Sport That Can Make a Difference

When I first heard of the African Amputee Cup, being played in Sierra Leone, I wasn't sure what to think. I mean, one can react in multiple ways when first encountering the thought of international soccer being played by people missing limbs. But as I think about it more, it seems to me that something like this can represent all that is good about (spectator) sport. I can think of the following:

• I'm not an amputee, but I assume that it could be emcouraging to amputees to see others competing at a high level.
• It can be educational to the non-amputees to see what they can do.
• It can bring attention to the idiotic* wars recently in the region, and the idiotic** practice of hacking limbs off your enemies.

I think the media should focus more on high-level amputee soccer, and less on Anna Nicole Smith.

Here's a photo of Sierra Leone's team:


* I'm sure all sides felt strongly about their positions. I'd use the same adjective to describe just about any war.
** I suppose those doing it could claim it's nicer than killing their opponents.