Human Nature 101

I've been watching some of the Eagles-Giants game on TV, and I just saw something that has something to say about human nature. I'm just not sure what it was.

But if someone in a political campaign can figure out what it is, it might hold the key to winning lots of elections.

Anyway, it was during the third quarter, and someone in the camera crew discovered that actress Cameron Diaz was sitting in one of the private boxes. You could see her clearly through the window. So the camera focused on her for a few seconds ... until the lady sitting next to her leaned over, nudged Ms. Diaz in the ribs and then, with a grin on her face, pointed up at a TV monitor that apparently was out of the camera's view.

To her credit, Ms. Diaz did not seem at all surprised that her presence had generated some interest from the video crew. In fact, I didn't even see her respond at all to her suitemate's nudging. Of course, the camera didn't linger on her box, either. It cut away to the action on the field about 2 seconds after the woman nudged Ms. Diaz and pointed at the monitor.

But Ms. Diaz's response seemed to be genuine. After a 13-year career in films, with a modeling career that led to her film career, it can be taken for granted that Ms. Diaz knows something about cameras and what motivates those behind them. It can also be taken for granted that she finds the presence of cameras -- anywhere -- to be of no surprise at all.

What I can't figure out is why the woman in the private box sitting next to Cameron Diaz would be so surprised that an actress' presence at a football game attracted attention from a TV crew. She acted delighted, as if being on TV because she was sitting next to an actress was literally the last thing she expected.

When I was growing up, it seemed that about the only reason that movie stars or popular music artists ever showed up at sporting events was to be seen by everyone else. Boxing matches were always good for that, especially when Muhammad Ali was the champ and network TV got to televise most of his title defenses. And big events like the World Series, the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals are always like magnets for celebrities.

Anyway, if the reason for being there was to be seen, congrats, Cameron. Mission accomplished.

On the other hand, if she's a Giants fan or an Eagles fan -- which would seem, on the face of it, a little unlikely, since Ms. Diaz is from the opposite coast, a native of San Diego -- I'm sorry if we interrupted her while she was watching the game.