Military Sports

This past Friday I watched the collegiate basketball game between North Carolina and Michigan State that was played aboard the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson, which was
harbored just off the coast of San Diego. This is the same vessel that conducted Osama Bin Laden’s burial at sea. President Obama was in attendance for the entire game. He entered to
applause and was seated in the front row. In recognition of Veterans Day, the Tar Heels and Spartans had U.S.A. rather than their names on the back of their jerseys, which had a camouflage
design. At dusk, the game was paused for the lowering of the American flag. When the game ended, the players gave their jerseys to servicemen. North Carolina’s coach Roy Williams and his
staff dressed in combat boots and cargo pants in a salute to the troops.
We discussed the military in sports and watched a video in class that extensively
highlighted the negative effects of sporting events being paired with the military. As I watched the basketball game, I couldn’t help but think about how the narrator from that video would be
absolutely furious. This wasn’t marines being sworn in at a baseball game, the basketball game was actually played on an aircraft carrier. The whole night was half basketball game, half salute to the troops, and the video we watched probably would have argued even less in favor of the game. I found the timing amusing as well as how I enjoyed the game for exact reasons the video would condone. I felt like it was freaking sweet they were playing on an aircraft carrier.