Death by penalties

I have to take up some of the points raised in F. Baskoro's letter of July 16, 1994 (Football not doomed) which was a response to my own letter in which I raised the concept that football as we've known and loved it may be poisoned by its sojourn in the U.S.

First, a letter of complaint and warning is not necessarily a "whining missive" as he calls it. I would urge Mr. Baskoro to try to understand the difference. If you don't agree with someone's point of view you do not have to belittle it.

Second, I didn't advocate fouling in my original letter. No, I was advocating the continuance of football as a full blooded, body contact sport. This World Cup has been marred by the uninhibited flutter of the colored cards. Referees and linesmen have been all too eager to call "foul" to the amazement of the players and spectators alike. The USA is a country consuming itself in a frenzy of litigation and I believe that this has been reflected in the way the rules have been applied in many games. To quote the British commentator who we hear during the final game, "It's all very well expecting quality and control from the players but that has to come from the linesmen too."

Third, Mr. Baskoro praises the appearance of the players "names on the backs of their jerseys (a la U.S. baseball) to create star appeal." Exactly my point, squire! Look where the star system got Hollywood! We already have enough overpaid `prima donnas' in football as it is. One was sent home in disgrace, another, in a fit of pique refused to join his nation's team virtually as they were boarding the plane for L.A. (Ruud Gullit). We don't need anymore like that. Football is a team game. If you want to drop names to your friends I suggest you read the sports papers to find out who is who.

Fourth, the phrase "the onward march of global culture" refers to something we used to call "the rising tide of conformity" in the 1960's. It refers to the process of the development of a global mono culture. Some of us are quite concerned about this as we believe that it could result in physical death by boredom and spiritual death by rapacious materialism.

Ah yes death, that brings me to my final point. It was so sad to see such a fine competition ending in Death by Penalties. Yes those 0-0 results are indeed boring. In this context I will, if I may, quote the aforementioned British commentator as we heard in the final game, "It's been a game of passion and emotion yes, but not of the attacking football of days gone by. Perhaps those days are gone forever."

TONI R.S. CASH

Jakarta