Racing Cars and Popular ethics

I’m in Scotland for a few days, catching up with European news in today’s edition of The Times. The big splash news item, on several pages, is the case of Max Mosely, president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) – that’s “Formula One” racing cars for the uninitiated.

Mosley (whose father was a renowned Fascist and professional Jew-hater) has been secretly filmed taking part in a sadomasochistic orgy with five prostitutes, he dressed as a Nazi and the women as Jewish slaves. I’ll spare the details. As of today, Mosley’s position as president of FIA is under scrutiny and The Times, along with other newspapers, has entered into the ethical analysis of his shenanigans.

Of the more interesting analysis of Mosley’s actions and fate, came in the Sports section of the paper. I have to confess that the number of times I have read the sports pages of any newspaper to be in single digits, but the moral pontifications of Simon Barnes, Sports columnist of the Year, and according to my son the best commentator on soccer (i.e. football) ever, to be both fascinating and alarmingly insightful of popular ethical prejudice.