As IF Times

link AFP: Health experts rap World Cup fast food sponsorship.

Do gooders are scourges.  You can try to escape by enjoying some harmless entertainment such as watching a sporting event or concert, but still they come at you like ants at a picnic.  All you ask for is a simple break from the rigors of life and not have to deal with all the rules and restrictions that society places upon us.

In this article, ‘experts’ are attacking the sponsorship by Budweiser, Coca Cola and McDonald’s of the World Cup soccer tournament because they represent unhealthy food choices. Why don’t they just attack eating?

Those that think that spectator sports in general but soccer in particular should be venues associated with “healthy” eating are social nerwins whose idea of fun and excitement is to own the most recent game app for their Ipod.   Like most big scale sporting events, soccer is a stylized game of war in which fans express their tribal convictions fueled by alcohol and hedonistic fast foods.  That’s the way it is.  It is not the opera. It is not a spelling bee. It is not meant to be healthy.   The enthusiasm of any crowd would be seriously impeded if all they had to consume or throw at the players in disgust was iced tea and granola bars.  Besides, those kinds of products don’t have the ring of normal sports sponsors.  Can you imagine the ad guys trying to make, “The World Cup of Soccer, brought to you by Kellogg’s Bran Flakes” into a jingle?

A cynical person would think that all of this tsk tsking of these sponsors is really about not letting men have any enjoyment since most sports fans are men.  However, the story includes some statistics regarding, how shall we say, zaftig women as well.  In fact, the article states that:

“…A recent report by the national Heart Foundation found that 29 percent of South African men and 56 percent of women are overweight…”

If we accept that most sports fans are men and they would be the sponsors’ targets, what do tubby women  have to do with these food sponsors at a soccer game?  Clearly, the women are getting their bad food influences from somewhere else.  Perhaps from watching Oprah.  Therefore, all this sanctimonious babble is really anti-West or more particularly anti-American.  Are there any more iconic names in American consumer foods than Budweiser, Coca Cola or McDonald’s? Underlying the facade of urging people to eat “healthier” is a current of antipathy towards these representatives of American influence. 

Another line from the health gestapo is also amusing:

“…But it would be a great boost for public health around the world if FIFA could show real leadership on this issue by announcing it will not consider companies that promote unhealthy products as sponsors or partners in future…”

Really?  FIFA is regarded as a world trend setter and leader in social issues?  Like the NFL or NHL, or NBA, have these organizations been masquerading as sports organizations all this time?   Well if so, they must all be chastised for not paying enough attention to teen pregnancy, gay rights and global warming.  It must be galling to many that despite all efforts, the impact of America through their cultural influences, affect the world in so many far reaching ways, even in the most non American sports event, soccer.  I think it’s time for these companies to tell these modern day Gladys Crabbits’ to mind their own business and let people have some unfettered enjoyment in their lives.  Tell them to take their thinly veiled anti Americanism to France or Iran where they willingly accept that kind of propaganda. 

Or, they can drum up groups to sponsor their own PC events.  I suspect that the only sponsors interested would be wienie makers.

link Abby Sunderland, Teen Sailor Found Alive After Crisis at Sea – ABC News.

Where are the parents?  These days, everyone is concerned about where their kids are and who they hang out with.  From the very early ages, they are ferried to school like precious Faberge eggs and dutifully picked up afterwards and then carted off to whatever activity has been planned for them.  It could be ice skating, piano lessons, soccer, etc etc.  At home, precious junior’s activities are monitored, his diet requirements carefully planned and his overall welfare covered off.

When junior happens to be out of sight of the parents, ie playing with some friends or, perish the thought, walking home from school, any late arrival will trigger an amber alert, the universal alarm for child missing and instantly, faces will appear on milk cartons.

In California, the home of the adventurous teen, they must do things differently.  Somehow, Abby must have made some radio contact with her parents,

“Hello mother, I seem to have a bit of a problem getting home”

“Where are you honey? At Lindsay’s place?”

“Actually, I’m in the Indian Ocean somewhere, could you come get me?”

” What did I tell you about leaving the country on a boat by yourself?  Didn’t we go over this the last time you tried to walk to Labrador?”

“I thought I’d be back by September before you missed me”

“Well we’re very annoyed with you.  It’s understood that your phone will be taken away for a week now and as far as the Jonas Brothers concert, that’s out”

“Oh mom, that’s not fair!”

“Fair or not, you have caused a lot of inconvenience to us.  Now we’ll have to call the Australian coast guard and we’ll have to send Quantas out to find you.  I hope you’re satisfied with yourself.  This will be all over the papers.  I’ll be so embarrassed at the next yoga class.  Wait until your father gets the bill for this, he’ll go Howard Dean on us.”

“Sorry mom…….. By the way, some friends of mine are thinking of climbing Mt Everest next week…”

“Don’t even think about it”

Click.