The Deluge

Mitch Albom discusses the small controversy over the Detroit Pistons' swimsuit calendar. The calendar doesn't have pictures of Ben Wallace in a Speedo, but rather pictures of the Piston dancing team--the Automotion--in Speedo-like attire. I'm not too interested in the controversy or Albom's opinion. But even though he doesn't seem to have an ax to grind in this culture war, his column provides a couple of "choice quotes" for those of us who argue that our culture is simply inundated with sex (and, by corollary, that something needs to be done about it).

"The definition of pornography," Bill Johnson, the [president of the protesting organization], told me, citing dictionaries, "... is material created for the purposes of creating a sexual response."

Well, if so, our entire society is pornographic. Our thumping sexual music. Our billboards of half-naked women. Our TV commercials during games -- for beer, cars or male "performance" products. . . .

Sexiness is the surest way to sell anything in this country. Beer companies use it to sell their beer. Casinos use it to sell gambling. The Palace [of Auburn Hills] uses it to sell the entertainment experience. The dancers use it to, as Girard said, further the "modeling, acting and business opportunities" that come their way.

The fact is, you could no easier untangle sex from pro sports than you could untape an athlete's ankle. . . .