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A final word on World Cup jingoism Posted: Wednesday June 26, 2002 6:06 AM
By Terry Baddoo, CNNSI.com SEOUL -- Hello again. Rather than individually respond to the wagonloads of mail I’ve received, yet again, in reference to my article on jingoism at the World Cup, I’ve decided to make my final response generically via a column. Broadly speaking, those who hated my views had the following reasons for feeling that way. 1. Jingoism and nationalism is, and always has been, an integral part of football. Correct, to a degree. But the question I raised (and it was a question if you bothered to read the article) was -- is anyone uneasy about the amount of the "ultra-nationalism," as one of the letters described it, that we’ve seen at this World Cup? As I explained in my mailbag, I’m not talking about fans painting their faces and cheering for their team. I’m talking about using the game as a battleground for international issues not connected with sport. I agree we were not talking Hitler and the Berlin Olympics at this World Cup, but I did detect occasions when the “victory” seemed to be more cultural than sporting in the eyes of some people, and therfore worthy of debate. 2. The USA is the most nationalistic country on earth, and therefore no American has the right to criticize others for extreme displays of nationalism. Or, alternatively, I’m always criticizing the USA. Firstly, as I’ve said many times before, I am not American. Secondly, I don’t always criticize the USA, I just forward the criticisms from some of those that do as well as the many that praise the country to the hilt. I live in the USA. I like living in the USA. But it doesn’t mean that everything the USA does is to my liking, any more than everything done in the nation of my birth is to my liking. Thirdly, while I work for an American-owned company I am not the voice of CNN. I speak for myself on this Web site, which means that within the bounds of what is legal and in good taste, I can say what I like. Fourthly, whatever your view on US displays of nationalism, the point I was making was not a comparative one. I raised the question of whether jingoism was on display at the World Cup, and gave what I considered were the best examples I had come across, regardless of the country of origin. In addition, if you are one of those who thinks the USA is the world’s worst when it comes to extreme nationalism. And if, as would follow, you consider that a negative trait, then wouldn’t you want to avoid being cast in the same light? Or is it OK for everyone but the Americans?
3. I should stop criticizing football. I should stop stating the obvious and write about something more interesting. I don’t know anything about the game. Making personal observations on the game is what the game is all about. Let me ask you -- when you sit in the stadium or watch a match on television, do you just let it unfold in front of you with no mental processing of what you’re seeing, no comment on what this player or that coach should have done, what you would have done in the same circumstances? No you don’t. You feel free to tell men or women, who are physically and mentally able to compete at the highest level of the world’s most popular game for a living, where they should have run, what they should have done when they got there, and what tactics the person co-ordinating the whole operation should have employed to get a better result. Most of you making those helpful comments will not be professional players or former professional players, will not have any experience of playing beyond a glorified game in the park, and will likely not have any coaching credentials. Furthermore, you will have jobs and lives, that are not football-related, that will occupy your thinking for the majority of the week every week. Yet, you still feel your opinion is valid. Well guess what? I feel the same about mine. The difference being that football, and sport in general, is my full-time job. And, in any written column it is NECESSARY to make observations, both positive and negative. I could, of course, just write descriptions about things I have seen, or what are called “puff” pieces, which simply say how great everything and everyone is. But I don’t think that would generate much interest, do you? As for stating the obvious -- well, if it’s obvious, and undesirable to some, and still going on, then it’s surely worth talking about, otherwise no status quo would ever be broken. On the issue of not knowing the game -- you may have a point. No, I cannot quote chapter and verse on every player and every team in every nation, as some can. (I’m not blessed with that kind of memory). And while I’ve played football since I was a four-year-old, watched it for slightly longer, taken football coaching courses, coached 12-18-year-olds, reported on several World Cups, European Championships, European club tournaments and the domestic game in England, and discussed the sport with some of the greatest players ever to step on the field, I could not say with hand on heart that I truly know the game. But isn’t that what makes it so fascinating to all of us?. 4. You just hate what I write and can’t wait for the day when I get fired. For those who wanted to string me up after reading my last article may I say, thank you for your interest. For those who hate everything I write, thank you for your interest. For the many who wrote praising me for my article/articles, thanks for your interest too (and the check’s in the post). Here’s the thing. This is a forum for debate. The other columnists and I throw out the topics, you discuss them. And, if it gets a solid response, that’s exactly our aim. Personally, if you don’t like what I say, I’m totally cool with that. You want to do a bit of name-calling -- I’ve been called worse, (though if it gets too bad CNNSI.com obviously can’t print it). So rest assured, those of you who spewed bile all over the keyboard, it’s all good. But remember, when all is said and done, we’re just having a rant over a drink at the e-pub. It’s supposed to be fun. And I’ll still buy you an e-kebab on the way home afterwards, cos you know, we’re just talking. As for me losing my job over an article containing nothing politically unacceptable, nothing defamatory, nothing threatening -- well why would that happen? I may lose the job for a variety of other reasons. But, last time I checked, I am living in America, and I believe freedom of speech is enshrined somewhere in that thing they call the Constitution. So I’ll have my say from time to time, and, hopefully, you’ll continue to have yours, wherever you’re from. Until next time, have a great sporting life. Terry Baddoo is co-host of World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN International. He will regularly contribute Postcards from South Korea to CNNSI.com during the World Cup.
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