Evola generally criticized sports as basically bourgeois and proletarian phenomena. He had some nice things to say about mountain climbing.
Werner Sombart in his Traders and Heroes viewed emphasis on sports as British substitute for military discipline.
Rowing seems different, but it is basically boring to watch for many typical sports fans, and probably practitioners. Sports during the 20th and 21st centuries is mostly practiced by men who would have some chance of becoming a soldier or a mercenary in the old times, so there is some connection to war. In a typical war situation recruiters were trying to first get those who have some sports experience because it requires some stamina, competitive spirit and even the ability to fight (on a lower level). When nationalism was still alive, soccer matches were a big deal and were treated basically like war during peace time. Sports, especially team sports is mostly done in environment of some kind of "mannerbund" where combination of fans and players fight together to win the title. All of these are links to war.
From the traditional perspective, sports really rose to prominence after revolutions from bellow created bourgeois and proletarian worlds, and power of nobility deteriorated rapidly. In traditional world most sports people would be peasants and workers, doing heavy labor which is very fitting for their physical gifts. In order to be a warrior in this kind of world one needs noble blood and initiation, in order to handle all the challenges of war. One also needs a great idea to fight for. All of that is missing from sports and that's why it cannot be considered a traditional phenomena.
It’s a view of sport that’s intellectuslized well. Rowing really is different!
Very glad you enjoyed the article. Rowing really is a different beast of a sport, love it
Evola generally criticized sports as basically bourgeois and proletarian phenomena. He had some nice things to say about mountain climbing.
Werner Sombart in his Traders and Heroes viewed emphasis on sports as British substitute for military discipline.
Rowing seems different, but it is basically boring to watch for many typical sports fans, and probably practitioners. Sports during the 20th and 21st centuries is mostly practiced by men who would have some chance of becoming a soldier or a mercenary in the old times, so there is some connection to war. In a typical war situation recruiters were trying to first get those who have some sports experience because it requires some stamina, competitive spirit and even the ability to fight (on a lower level). When nationalism was still alive, soccer matches were a big deal and were treated basically like war during peace time. Sports, especially team sports is mostly done in environment of some kind of "mannerbund" where combination of fans and players fight together to win the title. All of these are links to war.
From the traditional perspective, sports really rose to prominence after revolutions from bellow created bourgeois and proletarian worlds, and power of nobility deteriorated rapidly. In traditional world most sports people would be peasants and workers, doing heavy labor which is very fitting for their physical gifts. In order to be a warrior in this kind of world one needs noble blood and initiation, in order to handle all the challenges of war. One also needs a great idea to fight for. All of that is missing from sports and that's why it cannot be considered a traditional phenomena.
Good article bbg! 😘