George Carlin was a counter-culture goliath, a witty and intelligent comedian who, at age 71, was still writing hilarious and pertinent comedy bits.
He died of a heart attack over the weekend, silencing a voice that had no qualms sharing an opinion.
Everyone recognizes Carlin for his "Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say On Television" bit, a routine that actually got him arrested in the early '70s.
But Carlin's brilliant and acerbic mind frequently turned to sports.
One of his bits focused on the differences between baseball and football; in particular, baseball's peaceful ways compared to football's warlike temperament.
"Baseball is played on the diamond, in a park, the baseball park! Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium.
"Baseball starts in the Spring, the season of new life! Football begins in the Fall when everything is dying.
"In football, the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops in to enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.
"In baseball, the object is to go home and be safe! I hope I'll be safe at home!"
No one has summed up the two sports any better.
Carlin also unleashed his wry humor on hockey and, in particular, why he believed hockey could not be considered a sport.
"People think hockey is a sport. It's not. Hockey is three activities taking place at the same time: ice skating, fooling around with a puck, and beating the sh*t out of somebody. If these guys had more brains than teeth, they'd do these things one at a time. First go ice-skating, then fool around with a puck, then you go to the bar and beat the sh*t out of somebody. The day would last longer, and these guys would have a lot more fun.
"Another reason why hockey isn't a sport is that it's not played with a ball. Anything not played with a ball can't be a sport. The only other place you'll find a puck is in the urinal to control the smell in the bathroom."
Carlin was a fan of basketball, the ballet of the game and that the players are close enough to the crowd. He also enjoyed March Madness, but, as he explained in an interview with ESPN.com about four years ago, probably not for the same reasons most others enjoy it.
"I like people under pressure.
"To me the most fascinating thing is the losing locker room. I just love watching those guys because they can't handle it. There is so much pressure and they bring it on themselves. I love people failing in public. I think that's magnificent. The thing I like best about the NCAA: 64 losers. I savor that. The games are great. There is so much at stake. It's fun for me to watch the drama."
To transcribe and analyze every Carlin routine that focused on sports would take far too much time, but, love him or hate him, he stayed true to his dogma—that every comedian should find the line and then deliberately cross it.
Even at 71, with a history of heart problems, Carlin was still performing as recently as last weekend. His premature departure has deprived us of a great voice and a keen observer of not only the world around us but the sporting world, as well.
So, when you're standing at the urinal today, think of George Carlin. He'd probably like that.
Photo Credit: AP
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3 months ago
Great article. Carlin was truly brilliant, not just for his cynical wit, but for his childlike sense of fascination with whatever it was he was lampooning. He will be missed.
3 months ago
Most of the credit for this article goes to Carlin himself. It's his quotes. Hilarious stuff.
3 months ago
A truly legendary comic—his reflective and hilarious social commentary will surely stand the test of time.
You will be missed George...R.I.P.
3 months ago
My mothers favorite comic. His stand-up always made a bad day better, somehow i realized life wasn't so bad. Thanks for all the memories and long explanations from my parents about the meaning of dirty words. RIP George Carlin.
3 months ago
I just hope that carlin is around somewhere looking at the aricle on CNN.com - at the bottom of the page it gives the sponsors; teeth whiteners, cell phones for seniors and "get your credit report here." His joke would've been: "George Carlin's death...brought to you in part by our sponsors..."
from 3 months ago
Now that was a very Carlinesque comment. Good one, Dave
3 months ago
such a sad loss. he was a great comidian. you just dont find them like him anymore. he will be greatly missed.
3 months ago
I've been watching a couple of his routines on You Tube. Genius.
3 months ago
One of the great commedians of my generation....to understand him, was to love him...you either hated him or loved him...no gray area with george....he will be missed in my family...Make em laugh up there george!
3 months ago
I am truly fucking sad.
3 months ago
Yeah, I had read a comment on some news site saying Carlin tended to pop up when you needed a fresh perspective on the issue of the day. Usually, that perspective was bang on and always funny. That he won't be weighing in any more is a shame and I'm not sure there are any comedians out there today that could fill the role he leaves behind.
3 months ago
I don't know about the whole sports thing, I think George would like to be remembered for his complete accuracy in summing up the government openly and hysterically, but with sharp fast humor and pointing out to us that it's our responsibility to stop "sitting around in our kaki's wondering if the Banana Republic is going to quit it's fat ass baby boomer line of clothes! Start thinking for ourselves and get involved with the whole world famines, homelessness in America, we are the richest country in the world and we don't even take care of our own people properly, nobody should be poor in
America. I always loved George Carlin be it druggie jokes, driving jokes, political jokes and his well written well preformed fast talking New York behavior was completely the BEST. NO ONE even comes close to his humor, fast wit or delivery. He told everyone in his audiences they were assholes and they laughed with him, he was no holds barred on every single issue he ever raised. I will miss him as much as John Lennon and others who took their careers and talent to the Ultimate! Me and Kat will miss you so much you were the one thing that me and my daughter completely agreed upon. George you're the best. And you are missed.
Pattie
3 months ago
George was hilarious even back in my Air Force days @ Carswell AFB, Texas. Carlin was doing a late night DJ stint spinning records for the local top 45 station in Ft Worth in the early sixties. When I found out he was from New York, I and a bunch of my buddies, became life long fans. Peace out, George....
3 months ago
I loved George's humor so much! I bought a t-shirt at his show in Indianapolis a few years back and on the back of this black t-shirt in BOLD WHITE letters it reads: "Simon says....Go F*** Yourself"...pretty much sums it up. I hope he's holding court with the guys upstairs and straightening them out. LOL
3 months ago
The best comedian of all time. There ought to be university courses on Carlin and his counter-cultural ethos. He will be sorely missed. Here's an entertainer who never sold out.
It's hard to find somebody so honest and so anti-politically correct these days. I was looking forward to his future comedy specials.
3 months ago
My tribute pales in comparison to this.
5 Star story.
from 3 months ago
Thanks L.J. Appreciate it!
3 months ago
The first stand-up comedian I saw live in Pittsburgh...edgy truth. Loved him in the seventies and miss him today. To George I say...S*^$, P#!&^, F&^#, C*^$@, C*%^$#@!%$, M*%&#$%#@$!$, and T*&%!
3 months ago
How can it be a spy satelite if they announce on TV it's a spy satelite.
Christians must be sick in the head.Only someone who hates himself could possibly think of the pleasure of masturbation as self-abuse.
Honesty is the lack of fear of what others think of your original thoughts, Thanks George.
3 months ago
Sometimes he annoyed the hell out of me and other times he had me laughing out loud. Only a genius could could achieve both of those ends at the same time....
3 months ago
I can't find the exact transcript to properly tell this one, but hey- I'll do it anyway
Years back, Carlin was bashing women to the point where they began to protest him.
He agreed to address the National Organization for Women (NOW) and make amends.
He got to the podium and poured on the praise on how vital and important and misunderstood women were in society. He was getting a rousing applause from the throngs of women who came out to see him eat crow.
But, George had to be George...as the masses roared, he finished with this line (sic) "....now which one of you wants to take me home, bathe me, fix my dinner and give me a nice, slow blowjob?'
3 months ago
Wow, congrats, dude--I'm not sure if I've had this many reads on all 50+ of my articles combined! LJ directed me here, and I wanna thank you both for writing on one of my favourite performers.
from 3 months ago
Happy to do it. He was a brilliant mind and will be missed, especially if you take into consideration where the world seems to be heading!
3 months ago
Tim,
Good stuff...he was certainly a man that told it like it was. I have sat around watching many a bit from him.
Thanks.
3 months ago
The Comedic world lost a true genius. He will be missed by all. R.I.P.
3 months ago
I wondered how you would tie Carlin's death to the sports world but you did it brilliantly. I somehow forgot about his hockey rant. Great stuff even though I disagree.
Some of his best non-sports bits were proposing that instead of just father's day, the U.S. adopt a motherf""kers day and complaining about non-stop flights.
“To begin their boarding process, the airline announces they will preboard certain passengers. And I wonder, How can that be? How can people board before they board?” Later: “I’m told to get on the plane. ... And I think for a moment: ‘On the plane? No, my friends, not me. I’m not getting on the plane; I’m getting in the plane. Let Evil Knievel get on the plane, I’ll be sitting inside one of those little chairs. It seems less windy to me.’
“Then they mention it’s a nonstop flight. Well, I must say I don’t care for that sort of thing. Call me old-fashioned, but I insist that my flight stop. Preferably at an airport.”
He was an abrasive comedian who thankfully never purified or reasoned what was in his mind. Thanks for writing such a great article. It is the best tribute to Carlin I have read.
from 3 months ago
Thanks Robert! I appreciate that!
3 months ago
THIS GUY WAS ONE OF THE MASTERS.. I REMEMBER SITTING ABOUT THE APT IN THE EARLY 70'S LISTNG TO HIS ALBUM QUESTIONING JUST WHAT WE CALL IT # 2---WHY NOT NUMBER 13??/ ... ALWAYS THING OF THIS RECORD// WE MUST HAVE LISTEN TO IT 10 TIMES THAT WEEKEND!!!... I AM SAYING JUST NO ONE SAID IT LIKE CARLIN AND THEN MAKE YOU FALL OUT YOUR CAR LAUGHING.. I KNOW HIS DEAR FAMILY WILL GREATLY MISS SUCH AN OUTSTANDING TALENT...GEORGE...IF YOU MAKE IT UP THERE ..PLEASE START THE NEW JOKES ON WHEN I FIRST SAW HEAVEN AND THE ANGELS...I AM QUITE SURE HE WILL HAVE A MOST UNIQUE THOUGHT OR 2 ON EVERYTHING AND MOST LIKELY HAVE THEM BUSTING OUT THEIR FEATHERS.... THANK YOU GEORGE FOR MANY MANY GOOD HOURS OF LAUGHS... LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICIENE.....I AM TRING TO MAKE IT TO 61 THIS YEAR AND IF THE NETWORKS RUN ALL HIS OLD STUFF I SURE WILL BE HAPPY AND VERY RELAXED....
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