Neighbor To Neighbor

Soccer BoyIt’s official: my piece about the Bethlehem Soccer Club’s cool new eagle logo was a hit! Here’s what readers of the Times Union’s Bethlehem Blog had to say:

“As a Bethlehem resident and as a player in the Bethlehem soccer club for the last 15 years I find it absurd and troubling that you would point this out.”
“You are not too bright.”
“Here’s a little bit of advice for you, next time before you write you might wanna think a little bit.”
“Maybe you should spend less time criticizing others that are volunteering their time to help your child, and more time raising your child.”
“Do you have anything better to do with your time?”

I was also called ignorant. Twice. Anyway, as you can see from this picture, kids in Bethlehem -like this unidentified child- are wild about the new logo and have fully embraced its deeper meaning.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Keyboard Krumbs did not conceive, assist in the production, or solicit the creation of the accompanying photo.

15 thoughts on “Neighbor To Neighbor

  1. haha… I think that’s hysterical! I just read your blog on the Times Union – you are very observant! The two logos are VERY similar! As for the person who says you aren’t bright, I would beg to differ! It obviously takes some intelligence to be able to put together the similarity between the Nazi’s and this. I honestly can’t believe Bethlehem would choose this new logo.

    As a side note – I enjoy your blog here. I’ve been reading it since the Times Union wrote that thing about you a couple weeks back.

  2. Eye,

    You nearly disappointed me on that TU post. You used the four-letter N-word. That’s so Jonah Goldberg! So John P. Normanson! (google the latter and you’ll understand.)

    But you saved yourself. You employed the word “teutonic.” Classy, Eye, very classy. Writers of style, substance, wit, and the odd Thesaurus use teutonic.

    As to the replies, Delmar Dad (No. 4) thinks you have some sort of “personal guilt.” Perhaps you declined to allow Delmar Dad’s offspring to play every minute of every game as a striker on the Bethlehem Soccer Club team, thereby stunting said offspring’s growth and nixing his chances to play for Manchester United or, for my personal favorite, the once-vaunted Queens Park Rangers.

    Or maybe you were ashamed about pulling out the old Strunk & White’s “Elements of Style” to obtain the correct usage of teutonic?

    The self-named ungh (No. 6 ) believes you’re somewhat paranoid and the owner of a tinfoil hat. Loyal readers know you’re not unnerved in the least and merely the victim of Les Nessman at the office and the latest Conehead columnist at the rag. Meanwhile, ungh has a name that perhaps not even a mommy could love.

    Delmar Dad, showing his endless commitment to offspring, is back at No. 10. This time, you’re a protectionist. Well, Herbert Hoover you ain’t. And thank whatever Deity you want for that.

    The self-named ungh returned at No. 12. This time, you abhor soccer, love the National Pastime, and favor redneck NASCAR above all else. With that name, ungh reminds one more and more of one of those soccer hooligans. Or the 300-pound woman who’s always cursing at and questioning the sexual orientation of driver Jeff Gordon at Talladega. (And I feel like I’m watching a ping-pong contest. My neck’s getting sore.)

    From VMO (No. 18), we get design and art history. Personally, this writer will wait for the movie to come out. On DVD. In the $1.99 bin. At Price Chopper.

    Albany Observer (No. 19) tackled VMO. Think I saw the ref hold up a yellow card. Yes, it’s a yellow card. One more violation and the Albany Observer will have to sit out the next blog post.

    Auteurofmyself (No. 21), another designer, adds new flavors to the conversation: primitive art research and, gulp, science fiction. First off, why does sci-fi invade every issue? Can anyone make a salient point without referring to Darth Vader, Spock, the Force, and the Enterprise?

    Second, and most important, Webster’s defines “primitive art research” as the study, with cast-iron stomach, of Kristi Gustafson’s use of a video camera in Albany area bars and restaurants. (Oops, must run to the lav.)

    I’m back. Teeth brushed. Tummy feels much better. Cast iron stomach of this scribe when discussing the journalistically (sic) challenged blond ain’t what it used to be.

    Eye, you encouraged sci-fi at No. 23. That’s at least two minutes for icing. Oh, wait. Soccer doesn’t have icing. Unless, of course, one counts the litany of European fans who throw snow-covered ice balls at non-white players. Again, see google for details.

    Sorry, Eye, I cannot read any more comments. My tummy just cannot take it. I simply am unable to understand much of the feedback, and the fault is mine.

    English, you see, I read quite well, but I passed on the required Yuppy I, II, and III classes in college. As such, some of the feedback just falls outside my realm of comprehension.

    But no more of the four-letter N-word, OK?

    P.S. Be nice to Ms. Kristi. Yves Saint Laurent kicked. Now she must buy an entirely new closet of attire. That means finding a fifth storage locker for her now out-of-date fashions with YSL DOA.

  3. Gee… I think the Cynic needs some practice recognizing satire when he reads it… and why, exactly, do we need play by play and color commentary third hand covering a different blog?

  4. “Satire (n.) – An obsolete kind of literary composition in which the vices and follies of the author’s enemies were expounded with imperfect tenderness. In this country satire never had more than a sickly and uncertain existence, for the soul of it is wit, wherein we are dolefully deficient, the humor that we mistake for it, like all humor, being tolerant and sympathetic. Moreover, although Americans are ‘endowed by their Creator’ with abundant vice and folly, it is not generally known that these are reprehensible qualities, wherefore the satirist is popularly regarded as a sour-spirited knave, and his every victim’s outcry for codefendants evokes a national assent.” [Ambrose Bierce]

  5. Congratulations to those who scrolled down far enough to read this.

    I think what we’re seeing is satire on top of satire. I wonder if that creates a canceling effect?

  6. I have to tell you, Rob… I think you’re funny. Just not in a Bethlehem kind of way (which is a compliment). Don’t get me wrong — I grew up there and then returned (!!!) to raise my own family because it is a nice place to live, good for kids, blah, blah.

    BUT, so many people are SO repressed and SO afraid of offending anyone and SO concerned with their appearances that I often wonder if it is something about Bethlehem, itself (some weird Stepford community, perhaps), or just the nature of suburban mentality (Desperate Housewives?).

    I have been following the Bethlehem blog with interest because I find it so fascinating that so many people will be so obnoxious on the blog when protected by Internet anonymity; my guess is that if we were to run into one another on the soccer field or in Price Chopper, they would be uberpolite and friendly. Hence the repression. We Delmartians have a lot of pent-up hostility, don’t we?

    Anyway, I am not sure that I see the Nazi imagery in the soccer shirts, but it made for a chuckle-worthy post!

  7. Delmartians,

    Eye, now that’s a GREAT word!

    Auteurofmyself,

    Really, you’ve got to relax. Stop stuffing all those envelopes for Timmy Gordon’s reelection campaign. Laugh a little.

    P.S. Short enough? Or is that enuff in Net/Yuppie verbiage?

  8. In the interest of full disclosure, I cannot claim credit for “Delmartians”… years ago, I saw a bumper sticker (somewhere in the vicinity of the Four Corners) that read:”Delmartians are Everywhere.”

  9. Rob,

    you expressed an opinion, I disagree with what you said…..except for the fact that it DOES look like a cool eagle.

    Is this where I get on my soap box and question you as a man, a Father, a human being?…..no, I’m not that egocentric….I’ll just look forward to your next observation….maybe I’ll agree and laugh, maybe I’ll disagree but learn something new…..ya know, roll with things and enjoy myself…..maybe others should do the same and allow the man to be creative and expressive….he’s pretty good at it….even the best artist sometimes rips the paper from their easel and throws it out……it’s called experimentation and growth….a nice quality I’m sure Rob will pass on to his kids….oh no, wait…that’s right….we’ve already condemned him as a bad Father….I’m sure they wont learn from him volunteering in his local Fire Department either…….

    Rob, you’re just a bad man….shame on you and your unique views….hold them in and shut your mouth….ya know, like we lived in a Nazi state.

  10. Yet again…at a different site.

    First, let me say, I have no problem with people expressing opinions. I thought that Madeo was showing a little obsesiveness on Nazism with his comments – but hey – opinion is opinion.

    What folks should be a little peeved at is the use of a child to promote propeganda. Not only to push an agenda, but extenuate it. Whether the eagle may or may not bring up represed emotions (a personal problem if you ask me), more concerning is letting your kid draw up a mask of Adolf for fun. Apparently, there’s no decorum or thought of appropriateness. I suppose the thought that anything goes – even at holloween is probably the same approach.

    I would submit that folks who feel strongly should show their conviction. Yes – no hiding behind anominity of the web. If your child and you are that upset at sports, pull out. I’m sure competition is a touchy subject too – and score keeping – heck, rules all together. Let’s just all get along.

  11. Be like Delmar Dad. Don’t let your kids draw masks.

    Instead, allow them to wear white sheets over the heads.

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