It doesn't take a genius to realize -- nor should acknowledgement be particularly "grudging" in this regard -- that "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption, graft, cheating and subterfuge triumph in sports.
From the littlest league to the global arena, the only real competitions are those waged trying to game the system ... and usually, these plays are not televised.
Nobody has broadcast rights, exclusive or otherwise, to the internecine maneuverings and greed-fueled strategies of the Mad Men-style executives posing as "chairmen" ... "commissioners" ... "coaches" and "athletes" ... of sundry "leagues" across every country.
It's business. As usual, behind closed doors ...
It's nobody's business when all goes well. When teams are winning and revenue's flowing, like Krug or the summer dresses of models, the Players (with a capital 'P') -- those chairmen, commissioners, coaches and athletes -- reap benefits worthy of high stakes "winning".
When one cog in this wheel, though, "forgets" to file his tax returns ... or a codger, seemingly divorced from reality -- running around with his visor-wearing younger "girlfriend", much to the chagrin and mortification, but ultimately, vindication, of his wife -- pops off ...
and the world, in its self-righteous Schadenfreude, piles on ... there is no surcease from hell raining down!
Along similar lines -- the rarefied worlds of loose money, fast women and scheming sports / business moves churning away behind closed, global doors (and colorful visors) --
a dear friend of mine was impolitely asked to leave the 6th Annual Better World Awards in Monte Carlo a few weeks ago.
A quite noble endeavor (according to its website), the BWA "salute(s) philanthropic prominent celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs and corporations who are making the world a better place."
My friend is a journalist -- who will eventually tell this story, much better than I -- and was invited to participate in covering the BWA from their little "red carpet" on May 16, 2015. Smack in the middle of the much larger, far more accessible and Press-friendly Cannes Film Festival -- but not seeming to give a shit about its 'second class' status on the Cote d'Azur during the third week in May -- the Better World Awards proceeded apace ... this year to a largely empty house, and virtually zero "star power".
The lovely Eva Longoria did show up (as did Guy in the Plaid Pants), to accept her Global Philanthropist of the Year award - following in the footsteps of previous Better World Award winners and honorees including Boris Becker and Julian Lennon.
My friend, though, the reporter, for reasons still not entirely (made) clear, was asked to leave, and through the back door, by International Luxury Media, the company that organizes this lofty annual event.
I was not there, and am simply responding based on what I've been told by several sources who were ... but by all accounts, there transpired quite a disgusting public display by the ILM CEO, and my stunned friend (and writing colleague) was shown the back door.
So far, that's all I know. More will be written about this grotesque kerfuffle ...
In the meantime, I'll try and
It's nobody's business when all goes well. When teams are winning and revenue's flowing, like Krug or the summer dresses of models, the Players (with a capital 'P') -- those chairmen, commissioners, coaches and athletes -- reap benefits worthy of high stakes "winning".
When one cog in this wheel, though, "forgets" to file his tax returns ... or a codger, seemingly divorced from reality -- running around with his visor-wearing younger "girlfriend", much to the chagrin and mortification, but ultimately, vindication, of his wife -- pops off ...
Along similar lines -- the rarefied worlds of loose money, fast women and scheming sports / business moves churning away behind closed, global doors (and colorful visors) --
a dear friend of mine was impolitely asked to leave the 6th Annual Better World Awards in Monte Carlo a few weeks ago.
A quite noble endeavor (according to its website), the BWA "salute(s) philanthropic prominent celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs and corporations who are making the world a better place."
My friend is a journalist -- who will eventually tell this story, much better than I -- and was invited to participate in covering the BWA from their little "red carpet" on May 16, 2015. Smack in the middle of the much larger, far more accessible and Press-friendly Cannes Film Festival -- but not seeming to give a shit about its 'second class' status on the Cote d'Azur during the third week in May -- the Better World Awards proceeded apace ... this year to a largely empty house, and virtually zero "star power".
The lovely Eva Longoria did show up (as did Guy in the Plaid Pants), to accept her Global Philanthropist of the Year award - following in the footsteps of previous Better World Award winners and honorees including Boris Becker and Julian Lennon.
My friend, though, the reporter, for reasons still not entirely (made) clear, was asked to leave, and through the back door, by International Luxury Media, the company that organizes this lofty annual event.
I was not there, and am simply responding based on what I've been told by several sources who were ... but by all accounts, there transpired quite a disgusting public display by the ILM CEO, and my stunned friend (and writing colleague) was shown the back door.
So far, that's all I know. More will be written about this grotesque kerfuffle ...
In the meantime, I'll try and
 |
| keep things classy. |
