AmericanPapist Comments
This is a disgusting photo. And who is this Rooney person? I suppose it's all lost on me. I find my attitude toward media, sport, etc. is becoming increasingly "who cares?". If it's not about The Kingdom, what possible difference does it make?
Rooney (from what I understand) is a popular british soccer player.
Frankly, Thomas, I didn't see a 'Christ-like' figure until you mentioned it. That stance is a popular one with footballers when they score and the red marking is quite obviously the English flag, red cross on white background.
Actually, I don't like soccer too much and am not following this 'World Cup'. I think people are making too much of this. So the gentleman is Catholic.
I would have to agree with the last commenter. I didn't see any of the supposed religious aspect of the shot until mentioned in the post.
Blessed times of the Middle Ages.;)
It's a great ad and much ado about nothing.
"Red, white and blue; what does it mean to you?
Surely you're proud, shout it aloud,
"Britons, awake!"
The empire too, we can depend on you.
Freedom remains. These are the chains
Nothing can break.
There'll always be an England,
And England shall be free
If England means as much to you
As England means to me."
I agree in one thing, it looks stupid. However, I understand the sentiment. The cross of St. George is the flag of England. When a suggestion is made that Englishmen shouldn't fly their own flag to avoid offending Moslems, this sort of reaction is perfectly natural.
As an avid soccer (and, specifically, England) fan, I see little wrong with the advertisement myself. I also did not notice any religious imagery involved, but as was pointed out, many a striker assumes that very pose after a goal.
As for the relative importance of this particular sporting event, I find it sad that it is lost upon the majority of the American population. When the Ivory Coast's team made it this year, they stopped the civil war in the country. It is an amazing tool for unification, and I think more Americans should pay more attention, rather than living up to the aloof stereotype they have oh-so-rightly earned.
...I will concede that English "soccer hooligans" are a problem, and for this I am ashamed. However, for the picture of Rooney I can only respond "God Save the Queen."
As a soccer fan, I have to say that though I admit that ad is not to my taste, I didn't find that picture to be offensive. If anything, it reminds me a little of the movie 'Braveheart' where warriors painted their faces. Also, as Richard commented above, his pose is one that soccer players often strike after a goal.
I think Americans that are not soccer fans (that is the great majority) simply don't understand that for the majority of the countries of the world, soccer IS more than a sport. People celebrate their countries' victories at the World Cup as if they had won a war. Here in Mexico, people make parades and celebrate all day whenever our team wins, and it's the same for all the countries involved. Civil wars stop during the World Cup, and for the people from very poor countries, their team's victories give them a reason for hope.
I guess I simply don't understand why some Americans think that looking down on soccer and those who like it is a reason for pride. I think it's a really snooty attitude myself (not that I think you're guilty of it at all :) )
Unfortunately, professional soccer is just heading in the direction of all our American professional sports. Just look at the possible scandal in Italy with the accusations against Juventus.
I hate soccer. But I like the pic.
For England and St. George!
I live in a not-so-big city near Berlin (Potsdam, pop. ~100.000). Like in many other german cities, there is a "public viewing area" where people can watch all the games on giant screen. There are shows, there is a Ukrainian village (due to the fact that the Ukrainian team stays here during the World Cup), and in every bar the TV runs. People are sitting everywhere, dressed in different nations' football dresses, bodypainted or made up, holding little flags of different countries (albeit mostly German). Everybody is happy and having a good time. Up to now, there have hardly been any problems with alcohol and/or violence. In fact, the whole atmosphere reminds me of World Youth Day.
Not to forget that the U.S. team managed to qualify for the Cup, which is quite astonishing given the notoriosity of Americans being untalented for football...
It should be noted, too, that the Holy Father is an avid football fan and already in 1978 commented on that year's championship. His radio speech (as then Cardinal-Archbishop of Munich) can be heard here (http://www.br-online.de/bayern3/fussball-wm-2006/
wm-vor-ort/artikel/der-papst-und-der-fussball/
index.xml;jsessionid=M1HIIKGXE2OBZQZF04SCFEQ#), and read here (http://www.radiovaticana.org/tedesco/tedarchi/
2006/Juni06/ted09.06.06.htm)
I would say as a snooty American who doesn't care about soccer and agrees with some about the "sheer pointlessness of a zero-zero tie", I didn't find anything offensive about that picture. Didn't love it, but wasn't offended. 2cents.
I live in a not-so-big city near Berlin (Potsdam, pop. ~100.000). Like in many other german cities, there is a "public viewing area" where people can watch all the games on giant screen. There are shows, there is a Ukrainian village (due to the fact that the Ukrainian team stays here during the World Cup), and in every bar the TV runs. People are sitting everywhere, dressed in different nations' football dresses, bodypainted or made up, holding little flags of different countries (albeit mostly German). Everybody is happy and having a good time. Up to now, there have hardly been any problems with alcohol and/or violence. In fact, the whole atmosphere reminds me of World Youth Day.
Not to forget that the U.S. team managed to qualify for the Cup, which is quite astonishing given the notoriosity of Americans being untalented for football...
It should be noted, too, that the Holy Father is an avid football fan and already in 1978 commented on that year's championship. His radio speech (as then Cardinal-Archbishop of Munich) can be heard here, and read here
Sorry, the embedded links didn't work. Here they are:
Audio (http://www.br-online.de/bayern3/fussball-wm-2006/
wm-vor-ort/artikel/der-papst-und-der-fussball/
index.xml;jsessionid=M1HIIKGXE2OBZQZF04SCFEQ#) and text (http://www.radiovaticana.org/tedesco/tedarchi/
2006/Juni06/ted09.06.06.htm)
CAUTION: Text and Audio is in German!
It should be added that Mr Rooney is not only a very good football player, but also an exceptionally lower-class football player. I have no idea how far his Catholicism influences him, but given the fact his girlfriend/concubine did some nude pictures and he expressed his pride on this fact, I have sincere doubts...
I have to agree with the other soccer fans here. Though I'm American, I, like many fans, love English soccer. I saw this poster over the past weekend and actually thought it was kind of cool. I don’t think that the Christ imagery that some people seem to be seeing would have ever occurred to me. While Rooney is admittedly a bit of a jerk, one announcer said it right--he's wearing the flag along with the hopes of his nation. I completely agree with the previous poster who spoke of the ability of soccer to bring people together. It is just inevitable that anytime you have a lot of people in one place, sheer probability will tell you that some will act poorly, especially if there is drinking involved.
All in all, I think it's kind of a neat picture, and a nice ad. It's not really about Nike, it's just about love of country--and the most popular sport in the world, which originated there. True, it's not promoting something as magnificent as Our Lord, but I'd hardly say it's harmful.
All in all, I think it's kind of a neat picture, and a nice ad. It's not really about Nike, it's just about love of country--and the most popular sport in the world, which originated there. True, it's not promoting something magnificent as Our Lord, but I'd hardly say it's harmful.
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