Saturday, July 12, 2003
Stage Show in Mainz
There aren't just street musicians in Mainz. There are even occasional stage shows. But as in much of Germany, they're a little odd - spooky even. There were six bands slated for the show that was put on by the city of Mainz and a television station. I'd heard of none of them. But the venue was pretty impressive with lights and boom cameras and a huge jumbo-tron television so that you could resolve the dots on the distant stage into people.
The part that is a little strange is that of the three or four such shows I've seen like this in Germany, all of them were.... hmm... "wholesome". I mean it's one thing to hear John Denver being performed. You can quietly roll your eyes and maybe snicker a little. It's quite another to hear thousands of people of all ages singing along and ALL OF THEM KNOW ALL THE WORDS. Yeah, like I said, spooky.
Tonight they played the theme from "Flashdance" and again, EVERYONE KNEW ALL THE WORDS. The musicians all look so freshly scrubbed and defiantly sober that I wouldn't have recognized it as a concert if it weren't for the obligatory rap songs being perfomed. The fact that they were done by a balding, middle aged white man with a German accent didn't seem to deter the audience. Derivative? Ha! They'd KILL to be derivative. They're still clawing their way up from being a PARODY. Anyway, by some odd miracle of perfect timing, a cessation of motion and a bucket of luck I got a fairly decent shot while standing tip-toe at about 80 meters away at full telephoto. I have no idea how I was able to get anything. Here is "DJ Bobo" and his band. Yeah, the middle aged guy is "DJ Bobo". Sigh.
There aren't just street musicians in Mainz. There are even occasional stage shows. But as in much of Germany, they're a little odd - spooky even. There were six bands slated for the show that was put on by the city of Mainz and a television station. I'd heard of none of them. But the venue was pretty impressive with lights and boom cameras and a huge jumbo-tron television so that you could resolve the dots on the distant stage into people.
The part that is a little strange is that of the three or four such shows I've seen like this in Germany, all of them were.... hmm... "wholesome". I mean it's one thing to hear John Denver being performed. You can quietly roll your eyes and maybe snicker a little. It's quite another to hear thousands of people of all ages singing along and ALL OF THEM KNOW ALL THE WORDS. Yeah, like I said, spooky.
Tonight they played the theme from "Flashdance" and again, EVERYONE KNEW ALL THE WORDS. The musicians all look so freshly scrubbed and defiantly sober that I wouldn't have recognized it as a concert if it weren't for the obligatory rap songs being perfomed. The fact that they were done by a balding, middle aged white man with a German accent didn't seem to deter the audience. Derivative? Ha! They'd KILL to be derivative. They're still clawing their way up from being a PARODY. Anyway, by some odd miracle of perfect timing, a cessation of motion and a bucket of luck I got a fairly decent shot while standing tip-toe at about 80 meters away at full telephoto. I have no idea how I was able to get anything. Here is "DJ Bobo" and his band. Yeah, the middle aged guy is "DJ Bobo". Sigh.
Still More Street Musicians
Here is a Russian trio that I saw today in Mainz. Of particular note is that huge, triangular string bass that the man is playing. No he isn't a midget, the guitar is just very big. It has three strings and has an impressive degree of sound projection. It doesn't sound as nice as a stand up string bass, but then it doesn't require tree men and a boy to lug it around either. I've seen this kind of bass guitar three or four times in Europe and this one is in the worst physical shape. A few of the boards have separated a bit and it's banged up (especially down near the kick stand), but considering the amount of play that it gets, It still has a few years of use left. The accordion player sang bass - well - and the other two sang tenor. They sang Russian ballads or Western ballads in Russian. The tambourine player also played a triangle and looked pretty bored. I have learned that street musicians in Mainz are pretty tightly regulated. They have to have permits and they have a time limit as to how long they can play in one spot. I've never heard of any complaint, but I suppose there are some choice spots for tips, so they have to keep on the move.
Here is a Russian trio that I saw today in Mainz. Of particular note is that huge, triangular string bass that the man is playing. No he isn't a midget, the guitar is just very big. It has three strings and has an impressive degree of sound projection. It doesn't sound as nice as a stand up string bass, but then it doesn't require tree men and a boy to lug it around either. I've seen this kind of bass guitar three or four times in Europe and this one is in the worst physical shape. A few of the boards have separated a bit and it's banged up (especially down near the kick stand), but considering the amount of play that it gets, It still has a few years of use left. The accordion player sang bass - well - and the other two sang tenor. They sang Russian ballads or Western ballads in Russian. The tambourine player also played a triangle and looked pretty bored. I have learned that street musicians in Mainz are pretty tightly regulated. They have to have permits and they have a time limit as to how long they can play in one spot. I've never heard of any complaint, but I suppose there are some choice spots for tips, so they have to keep on the move.
Friday, July 11, 2003
More Street Musicians
Hey, while I'm on it, here is another street musician. You don't see a hammer dulcimer played on the street just every day, mind you! One reason is that it really doesn't suit as a solo instrument, especially played out-of-doors. Much of the sound is swallowed up, although it might work better amplified.
Hey, while I'm on it, here is another street musician. You don't see a hammer dulcimer played on the street just every day, mind you! One reason is that it really doesn't suit as a solo instrument, especially played out-of-doors. Much of the sound is swallowed up, although it might work better amplified.
Street Musicians in Mainz
I have to hand it to Germany. They have the best street musicians in the world. Not just variety, but the quality too. I've seen instruments played on the streets of Mainz (an admittedly wealthy city, so one might expect to see it here) that I'd never expect to see. Like a full size orchestral harp, a piano and string basses and a hurdy gurdy. I may just have to make a blog just about the street musicians.
But one negative thing about street musicians is that most of them would rather be doing something else. I can certainly understand where they are coming from. Imagine standing outside in the sun or rain while an ocean of largely indifferent people wander by ignoring you while you play the same few songs over and over for loose change. Note that in Europe there are more than a few sincerely talented, formally trained musicians that set their tip jars on the paving stones in front of them so I try to drop SOMETHING in their jars every time I see them. The alternative would be the ubiquitous beggars that give you nothing for your money. I'd much rather hear mediocre accordion playing than see a horizontal sea of upturned palms.
The following photo is of a pair of unusual street musicians. These guys are unusual in that they were having a ball. The sax player went on an extended voyage of jazz exploration wholly oblivious to the anything except the guitar player, who stood there strumming with a little kid grin on his face most of the time. I thought he'd start dancing at any moment. I really got the impression that they didn't give a damn about whether they received a cent. They were just doing some open air practicing!
I have to hand it to Germany. They have the best street musicians in the world. Not just variety, but the quality too. I've seen instruments played on the streets of Mainz (an admittedly wealthy city, so one might expect to see it here) that I'd never expect to see. Like a full size orchestral harp, a piano and string basses and a hurdy gurdy. I may just have to make a blog just about the street musicians.
But one negative thing about street musicians is that most of them would rather be doing something else. I can certainly understand where they are coming from. Imagine standing outside in the sun or rain while an ocean of largely indifferent people wander by ignoring you while you play the same few songs over and over for loose change. Note that in Europe there are more than a few sincerely talented, formally trained musicians that set their tip jars on the paving stones in front of them so I try to drop SOMETHING in their jars every time I see them. The alternative would be the ubiquitous beggars that give you nothing for your money. I'd much rather hear mediocre accordion playing than see a horizontal sea of upturned palms.
The following photo is of a pair of unusual street musicians. These guys are unusual in that they were having a ball. The sax player went on an extended voyage of jazz exploration wholly oblivious to the anything except the guitar player, who stood there strumming with a little kid grin on his face most of the time. I thought he'd start dancing at any moment. I really got the impression that they didn't give a damn about whether they received a cent. They were just doing some open air practicing!
Thursday, July 10, 2003
Shame, SHAME!
I'm am disappointed to disclose that Big Media has missed a big opportunity to report on the Iranian protestations held yesterday in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Rome, etc.
The question that should be bitterly asked is what Big Media would have done if the protests had been anti-American protests, rather than the boring and ludicrous pro-democracy protests. Chances are they'd have lined up a stable of media sluts like "Megalo" Michael Moore, Madonna, and the other Usual Suspects of the anti-American Left. The silence is deafening and 4 inches of copy on the fourth page of NYT is insulting. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the coalition of groups that were the core of the anti-war "movement" were actually anti-Bush people that couldn't care less about individual freedoms. They just want to oppose anything - no matter how reasonable - that Bush proposes. They truly are irrational.
The world EXPECTS the US to support them in becoming free. It EXPECTS us to assist them in showing them alternative to the mullahs and dictators. It EXPECTS us to do whatever is necessary, even if that means sacrificing American lives, to expand the scope of those people that can make real choices about their lives. If we do not then we do not - SHOULD not - hold the helm as the leader of the free world.
I'm am disappointed to disclose that Big Media has missed a big opportunity to report on the Iranian protestations held yesterday in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Rome, etc.
The question that should be bitterly asked is what Big Media would have done if the protests had been anti-American protests, rather than the boring and ludicrous pro-democracy protests. Chances are they'd have lined up a stable of media sluts like "Megalo" Michael Moore, Madonna, and the other Usual Suspects of the anti-American Left. The silence is deafening and 4 inches of copy on the fourth page of NYT is insulting. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the coalition of groups that were the core of the anti-war "movement" were actually anti-Bush people that couldn't care less about individual freedoms. They just want to oppose anything - no matter how reasonable - that Bush proposes. They truly are irrational.
The world EXPECTS the US to support them in becoming free. It EXPECTS us to assist them in showing them alternative to the mullahs and dictators. It EXPECTS us to do whatever is necessary, even if that means sacrificing American lives, to expand the scope of those people that can make real choices about their lives. If we do not then we do not - SHOULD not - hold the helm as the leader of the free world.
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Mainzer Orchestra Update
It's amazing how such a social phenomenon as the potential loss of a city's orchestra can be immersed in such convoluted intrigue! After may initial discussion and subsequent research I discussed the findings with a number of personnel connected with the orchestra. I first spoke to Elizabeth, a musician with the orchestra. She said that due to some rather dire cost cutting priorities, the state of Rhineland Pfalz has made a tentative expression of interest in REDIRECTING financial resources from Mainz to Ludwigshofen, which is about 80 km to the south. Evidently there is not enough money in the Culture agency to pay for two orchestras of their current size, so discontinuing one of them seemed to be the logical route to take. Note: "logical" in the sense of a Culture Minister with no background in Music or Culture, but is a medical doctor that is a political appointee.
I spoke again to Bernd Wagner (the ticket manager) and he told me that ticket sales accounted for only about 10% of the revenues that the orchestra worked with. I was shocked. With 875 seats at an average cost of 30 Euros, that means even if you increased the ticket prices by an order of magnitude, it still wouldn't solve the problem. The bulk of the money comes from the city of Mainz and from the state of Rhineland Pfalz via the Culture Ministry.
I had strained Elizabeth's English skills to their limit, so she gave me the phone number of a fellow American in the Mainzer orchestra named Bill Jones. I spoke to Bill later that day and the principle French Horn player gave me the long version.
The long version precludes my blogging perseverance, but essentially the proposal to close the Mainzer orchestra in deference to the orchestra in Ludwigshofen that no one attends was the result of the state's Culture Minister making an impromptu proposal. He hadn't really researched alternatives and seemed to have just said the first thing that popped into his head. When it was made clear to him that his proposal was not just a poor one but one that would cost him MORE than the status quo, he in effect turned the decision over to the musicians! He told them to give HIM proposals that would allow him to cut 2 million Euros from the Culture budget for the state. Interesting, if a bit lame, methodology, eh?
Bill described for me the complex issues of compensation, where every one of the 140+ orchestras in Germany are rated (A with footnote, A, B with footnote, B, C and D) and the musicians' pay rate is directly related to this rating. The rating relates to the size of the orchestra and the sort of performances they do. The Mainzer orchestra is a "B with footnote" orchestra, which simply means that they have about 80 members and perform many special venues, like at the Opera House. One competing proposal has the Mainzer orchestra elevated to the "A" status at the expense of the Ludwigshofen orchestra altogether, but that presents some unfaltering consequences. First, only about 1/3 to 1/2 of the musicians from Ludwigshofen would be able to be absorbed, secondly there is no VENUE in Mainz for an "A" class orchestra and finally, the area really doesn't need an orchestra of that size. This proposal also ignores the steep cost of a thoroughbred conductor that such an orchestra requires.
Yet another proposal has both orchestras "downsized", but this is not such a simple matter in Germany because pensioning off the eldest members of the orchestra at a premature age is a very expensive alternative to the country. Germany has a ridiculously generous state pension program that is collapsing under the weight of a shrinking working class compared to the exploding pensioner class, so this wouldn't help matters either.
Eliminating the orchestra in Ludwigshofen isn't much of a recourse either because the city - which is larger than Mainz - has essentially no other venues for that nebulous concept of "culture" than the orchestra. When you consider that each orchestra is considered by the state to be an important educational body, the elimination of an orchestra altogether is not much or an alternative. Bill emphasized that the Ludwigshofen orchestra has few patrons and the reason for that is that most people travel to nearby Mannesheim to listen to their grand orchestra. Unfortunately, traveling to Mannesheim also means leaving Rhineland Pfalz, so the educational requirements of the orchestra are not met from a political perspective.
Ah well, it is "....so much easier...." in America when corporate sponsorship forms the basis for funding for an orchestra. "Culture" is then not foisted upon the citizenry and they're not taxed directly for it, but they can still benefit from it, IF THEY WANT TO. The consequence in Germany is that there will be more and more of these dilemmas over funding priorities as the population ages and the work force diminishes.
It's amazing how such a social phenomenon as the potential loss of a city's orchestra can be immersed in such convoluted intrigue! After may initial discussion and subsequent research I discussed the findings with a number of personnel connected with the orchestra. I first spoke to Elizabeth, a musician with the orchestra. She said that due to some rather dire cost cutting priorities, the state of Rhineland Pfalz has made a tentative expression of interest in REDIRECTING financial resources from Mainz to Ludwigshofen, which is about 80 km to the south. Evidently there is not enough money in the Culture agency to pay for two orchestras of their current size, so discontinuing one of them seemed to be the logical route to take. Note: "logical" in the sense of a Culture Minister with no background in Music or Culture, but is a medical doctor that is a political appointee.
I spoke again to Bernd Wagner (the ticket manager) and he told me that ticket sales accounted for only about 10% of the revenues that the orchestra worked with. I was shocked. With 875 seats at an average cost of 30 Euros, that means even if you increased the ticket prices by an order of magnitude, it still wouldn't solve the problem. The bulk of the money comes from the city of Mainz and from the state of Rhineland Pfalz via the Culture Ministry.
I had strained Elizabeth's English skills to their limit, so she gave me the phone number of a fellow American in the Mainzer orchestra named Bill Jones. I spoke to Bill later that day and the principle French Horn player gave me the long version.
The long version precludes my blogging perseverance, but essentially the proposal to close the Mainzer orchestra in deference to the orchestra in Ludwigshofen that no one attends was the result of the state's Culture Minister making an impromptu proposal. He hadn't really researched alternatives and seemed to have just said the first thing that popped into his head. When it was made clear to him that his proposal was not just a poor one but one that would cost him MORE than the status quo, he in effect turned the decision over to the musicians! He told them to give HIM proposals that would allow him to cut 2 million Euros from the Culture budget for the state. Interesting, if a bit lame, methodology, eh?
Bill described for me the complex issues of compensation, where every one of the 140+ orchestras in Germany are rated (A with footnote, A, B with footnote, B, C and D) and the musicians' pay rate is directly related to this rating. The rating relates to the size of the orchestra and the sort of performances they do. The Mainzer orchestra is a "B with footnote" orchestra, which simply means that they have about 80 members and perform many special venues, like at the Opera House. One competing proposal has the Mainzer orchestra elevated to the "A" status at the expense of the Ludwigshofen orchestra altogether, but that presents some unfaltering consequences. First, only about 1/3 to 1/2 of the musicians from Ludwigshofen would be able to be absorbed, secondly there is no VENUE in Mainz for an "A" class orchestra and finally, the area really doesn't need an orchestra of that size. This proposal also ignores the steep cost of a thoroughbred conductor that such an orchestra requires.
Yet another proposal has both orchestras "downsized", but this is not such a simple matter in Germany because pensioning off the eldest members of the orchestra at a premature age is a very expensive alternative to the country. Germany has a ridiculously generous state pension program that is collapsing under the weight of a shrinking working class compared to the exploding pensioner class, so this wouldn't help matters either.
Eliminating the orchestra in Ludwigshofen isn't much of a recourse either because the city - which is larger than Mainz - has essentially no other venues for that nebulous concept of "culture" than the orchestra. When you consider that each orchestra is considered by the state to be an important educational body, the elimination of an orchestra altogether is not much or an alternative. Bill emphasized that the Ludwigshofen orchestra has few patrons and the reason for that is that most people travel to nearby Mannesheim to listen to their grand orchestra. Unfortunately, traveling to Mannesheim also means leaving Rhineland Pfalz, so the educational requirements of the orchestra are not met from a political perspective.
Ah well, it is "....so much easier...." in America when corporate sponsorship forms the basis for funding for an orchestra. "Culture" is then not foisted upon the citizenry and they're not taxed directly for it, but they can still benefit from it, IF THEY WANT TO. The consequence in Germany is that there will be more and more of these dilemmas over funding priorities as the population ages and the work force diminishes.
Chip Carving
Ok, you asked for it, so here is a fairly recent example. I carved this box for my cousin Kayci for Christmas of 2001. I like the tri-color effect, which I achieved by carving AFTER application of the stain. Thus there is the naked white color of the basswood (also called linden or lime), the deep brown of the edge-on grains suffused with stain and the perpendicular surfaces, which aborb the stain slowly. If you want more, just email me.
Ok, you asked for it, so here is a fairly recent example. I carved this box for my cousin Kayci for Christmas of 2001. I like the tri-color effect, which I achieved by carving AFTER application of the stain. Thus there is the naked white color of the basswood (also called linden or lime), the deep brown of the edge-on grains suffused with stain and the perpendicular surfaces, which aborb the stain slowly. If you want more, just email me.
July 9th, 2003
Two years ago there was a bloody suppression of Pro-democracy rallies in Iran that the young intelligentsia of the country want to celebrate on the 9th of July - tomorrow - and I suspect that things will get ugly. The theocratic leaders of Iran have already made it clear that they will reenact the Pro-democracy massacre of Tianamen Square if a demonstration is made. They have already arrested 4,000 protesters (that's the administration's figure, Pro-democracy activists estimate over twice that number) from the last round of demonstrations last month.
Big Media in America have been disappointingly averse to reporting this internal revolution and I'm confused as to WHY. Is it what Glenn Reynolds has described as the "Eason Jordan effect" where CNN has sold it's soul for access? Is it Big Media's loathing of George Bush being manifested by ignoring what would be an unqualified success in the War on Terrorism? Do they not want to pour water on the hopes of the activists by honestly telling them what's likely to happen to them? Have they become compromised by the new breed of "Lost Left" that have foresworn their roots in the promotion of Democracy? Most of what I have learned about the Iranian democracy movement has been from an EX-member of Big Media and an unabashed member of the "Old Left", Jeff Jarvis. While he and I disagree on some several issues on a fundamental level, I can not dismiss the logic of most of his arguments and the refreshing fact that he does not make maudlin emotional appeals to support his positions.
Jarvis has also been a very strong promoter of that most insidious of evils to totalitarian regimes everywhere: he is connecting people. He has been a one man conduit between Iranian bloggers and bloggers/readers from the West. Nothing is quite so dangerous to a mullah (or a Ba'athist or Nazi or a Communist) as a sizable portion of their population having access to people with a life much better than their own. I have read several blogs from Iranians that tell me more than a dozen books on the subject. My favorite to date is View From Iran by a husband and wife team. Read it. Learn.
But even though the few democracy activist leaders left have officially called off any demonstration for tomorrow, the mullahs have chosen to arrest them anyway. I wish them luck.
Two years ago there was a bloody suppression of Pro-democracy rallies in Iran that the young intelligentsia of the country want to celebrate on the 9th of July - tomorrow - and I suspect that things will get ugly. The theocratic leaders of Iran have already made it clear that they will reenact the Pro-democracy massacre of Tianamen Square if a demonstration is made. They have already arrested 4,000 protesters (that's the administration's figure, Pro-democracy activists estimate over twice that number) from the last round of demonstrations last month.
Big Media in America have been disappointingly averse to reporting this internal revolution and I'm confused as to WHY. Is it what Glenn Reynolds has described as the "Eason Jordan effect" where CNN has sold it's soul for access? Is it Big Media's loathing of George Bush being manifested by ignoring what would be an unqualified success in the War on Terrorism? Do they not want to pour water on the hopes of the activists by honestly telling them what's likely to happen to them? Have they become compromised by the new breed of "Lost Left" that have foresworn their roots in the promotion of Democracy? Most of what I have learned about the Iranian democracy movement has been from an EX-member of Big Media and an unabashed member of the "Old Left", Jeff Jarvis. While he and I disagree on some several issues on a fundamental level, I can not dismiss the logic of most of his arguments and the refreshing fact that he does not make maudlin emotional appeals to support his positions.
Jarvis has also been a very strong promoter of that most insidious of evils to totalitarian regimes everywhere: he is connecting people. He has been a one man conduit between Iranian bloggers and bloggers/readers from the West. Nothing is quite so dangerous to a mullah (or a Ba'athist or Nazi or a Communist) as a sizable portion of their population having access to people with a life much better than their own. I have read several blogs from Iranians that tell me more than a dozen books on the subject. My favorite to date is View From Iran by a husband and wife team. Read it. Learn.
But even though the few democracy activist leaders left have officially called off any demonstration for tomorrow, the mullahs have chosen to arrest them anyway. I wish them luck.
Biker Gangs
Over 50 years ago in the sport of American Football the people that adjudicated the sport recognized that certain formations were inherently effective and notoriously injury prone. The "turtle back" formation was essentially the whole offensive side in a tight group jogging to the end zone. Anyone from the defense that attempted to stop the turtle would get crushed and trampled on - literally. So they banned that formation. Wise move.
In the NHL the need of a "goon", which I'll loosely define as a "team enforcer", has persisted even as the incidence of fighting on the ice has dramatically diminished over the years. The purpose of the goon was symbolically very simple: if you hurt my players - ESPECIALLY our star scorer - I will hurt your star player. This miniature arms race on the ice was effective in curbing the damage to the money players even if it inevitably meant that both team's goons duked it out in a brutal, bare knuckle brawl that got the crowd going and the teams enervated.
But then there is bicycle road racing....
I just read an amazing article that the US Postal team has no less than NINE members and four of them have the exclusive responsibility of protecting the team's star, Lance Armstrong. It seems that the turtle back formation has been reborn in the sport of bicycling! Now there may be speculation that goons exist even in the elite Tour d'France, and I suppose that may be true, but the sport wisely decided years ago not to penalize those that have crashed through no fault of their own too much. BUT, if they are too damaged to continue.... well, tough luck! A few days ago that very thing happened about 600 meters from the completion of one of the stages. One rider fell (for no obvious reason, even after inspection of video tapes afterward) and took a pile of riders behind him along for the dive. Broken bones, bruises and shredded bikes were the results. Armstrong's bike was totaled and he had to finish on another bike. He had a few bruises, but felt ok to continue.
You see, the French absolutely detest Armstrong. Not only is he an American and thus the focus of their inferiority complex, but he is a TEXAN, like the uber-American George Bush. They think it just isn't fair that Americans have won 7 recent Tours with Greg LeMond and Armstrong soon after entering the sport for the first time. There is no greater humiliation for a Frenchman than to beat him - repeatedly and seemingly effortlessly - in bicycling. It irritates them even more than having their national soccer team humiliated by everyone in the last World Cup. Would the French stoop to sabotage? Perhaps, but if they did then it wasn't successful...yet.
As the race continues the number of participants constantly decreases as more and more quit the gruelling grind. The problem according to Armstrong, is the chaotic start of the Tour where there are too many riders and all of them desperate to make their mark.
I would not be surprised at all to see a scarred and toothless enforcer team like Armstrong's strapping on flack jackets and debating the merits of the immediacy of a pair of brass knuckles versus the comfortable heft of a healthy length of lead pipe before every stage of the tour. I'd imagine their biking helmets are NOT WHAT THEY SEEM either.
Over 50 years ago in the sport of American Football the people that adjudicated the sport recognized that certain formations were inherently effective and notoriously injury prone. The "turtle back" formation was essentially the whole offensive side in a tight group jogging to the end zone. Anyone from the defense that attempted to stop the turtle would get crushed and trampled on - literally. So they banned that formation. Wise move.
In the NHL the need of a "goon", which I'll loosely define as a "team enforcer", has persisted even as the incidence of fighting on the ice has dramatically diminished over the years. The purpose of the goon was symbolically very simple: if you hurt my players - ESPECIALLY our star scorer - I will hurt your star player. This miniature arms race on the ice was effective in curbing the damage to the money players even if it inevitably meant that both team's goons duked it out in a brutal, bare knuckle brawl that got the crowd going and the teams enervated.
But then there is bicycle road racing....
I just read an amazing article that the US Postal team has no less than NINE members and four of them have the exclusive responsibility of protecting the team's star, Lance Armstrong. It seems that the turtle back formation has been reborn in the sport of bicycling! Now there may be speculation that goons exist even in the elite Tour d'France, and I suppose that may be true, but the sport wisely decided years ago not to penalize those that have crashed through no fault of their own too much. BUT, if they are too damaged to continue.... well, tough luck! A few days ago that very thing happened about 600 meters from the completion of one of the stages. One rider fell (for no obvious reason, even after inspection of video tapes afterward) and took a pile of riders behind him along for the dive. Broken bones, bruises and shredded bikes were the results. Armstrong's bike was totaled and he had to finish on another bike. He had a few bruises, but felt ok to continue.
You see, the French absolutely detest Armstrong. Not only is he an American and thus the focus of their inferiority complex, but he is a TEXAN, like the uber-American George Bush. They think it just isn't fair that Americans have won 7 recent Tours with Greg LeMond and Armstrong soon after entering the sport for the first time. There is no greater humiliation for a Frenchman than to beat him - repeatedly and seemingly effortlessly - in bicycling. It irritates them even more than having their national soccer team humiliated by everyone in the last World Cup. Would the French stoop to sabotage? Perhaps, but if they did then it wasn't successful...yet.
As the race continues the number of participants constantly decreases as more and more quit the gruelling grind. The problem according to Armstrong, is the chaotic start of the Tour where there are too many riders and all of them desperate to make their mark.
I would not be surprised at all to see a scarred and toothless enforcer team like Armstrong's strapping on flack jackets and debating the merits of the immediacy of a pair of brass knuckles versus the comfortable heft of a healthy length of lead pipe before every stage of the tour. I'd imagine their biking helmets are NOT WHAT THEY SEEM either.
