MovieChat Forums > The Short Game (2013) Discussion > One of the most disturbing...

One of the most disturbing...

posted 10 years ago by CyberZeus67
4 replies | jump to latest

...trends in our society. This is right up there with Toddlers and Tiaras - this incessant drive to make little folks compete as big folks - LAME LAME LAME. It's also part of the larger insatiable hunger we've developed for excellence in sports vis-a-vis pursuit of excellence in other far more important areas of society. Nobody who ever excelled in golf, tennis, football, etc. saved a person's life on the surgeon's table, walked on the moon, argued a ground-breaking case before the SCOTUS, developed a world changing product or technology - etc - etc - etc...the list goes on.

We live in a World that is seriously over-crowded and using energy at increasingly alarming rates and do we celebrate the brightest of the bunch for their pursuit to solve these issues? Of course not - but we are more than ready to celebrate any number of sporting events.

It will be truly hilarious when we run out of oil and are left to wonder how we're gonna get to all these sporting events since we have no more energy and we're being chased by our once sane fellow man trying to mow us down so they can steal your resources - I bet sports will quickly become a distant memory.

That said, I do applaud these kids for being able to survive not the pressure of competition but rather the pressure of their parents who clearly didn't succeed enough in life so that they need to have their kids do it for them

BRAVO TO THE LITTLE PEEPS...

[–] TxMike 10 years ago

I understand the point "Zeus" makes and sympathize with a lot of it. I was disturbed, watching this film, how some parents are brainwashing their kids to think "being number 1" at golf is a worthy goal in itself.

But it isn't all bleak. Yes there have been a number of men and women who excelled at sports on a world stage but also became doctors, lawmakers, researchers, inventors, and the like. And I'd bet some of the kids we see in this film will also.

Bobby Jones might well be the greatest golfer that ever lived, and he never turned pro. Why? Because to him that would have taken the fun out of playing the game.

I most enjoyed watching the kids who finished 40th or 18th or 8th and weren't upset about it, they understand the priorities and don't feel they have to win every time. Sometimes it is just fun participating, doing your best, behaving properly, and making new friends.

TxMike
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.

[–] jared1101 10 years ago

Sure, we celebrate the 'brightest' just as much as the sports phenoms. Just so happens, you chose to watch a Netflix documentary about young golfers instead of choosing something more educational that would fit your mindset. Those kids are so driven it's beautiful, they wanted to play golf because they love the game.
As Jack Nicklaus said in the film 'I don't care what you do, as long as you try to be the best at it'..(something along those lines). It's about being the best you can be and finding comfort when things don't work out the way you had hoped. Those kids that don't go pro will probably be your boss in about 10-15 years.

[–] davetruman68 9 years ago

Boy are you way off. Most of these kids are browbeaten into playing golf. Just watch the "The Short Game" the TV series on the Esquire Channel and tell me most of these kids "LOVE" game, and their parents (especially the fathers) are not pushing them past the critical point.

[–] generalnotsew6501 9 years ago

Yeah I have to agree. I mean golf can be very fun and rewarding but not really at that age. I felt the father of the Tigress was pushing her way too hard. As some others. But that guy especially. The last years champions father seemed to come off as more of a sweet bonding at first but then progressed into obsession for his daughter. Most kids that age just want to be kids and play with their friends. Winning is an adult thing.