MIM NOTES No. 196        October 15, 1999	

Fat connected to leisure-time of men

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has proved yet again the 
similarities between professional sports and modeling. Vin Baker 
who plays the power-forward position signed a seven-year contract 
with the Seattle Supersonics for $86 million, but the contract 
includes incentive goals that Baker must meet to make the full $86 
million. Included especially are goals for his weight.

In the 1998-99 strike-shortened season Vin Baker played poorly and 
onlookers attributed it to his being out-of-shape and overweight. 
Such attention to his body is rivaled and rewarded on a similar 
scale in modeling, where men do not earn the incomes that wimmin 
do.

The goals that Vin Baker has to meet fit a very precise vision of 
how the game is played and won in the year 1999. Yet, just as in 
modeling, tastes do change over time in basketball. Strategies, 
rules and how fouls are called all change. What does not change is 
that the body is underlying some conception of excellence in 
leisure-time.

Many pre-nuptial agreements between men and wimmin include 
agreements over weight. Especially amongst millionaires, it 
becomes a matter of earning money per pound of weight toward a 
desired goal.

A womyn who takes up modeling or signs a pre-nuptial and then 
gains 40 pounds is not going to make any money in modeling or 
divorce. Likewise Vin Baker and other athletes have weight goals 
to meet.

Some unconsciously anarchist people equate weight goals with 
"control" and oppression. Such anarchists simply resent working 
with other people toward any goals, no matter the mutual reward.

MIM points out how silly that anarchist idea becomes in 
imperialist countries when the rewards are so real for conformity. 
Vin Baker is no proletarian, no matter how stupid many people 
calling themselves Marxist might be. Nor are Vin Baker and the 
various super-models sexploited or oppressed on account of fat. 
There is more body-related pressure on professional athletes and 
models than on other people, but the rewards are also greater. In 
the context of the imperialist countries, people are bought-off 
economically and sexually.

Note: ESPN web site at 
espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/990818/01411655.html

--MC5