Tom Waseleski
Look. I enjoy the Steelers as much as anyone else (OK, so I've never painted my face black and gold). Yesterday's victory parade energized Downtown Pittsburgh as virtually no other event could. Police say 350,000 were on the streets to celebrate the team's sixth Super Bowl win. And who knows how many more were at home watching the live coverage on all Pittsburgh stations?
But what do you make of so many players (not to mention Mayor Luke Ravenstahl) riding in open cars with a video recorder attached to their face? It's the same thing we saw when the Steelers deplaned in Tampa last week. Whenever a crowd gathers, our athlete-heroes, pretty much millionaires all, are ready to capture the adulation with a handheld camera. As if they aren't already greeted with applause, admiration and gasps wherever they are -- on the field or off.
What I want to know is when do they show their personal highlight films? At family barbecues? When the grandparents drop by?
And what would you think if, at your family's next high school graduation, your student strides to pick up her diploma while holding a camcorder to capture the moment? What about your retirement years from now? If your company or your co-workers throw a dinner in your honor, will you hold your video-cam high to record the applause as you approach the podium?
I'm not sure what this all says about an honoree, but it seems rude and self-absorbed to those who turn out to do the honoring. And what did you make of Santonio Holmes, Super Bowl MVP, cruising through the parade with what appeared to be iPod wires hanging down from his ears? If this is all about the fans, as so many Steelers said Monday, why don't they put down their recorders and engage with them?
Posted
Feb 04 2009, 09:49 AM
by
Tom Waseleski