Letter to the Editor: Sports games are not political arenas

I disagree with Dr. Michael Munger's assertion that Sen. John Kerry playing with the Boston Bruins was more egregious than supporters of President Bush holding pro-Bush signs during last week's Duke-FSU game.

First off, Kerry did not join the Bruins for a practice; he was participating in a charity hockey game including former Boston Bruins legends, Olympic hockey team members and other celebrities. Like the other players in this game, Kerry was supporting the charity (a food drive) by lending his time, fame and ever present media spotlight to the cause. Perhaps this was an election ploy, but it was mutually beneficial for the charity and Kerry, as opposed to the more parasitic relationship between the Bush supporters and Duke basketball.

  The Bush supporters attempted to usurp attention from Duke basketball (clearly sacrilege in these parts). The addition of 30 more students to a game, students who do not normally attend Duke games as Sarah Hawkins claims, is less than a .5 percent change in the attendance-- an unnoticeable amount. The benefit to Duke basketball was minimal (perhaps an increase of a single decibel?). The benefit to Students for Bush? An arena and potentially a television audience to influence with their thinly disguised pro-Bush posters.

  Sports are a diversion from the grays of everyday life. Things are clear. A team wins or loses, fans root for the home team. Sports are one of the few institutions that can unite people of varying beliefs and backgrounds.

  Sadly, Students for Bush has attempted and succeeded in creating a division between Duke basketball fans. Shouldnt Bush's supporters be uniters not dividers? Clearly apples don't fall far from the tree. I believe many of us enjoy the respite from the real and meaningful that sports provide. While I would laud these students for sharing their beliefs (as Sarah Hawkins would like me to), I doubt that Students for Bush had a real interest beyond spreading their own propaganda.

  Additionally, they failed to respect those who view the game as a break instead of another political arena. Thank you Supporters for Bush; you really helped me to enjoy the game.

Colin Middleton
Trinity '05