointed out to me that in the 1980's football was used to prepare men for the military. The relationship between football and the military has existed since football was invented and became more known after World War II. Dave Zirin mentioned throughout the film that "Sports and Politics just don't mix", but what do you call it when a professional football player quits his dream job to go fight for his country just like Pat Tillman did after the September 11 attacks? There must be SOME type of political influence there and I think it's simply carrying your country's pride. Pat Tillman was killed 22 months after enlisting in the military and going to the Iraq War. Tillman took the pride of his country with him. The pride he had for his country was obviously bigger than passion he had for his football career, or maybe it wasn't, but he sure did feel like it was more important to serve his country in that time of need. This reminds me of the heart warming feeling you get when saying the Pledge of Allegiance to a waving American flag at a football or baseball game.
Maria Melendrez
KIN 332i - TTH @ 9:30-10:45
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