Football Mania

Football Mania

I have been enjoying the World Cup these last couple of weeks, apart from the horrendous English accents of some of the commentators (one of whom insists on calling it the World Kep). I have been impressed by the level of skill exhibited, even by England, but especially by Congo. But what really caught my attention was the level of fascination with footballers’ torsos. Women have been drooling over the spectacle of football players taking off their shirts, which is a not uncommon occurrence; Messi and Ronaldo have come in for special admiration. Admittedly, these are fine specimens of manhood, and pretty nifty with their feet too, but it’s the abs that have got these ladies all excited. There are close-ups of those abs plus lascivious commentary—libidinal, lecherous, erotomaniac. I have no objection to this flagrant ogling of the male form; indeed, I encourage it. If the female gaze likes to linger on Messi’s stomach muscles, who am I to object? It’s all very sex-positive and lust-affirmative. It may even stimulate them to get out there and kick a ball around. But is it not somewhat inharmonious with respect to the current excoriation of the male gaze? I mean, what would the feminists (bless their stony hearts) say if there were lecherous men obsessing on-air over female abs, complete with intimate close-ups? Isn’t it a bit, like, objectifying and degrading: these people are professional athletes not sex objects! I myself admire an athletic leg no matter the gender to which it belongs (with a weakness for the female leg, may God forgive me), but I doubt this would be tolerated on national television at exorbitant length. Isn’t there a touch of hypocrisy going on here? Bit of a double standard, eh, jot of inconsistency, what? I had to laugh, but really, come on. These lovely (sorry!) lascivious ladies were not above describing the players as “sexy”, “attractive”, and “hot”—words that must on no account be used about female athletes. Or am I being too critical and logocentric? Let these smitten commentators enjoy their manly pecs and abs (why abs?) while men keep silent on such matters and chuckle inwardly.