The Interference

Along with the normal heritage of broken noses, trick elbows and collapsible knees, old football players often take with them into later life the habit of explaining contemporary events in terms of gridiron metaphor. Last week Canada's Secretary for External Affairs, Lester Bowles Pearson, onetime University of Toronto football coach, said at an Ottawa banquet:

"Unfortunately, international affairs has become a contest these days, with the East lined up against the West. I think it is probably right to say that the captain and quarterback on our side is Uncle Sam. I am not sure exactly what position Canada plays.

"Very often it has been charged that we run interference for the United States and hardly ever carry the ball ourselves. As any football player knows, to win a game you have to have good interference, so that role, if we do play it, is an important enough one.

"I must admit, however, that once or twice we have found ourselves in the disconcerting position of taking out a powerful tackier and then finding that the quarterback has left the interference and is charging across the other side of the field. Even more disconcerting is to discover that he has temporarily left the field and has gone over to consult Coach Congress. However, these are only occasional complications, and on the whole the democratic team works cooperatively and effectively together."

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