Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to strawberry fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hungabout.
Strawberry fields forever.
Those immortal words, written by Beatles' song writers Lennon/McCartney some years ago, capture the current state of the sports world.
It seems that no other facet of American life is more closely related to fairytales than sports. With the end of March Madness nearing, the nation is being pummeled by a barrage of Cinderella stories linked to the rise of the 11th seeded George-Mason. But, is George-Mason being fairly depicted as a Cinderella? If so, then can they rise to defeat the big bad wolf that is Florida?
The relationship between sport and fairytale does not begin and end with college basketball. Look at football. After every great final Sunday of professional football, sports audiences are reminded once again that they must go to the Mecca of fantasy; Disney World. Even the shoes the athletes wear, branded with a distinguished swoosh; can be linked to a fairytale.
Even more compelling is the rise of fantasy every thing. There is fantasy baseball, football, auto-racing, basketball, hockey, and even golf. Golf! A game normally played by one player against a field of competitors. Oh, I can see the need to sit around a bar discussing the pros and cons of drafting Houston Street early in the auction, but I can't see how I would justify drafting Tiger, or any golfers for that matter. Is this the ultimate land of make believe?
Movie titles are stressing the fact that sport and fantasy go hand in hand. The Cinderella Man (2005), the story of a washed up boxer, determined to become champion, eventually inspires a nation. When will this end?
These close ties to fantasy have me wondering about the state of sports. Are they real? Or, are they merely a larger version of professional wrestling?
Clearly, the men and women involved in sports are unique. They possess the talents and determination many of us simply do not have. Maybe, this is why so many of us gravitate to the land of fantasy. We live vicariously through the lives of others. And in this case, we live through the athletes.
Until the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB clearly tell me that they are part of a fantasy world, I'll continue to watch on game day with my friends Sneezy, Puff the Magic Dragon, and Paul Bunyan. We'll be rooting for the Mighty Casey.