And another book: Gateway

Gateway

Frederik Pohl

I read this on recommendation from someone on the io9 online blog. I love hard science fiction, and this was the best one I've read in over a year. Set in the near-future, after people from Earth have colonized Venus and Mars. There was some terrific technological foresightedness on behalf of Pohl- ship communication via laser (cool), the idea that healthcare in the future would be very costly, and would be something that most people would be intensely aware of (nailed it). Also, homosexuality was treated as a common thing- a pretty advanced concept coming from a book written in the 1970's (at about the same time as Anita Bryant's rantings). On the other hand, I found it difficult to identify with the protagonist after he beats the crap out of his girlfriend! (I also found it odd that she would forgive him.) I could not understand the concept of smoking in a confined space ship, but that was a definite 20th century thing.

Spoiler alerts.

The book's theme is discovery and loss - about newly discovered alien (Heechee) technology that allows faster-than-light-speed travel. The technology is being used to explore the galaxy, and to obtain artifacts for financial gain. A secondary background storyline takes place in the future, as a recollection after the major events of the main storyline. The book jumps back and forth, but they're nicely tied-up at the end. The climax involves an expedition using an alien ship towards a black hole. Only the protagonist returns (as a rich man), and we're not quite sure if the others (including his girlfriend) were stranded there by accident, or on purpose. Nicely done.
This was a terrific read, and I've already received the follow-up in the mail; it will be my next read...

Trophy Presentations to Championship Teams

Watched the Superbowl on the weekend, and something occurred to me about the presentation of the trophy to the winning team.

The National Hockey League (NHL) does it right. The National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball do it wrong.

The NHL Crowning Event

When the NHL crowns its champion, the league president says very little, and presents the championship trophy to the players- specifically, to the winning team's player captain. The celebration begins immediately- the people that matter- players and fans are center stage. The old fart team owners and executives and the league president and executives are not an integral part of the celebration. 

Here's what is looks like when the NHL does it:

Gee, Messier looks pretty happy, and I bet the Rangers fans loved this!

The NFL black suit Event

The NFL gives us a mini state of the union speech from the hated league president, followed by presentation of the trophy to an old sod of a rich guy in a suit. The old owner in a suit then makes his speech for a while. Meanwhile, the people that matter, the players and the fans, stand around until the suits have their glory orgy. Nobody wants to see the president hand the trophy to an old guy in a suit. Nobody has tears in their eyes thinking about how much money that poor owner had to spend to buy a championship. Nobody reflects upon what that rich guy in a suit must have been going through watching that game from his luxury suite. 

Here's what it looks like when the NFL does it:

Hmmmm. Not the same thing, really, is it? Bill Belichick looks not sad. Patriots owner Robert Craft looks rich. And how do the players feel about this moment? I guess that's not really important.

The MLB black suit Event

Major League Baseball gives us little more- the only plus is that the baseball owners are usually a bit older, the trophy is more fragile-looking, and there's always the chance that the old guy in the suit might drop the thing, or drop dead on top of it.

Here's what it looks like when Major League Baseball does it:

Ummmm. What team won? Well, it says 2013 World Series, so I guess it's the Red Sox. John Farrell (far right, not near the trophy) looks not sad. I think some of those other people in black suits played a major role in beating the Cardinals that day. I guess.

The point?
The NFL and Major League Baseball need to have a look at how the NHL does it, and take a lesson. The best presentation. For the players. For the fans. No one else matters here. Nobody cares what people in black suits have to say after a championship game. For the most part, nobody even cares who they are, or if they were even there. Really, you guys; nobody.