Everything but the game
Who cares about the earthquake, the spread of the bird flu virus or the hottest new political scandals? The mass media had other things on its mind last Sunday – the clash between «eternal rivals» Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. The only unexpected thing about the match played at the Karaiskaki Stadium was the quality of the soccer. But that is no reason for composing a new «ode to (revolutionary hero) Georgios Karaiskakis,» since the rest of the action was marked by the recurrence of some uncomfortably familiar traits. In a leftover of the Euro 2004 spirit perhaps, we saw the systematic cultivation of the most childish (as well as dangerous) fanaticism by the usual suspects: the big shots who own the clubs, populist politicians, and the media who provide intellectual guidance to those who refuse to grow up. It’s easy to keep blaming the «hot-headed minority.» But for every hot-headed person there are two or three citizens above suspicion who succeed in stirring up passions to serve their own interests. All of a sudden, these figures on high distribute DVDs with evidence of injustice, furtively hand out sealed money-laden envelopes or serve wines whose ironic label is enough to intoxicate the heroic fans-turned-armies. For their part, politicians rush to rehash a supposedly subtle version of the most provocative, sexist slogans in order to taunt their rivals and add to their vote totals. The same slogans make headlines in the club-affiliated newspapers that can think of no other way to increase their readership. Given the fans’ psychological and intellectual training, particularly those who see soccer as a chance to compensate for some other deficiency, the much-hailed «feast» will never happen. Every time we merely claim to be happy that we avoided the worst-case scenario. Of course, turning a blind eye to it does not mean it did not happen.
