With Boycott-mania sweeping the country what better time for this look at the fragmentary remains of this ancient Greek Comedy by Aristophanes?
Ancient Greek Merchant Ship
Balladeer’s Blog presents another examination of an ancient Greek political satire. In this case it is one of those works of Aristophanes which have survived only in very fragmentary condition.
MERCHANT SHIPS
Merchant Ships was written and publicly staged in approximately 424 B.C. to 421 B.C. according to the available data. It was another of Aristophanes’ comedies protesting the pointlessness of the Greek city-states warring among themselves instead of uniting against the encroachments of the Persian Empire.
I can’t help but view this particular comedy in light of my own country’s current plight of having the rival criminal gangs called the Democratic and Republican Parties pointlessly rob the country blind and run it into the ground while virtually ignoring external threats.
In this comedy the captains of two separate merchant ships – one from Athens and one from their foe Sparta – have grown weary of the pointless conflict and make a separate peace with each other. They and their crew members get to spend the play enjoying the food and drink from their cargoes and living out a metaphorical return to the prosperous days before the Peloponnesian War when peace reigned among the various Greek city-states.
Franchises aka Merchant Ships
For a modern-day adaptation (as opposed to a straight translation) the situation could be depicted by having a Chick Fil-A restaurant right next to a Starbucks coffee shop. The managers and employees of these stereotypically Republican (Chick Fil-A) and stereotypically Democratic (Starbucks) establishments could grow tired of the political feuding, especially since both political parties often call for boycotts of the opposing business. Continue reading
WAKEUP CALL FOR TOP SEED – The top seeded BETHEL (IN) COLLEGE PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) got almost more than they could handle from the 8 seeds – the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS. The Lancers’ offense matched the Pilots blow for blow in the 1st Half, making the score 54-54 headed into the locker room. After the break Bethel College gradually put some distance between themselves and Grace College for a Century Club-level 102-92 victory. Gage Ott led the Pilots with 25 points, while teammate Clay Yeo notched 21. 
OVERTIME FOR NUMBER TWO – The League’s 2nd seeded INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – the defending National Champions, by the way – needed OVERTIME to dispatch the 7th seeded HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY FORESTERS. The Wildcats actually trailed the Foresters 49-40 at the Half but came back to force OT with an 88-88 tie. In the extra session IWU won it 109-100 led by Lane Mahurin’s 30 points and 8 rebounds. 
INSTANT CLASSIC – The tightest game of the night was played between the 3rd seeded CALUMET COLLEGE CRIMSON WAVE and the 6 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS. Despite a pitiful night from the Foul Line (Just 56.5 percent!) the Crimson Wave still managed to win this hardcourt epic 84-82. Damonte Lowery tossed in 21 points and had 6 rebounds for Calumet College, while his teammate Darrick Scott notched a Double Double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. 
CATFIGHT – This game pitted the 4 seeds – the OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS – against the 5th seeded SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS. After an action-packed First Half the Tigers trailed the Cougars by a score of 51-46. Following the break Olivet Nazarene’s defense virtually shut down SXU while adding 45 more points of their own for a 91-77 triumph. Nic Reed led the way with 30 points and 9 rebounds followed by Tyler Crater’s 25 points and 6 boards. 
… At least it does in the Divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. Per tradition the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference is the first to hit the hardcourt with their Conference Tournament. 
JOHN F KENNEDY 
AARON BURR
