Sports: April 2008 Archives

There's a line in "Pulp Fiction" where Samuel L. Jackson's character, Jules, has a "moment of clarity" after several short-range bullets miss him: He decides to quit the hitman career, finally start living the Ezekiel passage he quoted to victims about the path of righteousness being beset on all sides by evil men, and even though totally unsure of his future he tells Vincent Vega (John Travolta) "I can't go back to sleep."

After this week's protests against the Olympic torch in San Francisco, one can't help but think -- and hope -- that many spectators now have that feeling about the myriad grievances brought against China: Tibet, the PRC's support for Sudan and Burma, press freedom (or lack of it, as the situation is), even the crackdowns on China's Uighur community (which showed up waving Eastern Turkistan flags). Media reports tend to leap to the loony protesters -- like the trio of nude guys I interviewed (and photographed, providing a scary surprise for my mother in her e-mail) -- but a strong message was sent by a passionate mass of protesters who generally heeded the call for nonviolence yet blocked the path for the torch to enter the closing ceremonies.

I was there for it. Protest events actually began Tuesday, with a Tibet-centric rally at U.N. Plaza, marching to San Francisco City Hall and the Chinese consulate after that. Many in the crowd were ethnic Tibetans, waving Tibet and American flags, but many were supporters from other walks of life. One speaker -- described as the only Tibetan in Appalachia -- eloquently compared this fight against communism to Eastern Europe's efforts, and hoped that Rangzen ("independence") would reach the same one-word movement recognition as Solidarność in 1980s Poland. One organizer handed me a sobering list -- names, ages, gender, town of those Tibetans thus far confirmed killed by the Chinese government since March 14. The elected North American representative for the Tibetan government in exile had sobering news: Some of those monks who were arrested and tortured for defying protest bans have committed suicide upon their release from Chinese custody. As it is, monasteries are under siege without access to food or water.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, of course, cowered inside City Hall and didn't come out when the protesters massed on the steps and spilled across the street. Marching up Van Ness Avenue (and yes, I did get new running shoes for the week) toward the consulate, cars driving the opposite way stopped in lanes to take pictures of the monks, the activists, and the plain ol' concerned citizens; drivers honked and flashed peace signs.

On Wednesday I got to the Embarcadero long before the torch relay was to start, sipping the best ever clam chowder on the patio of the Waterfront Restaurant as helicopters buzzed overhead and a plane flew a "Free Burma" banner. As Newsom decided to play hide-and-seek with the torch at the last minute, protesters made the wise decision to gather near the closing ceremonies site rather than spread out among the supposed waterfront route. Before long, the police barricades were null and the Chinese nationalists who had lined up to watch the missing torch were treated to a parade of demonstrators. I was in the middle of the protesters, dashing over to watch the latest shouting match or flag wrestling with China supporters who had wandered into the protest crowd.

At about 2:30 p.m. -- the relay was supposed to start at 1 p.m. -- Tibetan organizers told protesters to go through the Embarcadero Center building to get around police barricades branching far from the stage setup. “Block all the entrances!” a protest leader shouted. “Do not let the torch enter the closing ceremony!”
Demonstrators streamed through the doors of the shopping center, chanting slogans as shopkeepers peered from windows.

Once close to the ceremony site, protesters pressed against another set of barricades that kept the public out of reserved seating. “Bring down the barriers!” demonstrators shouted as police lined up and a band played covers of tunes such as David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure.” A couple of protesters asked me -- I was smushed in, close to the front of the pack -- if I would push in on the barrier: "You have a press pass, so you won't get in trouble!" they theorized. Uh-huh.

I find it interesting that so many stories are painting the day as a victory for Newsom when it was the strong protest efforts that made the torch run and hide.

This, I think, is one of the saddest stories of relay day:

"At least one torchbearer decided to show her support for Tibetan independence during her moment in the spotlight. After being passed the Olympic flame, Majora Carter pulled out a small Tibetan flag that she had hidden in her shirt sleeve.

'The Chinese security and cops were on me like white on rice, it was no joke,' said Carter, 41, who runs a nonprofit organization in New York. 'They pulled me out of the race, and then San Francisco police officers pushed me back into the crowd on the side of the street.'"

I'm so glad that, here in America, Chinese authorities are allowed to decide what's acceptable speech, and then our law enforcement officers go along with it, acting like her peaceful display of a Tibetan flag is a crime. Shame on the city of San Francisco!!

But major, major props to the people of San Francisco, who are unlikely to continue to be silent about the policies of communist China. Once you learn the truth, it's hard to go back to sleep. (Unless, of course, you're President Bush, who unfortunately refuses to ditch the opening ceremonies in Beijing.)

Here's the coverage roundup thus far from my trip:

MY VIDEO:

April 8 Tibet protests

April 9 torch relay protests

MY STORIES:

Round One of Anti-China Protests in San Francisco

San Francisco alters Olympic torch route to avoid protests

Olympic Protesters Run Torch Out of Town

And coming very soon, my Daily News column on an interesting angle of the whole torch protest affair...

King Procrustus, the legendary host of Greek mythology, and the Chinese hosts of the up-coming Olympic Games have a lot in common. This is not a good thing—either for the Games or the Chinese.

Procrustus was said to be so concerned that his house (okay Palace) guests be happy and comfortable that he made them fit his bed. If they were too short, he put them on the rack and stretched them. If they were too tall, well, he lopped their feet off. The fit had to be perfect. He forgot about the real comfort of his guests and, of course, his own reputation as a host. He is clearly the tragic inspiration for the Chinese.

All Olympic host countries try to clean up in order to impress their guests. They don’t want beggars on the streets or civil unrest. They clear out the poor and throw a coat of paint on the buildings where tourists are likely to roam.

In Los Angeles we emptied skid row. We restricted traffic—both for the sake of speed and smog. However, we did not do mass arrests of the poor or protestors. Mexico City fought protestors in the streets and killed many. The scandal of those games is that the scandal of those games was two American athletes giving the Black Power salute—and not the slaughter of students in the streets by the government. What the public notices and is moved by is almost always unpredictable.

The Chinese government is very concerned about putting on a good face, looking like a modern country and a fitting member of the community of nations. In order to show their best face, they are taking perverse inspiration from Procrustus. They seem unable to understand that how they are acting in the lead up to the Olympics is poisoning both these Olympics and their image in the world. Rounding up dissidents and stifling dissent is making them appear exactly as they don’t want to. Again that implacable law of unintended consequences comes into play as the Chinese cut off the noses of dissidents, but the world smells what they are doing—and it stinks.

Were their oppression of internal dissent not bad enough (which it is) their brutality towards Tibet and ethnic Tibetans within their borders threatens to wreck their Olympics completely. The world might understand that they don’t want Tibet to lobby for independence, or even autonomy, right now. The world will not understand their beating and shooting of peaceful Buddhist monks and their ludicrous libeling of the Dalai Lama as a terrorist fomenting violence and hatred against the Han Chinese. They make themselves appear ridiculous at best and stupid and brutal at worst. They seem to be conspiring against their own best interests and any ability to save these Olympics from social and economic catastrophe. Their active support of the government that is committing genocide in Darfur further tarnishes their image, their reality and these “games.”

At home in China they can and do restrict the Internet and regulate what their own people see. But the most bone-headed piece of reverse damage control is surrounding the Olympic Torch ceremonies and worldwide relay with Chinese thugs—dressed in Chinese uniforms and therefore easily identifiable as being both Chinese and thugs. The pictures of these guys pushing Londoners around while protecting the torch does damage to what they are supposed to be protecting: the reputation of China. The pictures of them manhandling Parisians are equally disturbing. This disaster is due at least as much to Chinese tone-deaf arrogance as the actions of those protesting in favor of decent treatment for Tibet, Tibetans and Darfurians.

This whole run up to the Chinese Olympics has really been a stumble-up and fall down disaster. Instead of the torch spreading enthusiasm and goodwill, it has engendered rage and cast a light on their dark practices towards minority peoples, religions and subject territories.

When the torch arrived in San Francisco, for its one run in North America, it was quickly taken to an “undisclosed location.” This flame of shame has had to be run in virtual secrecy. In a game of hide and seek between the torchbearers and the protesters, the 6-mile relay has turned into a brief covert stagger with the torch protected by a cordon sanitaire of guards keeping it from the very public it was supposed to inspire. The closing celebration at the waterfront had to be cancelled. Expensive farce.

I don’t know if any nation in these modern days is clean enough to host a non-controversial Olympics. Someone is always doing something terrible almost everywhere. However, picking China really was a terrible idea. They employ slave labor. They crush workers who want to organize. They harvest the organs from prisoners who have been executed. They oppress Tibet, are stifling the freedom of the people of Hong Kong and threaten to cross the Taiwan Straits whenever a Taiwanese politician even talks about being independent. I guess the only explanation the Olympic committee has for selecting China is that Iran couldn’t be ready in time.

It's too bad that Dodger fans aren't as proud of their city as they are of their city's baseball team.

Blue-shirted Dodger fans started the partying early Monday, barbecuing and drinking beer way before 9 a.m. in the picnic areas of Elysian Park adjacent to Dodger Stadium. As I walked the dogs at 8:30 a.m. I was surprised to see so many people drinking beer, blasting music and cooking up afternoon food. That's Opening Day for ya.

I can forgive people partying on a special day, which was also Cesar Chavez Day. But I can't forgive their trashing of my neighborhood. Here's a few snapshots of just one corner of Elysian Park this morning. It was pretty representative of the other areas I saw as well. I did learn something, though: Dodger fans seem to prefer light beer, a conclusion I came to from the sheer number of discarded cardboard Bud Light and Michelob Light 12-pack holders on this morning's run.

And Dodgers flacks wonder why the stadium's neighbors aren't thrilled on game days.

More pictures after the jump.