What L.A. Needs: Another Team Sport

NFL

For a San Francisco Bay born-and-bred kid, I have survived the past several years in enemy territory.  I moved to Dodger territory, aka Los Angeles, at seventeen to attend the greatest university in the world--University of California, Los Angeles, better known by the acronym UCLA.  I admit that I may be biased claiming UCLA as the best, but remember: my blog, my rules (muhaha).  However, there is one department where UCLA is, in fact, objectively supreme: Team Sports.  No school has had more NCAA team championship titles than UCLA.  Stanford comes in a close second while dominating the individual titles race.  I'll take that trade because nothing beats team sports.  In the sports arena, the likes of Tiger Woods and Roger Federer command respect because of their individual dominance. On the other hand, team sports create throngs of devoted fans for one reason: to cheer for, and derive infinite joy from, the achievements of teamwork.  Win-Win right?  You get to cheer for your favorite team AND learn how to work well with others... odd concept.  Why not just focus on the individual?

Well, Los Angeles is the current breeding ground for individual spotlighting.  It began, decades ago, with idolizing skilled people such as directors, actors and actresses.  No big problem there.  Now, people idolize the fame caused by embarrassing yourself on a public platform (from sex-tape, to sex scandal, to spousal, and child abuse).  I'm not criticizing the famous, diligent, and talented people, but the "ones" that none of us (in our right mind) would choose to be.  You know who they are.  These "pseudo-celebrities" dominate the Hollywood landscape puking their personalities all-over L.A.  Many see "the joke" and are able to view such people for their true value--entertainment.  Sadly, many others (mostly the uneducated or young) don't understand.  The ones who don't get it watch (on television) on a nightly basis--and yearn for--what they don't understand.  These individuals supply the unfortunate, idolizing pattern of behavior that only exists because two of man's vices: money and fame.  Two perceived "values" that have no intrinsic value.

Since I dropped the whole "med-school-thing" a few years back, I must treat these symptoms the only way I know how: team sports.  I believe Los Angeles needs football (futbol isn’t big enough, yet).  Why? Because I believe team sports are our country's greatest asset.  It's the most open and competitive stage where success is determined by teamwork.  In our country, technology has catapulted team sports into a world of scrutiny.  As a result, we have fair and balanced systems.  While our sports are far from perfect, we continue to make necessary changes to improve sports and promote integrity.  Look at the most trouble areas of our globe and you will find either no team sports or heavily biased ones.  How many stories do you hear of troubled youths’ lives being saved because of sports?  I say we follow Nelson Mandela's lead and let sports pave the way for a better country.  In Hollywood, where it's all about the glory, you need to start big and inject the nation's biggest sport.  Los Angelenos need the ultimate "American" sport to distance them from the overwhelming perception that the individual is greater than the team, which is simply NOT TRUE!

The Lakers, led by the Zen master, Phil Jackson, made a good impression.  Their championship winning teams were based on team cohesiveness and defense. You'd hope people would get the message.  Unfortunately, in basketball it's too easy to mask the team ideal for individual stardom.  It's why the exhibition known as the “NBA All-Star Game” is actually watched (unlike the NFL's/MLB's/NHL's all-star "circus").  "Posterizing" and showboating are light-years ahead in popularity than "taking a charge."  In a sport dominated by individual offensive plays, the media tunnel-visions on the superstar.  In the Laker's recent championship runs, the focus was on Kobe Bryant, Kobe Bryant, and, Kobe Bryant.  It's sad because as great as Kobe was and is, he can't win it by himself.  No one can.  And it's why Lebron hasn't won jack **** yet.

For once money is on my side.  There is a wealth of opportunity for football to succeed once again in L.A.  Luckily, steps are already being taken to construct the one giant obstacle--a stadium.  Because the NFL has its panties in a bunch over money, just move a team to Los Angeles.  The differences could be settled right there.  Seriously, the disputed financial differences could be covered by the extra income of hosting a L.A. Super Bowl and having a L.A. NFL franchise.  Sure, you'd have to invest and be patient for your returns, but you know this is a "can't-lose bet."  In an age of overblown media and television, you need the biggest sports under the biggest spotlights.  A financial loss would be a societal gain at the very least.  I'm rooting for the Jacksonville Jaguars to move to L.A.  Their team struggles to fill attendance and a Maurice Jones-Drew and Marcedes Lewis homecoming would be oh-so-sweet.  Yet again, that's me being selfish.  NFL, please just setup a team!

Please don't think that I don't like Los Angeles or its people.  One of my best friends (Millertime shout out) is L.A. bred and a straight shooter despite his Dodger allegiance.  There's just seems to be an overwhelming amount of bad apples in the public eye... It's probably less than many other cities, but because Los Angeles is the television and movie capital of the world I believe a certain responsibility rests there: a responsibility to produce entertainment that spawns values instead of entertainment that exploits people for a quick buck.  I believe another successful sports franchise that emphasizes teamwork will help move towards that unified goal.  Individuality is great and let L.A. be the platform for it to shine, but please, not at the expense of others.  Sports and movie stars are talented, but work hard for their achievements. They too are just people, no better or worse, like everyone else.