The Lombardi Peace Prize

As I consider the future of relations between the US and China, I notice the enormous amount of trade between our two countries. I also notice our differences regarding how to reduce our enormous carbon footprints and how to deal with global hotspots like Iran. Some, pointing to Chinese mistreatment of Tibet, have wondered if China, the emerging giant, will be an imperialist power challenging America's humanitarian-democratic hegemony. Given our crushing burden of debt, some wonder if the authoritarian China will overwhelm America's econo-humanistic influence, strengthening dictatorships and rogue regimes like North Korea.

Whatever the future may bring, whether we rise to the challenge and innovate ourselves out of the current economic crisis, whether we finally outsmart al Qaeda and draw down in the Middle East, we need to deal with China. Why not deal with them the old fashioned American way? Teach them to play American football. Yes, I know that it has been tried in the past, but this time let's market it a little differently. We all know that NBA star Yao Ming has tremendous marketing appeal in the US and China. What if we enticed the Chinese with the prospect of the NFL version of Yao? What if we threw down the athletic gauntlet with a cathartic invitation to the Chinese to see if they can beat us on the gridiron? Is this just a real life version of fantasy football?

Consider this: in the States, Army plays Navy. Air Force has a team. Football is a very cathartic way to act out a military conflict without having one. There is offense and defense. You try to conquer ground as you approach the enemy endzone. You throw the bomb. You blitz. Football is a healthy way to act out geopolitical strife without firing a shot. Imagine if we played three annual games: the Chinese Army's academy against Army, the Chinese Navy's academy against Navy and the Chinese Air Force against Air Force. This would foster friendly rivalry and cultural exchange between two militaries that really need to foster friendship. After the players got to know each other and fostered friendship, popularity for football would spread throughout China.

We have economically fostered ties with China, but this has not led to China's supporting our foreign policy of fostering democracy and slowing the spread of WMD. Fostering a humanizing relationship between our militaries would be quite a score. Let's snap the ball before we lose more time on the play clock.