The sports entertainment industry is a beguiling evil. I kid you not.
Many of you may laugh at me for suggesting this, but I sincerely believe that sports entertainment needs to be outrightly rejected by Muslims and concerned citizens the world over. I come to you not as a self-righteous, preachy know-it-all, but as a humbled, recovering sports addict.
I'm referring to the multi-billion dollar industry that has been erected around sporting events. The enormous waste of resources that goes into the sports industry is unfathomable – the time, the money, the emotions, the brain cells.
I'm not referring to the commendable engagement in sports activities for the purpose of health or amusement. Also, I'm not discussing the obviously illegitimate activities that are all-too-often associated with sports entertainment, such as gambling and alcohol.
My qualm is with the seemingly innocent spectatorship of these sports. This includes the idol-worshipping of star athletes (which admittedly is not limited to sports, but reaches heights not seen in other entertainment industries), their enormous places of worship (stadiums), the immense waste of money in support of this cult, and most important of all, the purposefully created distraction from reality crafted by their ministers (sportscasters and analysts) and the like (sponsors, team owners, even politicians).
You see, watching sports for the actual fan is not merely limited to the few hours of the actual game. The real fan passionately follows the sport, follows the team, follows the players – they become emotionally invested in the sport. This includes memorizing team statistics, the schedule of games, and the team roster, following the latest developments on ESPN, and analyzing/discussing every possible storyline for the next game with friends and strangers alike.
The sport industry, backed by the advertising money of corporate sponsors, has transformed the star-athletes into god-like figures, by elevating their every mundane act into a heavenly performance. It's not only about *playing* like Mike, but *being* like Mike. And because Mike (or Kobe or Ronaldo or Beckham or A-Rod) is a clean, upstanding athlete participating in the harmless activity of sports, many Muslim parents view such imitations as innocent and benign (while similar worship of actors or singers would be deemed unequivocally Haram).
And then you have their temples. The billions of dollars spent on the stadiums boggles my mind - billions that could have been more effectively spent on inner-city development or improved educational systems or countless colleges and vocational schools.
Spare me the crap on how these stadiums inject invaluable economic growth to the inner-cities. The generated revenues go straight from the pockets of the rich spectators (who are able to afford the extravagant ticket/food prices) to the pockets of the filthy rich owners of the teams and stadiums, with a few crumbs falling to the ushers, security guards, and other minimum wage positions needed to maintain these temples of sports idolatry.
And then there's the business of sports paraphernalia. From trading cards to autographed balls to that oversized 'We are #1' sponge hand, this market is huge. It redirects hard-earned middle-class incomes to frivolous, foolish purchases of team jackets, jerseys, and the sort. Is it me or is it insane to see a sports jersey being bought for $100?
And then there is the intellectual and spiritual drainage associated with these activities. Many Muslims consider watching a two-hour Hollywood movie a questionable activity, but will never think twice about watching a three-hour football game (oh and don't forget the one-hour pre-game show). The sports event is justified as a Halal entertaining break from the stresses of life.
And it's this need for a diversion from 'life' that needs to be countered.
One reason for the Islamic prohibition of drugs and alcohol is the suspension of reality that is a consequence of their consumption. As mature, responsible adults, it is our duty (to ourselves, our families, and to our fellow man) to remain cognizant of our actions and our surroundings. By doing so, we are to constantly strive to become closer to the Ultimate Reality (swt).
Instead, we have become preoccupied with ways to distance ourselves from reality, thereby distancing ourselves from *the* Reality (swt).
Divorced from reality, these devotees are more concerned with the injury to their home team's starting quarterback than the broken leg suffered by their neighbor. Overzealous fans shed tears over their team's latest playoff loss while maintaining a dry eye at the news of their coworker's death. The potential of the new season is embraced with more fervor than the warm embrace of a loved one. The signing or drafting of a superstar to one's favorite team is akin to a new addition in the family. Geographical knowledge of cities around the nation (or the world) is solely a product of sporting events hosted in those cities. Checking the headline news means tuning into ESPN SportsCenter.
In the film Gladiator, Senator Gracchus, when contemplating on the introduction of games and festivities in the Colosseum, stated, "Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the Senate, it's the sand of the Colosseum."
Keep the people preoccupied with their sports and they will turn a blind eye to the insidious machinations of their leaders.
That sentiment stands true today.
If Marx were to analyze the current socio-econo-political landscape, he would adjust his infamous line 'Religion is the opium of the masses'. Sports entertainment has clearly taken its place.
“Know that the whole world is a mirror…”
1 day ago
14 comments:
Salaam Naeem
I really agree with this post. Not because I hate sports or ESPN (I like sports... and I do hate ESPN... that's not the point) but I think you hit something really important, the idolization inherent in the industry.
All that money that people spend... imagine that instead of paying 3x as much for a burger and drink, they actually bought food for 2 other people who are going hungry? Instead of paying a high markup for logos on shirts and jerseys, hats, etc., if people were buying clothing and blankets for people who don't have them? Just a thought.
But I wanted to point something out, since I have spent hours upon hours in stadiums and arenas, not to watch the games, but selling food and merchandise. When I was in HS, we raised funds for our band trips by working at the university football games selling concessions, taking tickets at womens' basketball games, selling food at hockey and mens basketball games. We raised a lot of money that way--these venues have their concessions stands operated by local volunteer groups... like the high school band, boy scouts groups, and other clubs.
In college it didn't stop--my sorority had a contract with the bookstore to man a booth at the football and basketball games selling clothes and novelties. There were four booths, my sorority had one and the other three were manned by the ROTC. This was the primary fundraiser we had, allowing us to pay low dues.
So I wanted to mention that when people are paying these superhigh prices for food and clothes and whatnot, a lot of that money might be going to volunteer groups for their activities. In that sense, it's not all bad in my opinion.
But you didn't mention that sometimes for "game day" people end up spending the entire day at the stadium park "tailgating." It doesn't matter here what time the game is, people want to start showing up at 8am to park, hang out, start drinking. And then they stay after the game, too. I think that is a real waste of time.. talk about a divorce from reality.
But overall I agree with you. I actually attend movies pretty often (trying to "cut back" now, lol) and really the only reason I do it is to take a break from my responsibilities.
Salaam again
That was a long comment and I still forgot something... I was watching a special on the military channel one night about Rome, it's rise and fall. One of the things they were saying was that the Romans would have holidays they'd spend at the games, eventually there got to be so many holidays that no work was getting done, a problem for the whole empire. They made a comparison then to American holidays, and to the stadiums which are reminiscent of the colisseums of Rome.
Salam Aleikoum!
This is not a comment about the content of your article(although it was pretty interesting and I totally agree with you)but rather the form. I'm currently studying English and other languages and really I'm almost amazed. I think your style of writing is awesome! Really, I find it nowhere else, you know how to write machallah. Anyways, just wanted to say thank you for inspiring me, and I'll keep reading your posts so I can improve myself. But apart from that, you develop very relevant reflections.
Keep it up!
Bslema!
Bread and Circus
panem et circenses
Saqib
AA-
@Amy, thanks for the insight on the volunteer groups working the concessions. I didn't know that.
Also, the tailgating stuff is simply icing on the cake. Its crazy how some people make these events into a full day outing.
@Mouna, thank you for the kind words. But I really should put up a sign like the ones in the zoo (Warning: DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS). My sign would say Do Not Compliment the Blogger - will go straight to his head. :-)
@Saqib, "Bread and Circus panem et circenses"
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.
AA Naeem,
I guess you may (or may not) be aware that I have first hand experience with this celebrity worship. I had a very famous sports figure in my family(He died in the late 90's). Growing up in Philadelphia, we (my family and I) were constantly bombarded with media and fans alike when my uncle would visit us. And, of course, my uncles ego was often as large (if not larger) than his celebrity. I think I was the only nephew who did not idolize his existence. I always kept it real :-)
WA,
Greg
I think youve hit on a sore spot. I have often been questioned about not watching sports. In fact, once two "friends" of mine said that I should really watch, because wat else is there to distract a muslim mind from all the haram around you than sports? I didn't say anything back at that time. I generally agree with you, but I believe this type of argument can really be stretched to any aspect of our lives, so it loses a little edge.
I left watching cricket in 1999. I never regularly watched any other game. So I am quite an achievement, am I not? :)
-Manas Shaikh
I was very angry at this new opium early this year.
-Manas Shaikh
AA- Sophister,
You bring up an excellent point (if I understand you correctly), namely the slippery slope behind the premise of my post.
When does a distraction from life become too much? Are all such distractions equal (is going for a walk in the park equal to attending a ballgame?)? Obviously not, but clearly there is a point where such distractions become deplorable. I guess it ends up being an individual decision, no?
Thanks for your insightful comment!
AA- Manas,
Ahhh..good ‘ol cricket. Truly the madness in our motherlands have no boundaries (pun intended) when it comes to cricket. Soccer plays the same role in the rest of the world.
But I still see it nowhere in comparison to the good ‘ol US of A. They’re truly geniuses at this game of artificial distraction. A couple friends reminded me of the addictive horrors of Fantasy Leagues. You'll be amazed at the lengths people go to in following their Fantasy teams/players.
Mindboggling!
You described extremism, extremism in anything is not good. There are some of us that like watching sports and play fantasy sports for the enjoyment and dont let it consume us and keep us from our other obligations and priorities. (At least I hope not)but i cant speak for bmore people. :)
You said it very well :)
The 'distraction' idea is exactly the truth. In a 90s talk, Hamza Yusuf mentioned how the sports industry is a big part of the system of Dajjal - how it's a distraction. (If i remember the talk correctly).
Anyway, I think when anything reaches the level of addiction, like sports has for many of us, then it's time to make some serious changes.
As for sports entertainment being a 'halaal' alternative, I think the problem that many of us have (including myself) is that growing up in a 'Western' society, with a global/Western popular culture (be that British influence or American), these things were normal for us.
We were raised with them as a normal part of life. So they're kind of like hard-wired into us by the time we reach adulthood. It becomes like the default, the standard, which we turn to, for relaxation or entertainment.
Just like how movies or TV is the 'normal' way for us to relax. It's just the way things were as we grew up.
So anyway, with regard to sports: as now-discerning adults, we know how much haraam entertainment and pastimes there are - and we know to avoid them. So sports - the actual game (whatever that may be), doesn't seem inherently bad - and we therefore think it's acceptable.
But when it's taken to the level that it is now - when it becomes a machine; a giant industry - then we have to be aware of how easy it is to get sucked in.
And I, myself, still fall into the traps...even though I KNOW the dangers.
I think balance is something very difficult to achieve - especially when there's machinery at work trying to pull you to the extremes of addiction.
The solutions that I seek are healthy alternatives. And I really, really hope that you'll write something about that. Because whether it's sports or movies or TV or whatever...all of these things can be so destructive (and are, in many cases) - and for those of us who admit to this fact, and want to change our habits, the only way out is to find a HEALTHY alternative - one that's equally (or more) captivating.http://
As-Salaam Alaikum Br.Naeem, how are you and your family!
First of all little suggestion, that always write Allaah(SWT). Instead in lower case(swt)
Quoting you as under:
"Instead, we have become preoccupied with ways to distance ourselves from reality, thereby distancing ourselves from *the* Reality (swt)".
You have a very good command in English Masha-Allaah, I am really impressed and I hope you have atleast double of that in Arabic, if not than please do acquire that, if you haven't done so! A person like you, who is a good writer and thinker should learn Arabic,The language by it's nature, makes you ponder and increases your IQ (Said By Hamza Yusuf). I agree with everything you said in a very eloquent way. May Allaah(SWT)Reward you to the utmost in both the worlds,Aameen!
If possible, could you please test email me at ysiddiqui@yahoo.com as I have some stuff to ask you!!!
Many Salaams and Regards Brother!
Siddiqui
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