How I Feel About Sports

I feel strongly about sports. When people say "it's just a game" part of me agrees... and part of me doesn't.

Certainly it isn't a matter of life and death. A team's loss is no reason for long-term depression. It is not nearly as important as God, family or friends. A high school student who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown because he's under so much pressure to perform needs to be reminded that it's just a game, and he's supposed to have fun out there. So yes, I agree to that extent.

But on another level there's a lot more there than meets the eye. Sports are about pushing for excellence. They are about the inspiring stories of the underdog overcoming, or the champion finding a way to be a champion once more, even in the face of impossible odds. They are about overcoming and persevering and focus and greatness. In a way, sports are allegorical of the entirety of the human experience in the same way that all great stories reflect THE great story. Also, there's such beauty in someone doing something so well, so exquisitely, so much better than I can! And there's such camaraderie amongst those who feel similarly.

Obviously I feel strongly about sports. But what about those who do not? Some people care for sports the way that I care for scarab collecting (that is, not at all). So how are those people to deal with such people as I? For those of you readers who fall under that category, I will give you a few tips for dealing those those of us in the sports-loving category.

* Never try to comfort a sports lover whose team has just lost the championship with the "it's just a game" idea. That's like trying to comfort someone whose dog just died with the words "it's just an animal." Even if that's true the very real pain is not lessened by the fact.

* Even more important: please refrain from the "what's the big deal?" line. Perhaps it's not a big deal to you, but it's a very big deal to me.

* Instead, a simple "I'm sorry" is fine. And maybe chocolate.

* But that's only if you're there at the moment of the defeat. If you aren't there, but are seeing the sports lover the next day, the above option might not be a good idea. To be safe, and listen carefully now, the best option is probably to refrain from referring to the loss at all. For those of us who have suffered through championship defeats, the tendency is to try not to think about it. I live in a state of denial for awhile until the pain recedes. So you non-sports folks, please don't pull me out of that denial even if it's to say something kind.

* This last point might depend a little on personality, and how well you know the person. It's just a general rule, and you can modify as needed in your personal settings.

* Now if there's a victory, please feel free to bring it up as often as possible! And if possible, have patience with my need to talk about it again and again. If there's another sports lover around I'll probably talk to him, but if not I might need your listening ear once or twice. Please try to smile even if you are completely zoning out (which is also fine - I don't expect you to be totally fascinated, as long as you're pretending to be).

In sum: it may mean nothing to you, but it means a great deal to me. So if you could give me a little understanding on this level, I'll try to patiently listen and smile while you tell me all about potty training and/or recent trips to Cancun.

(Hahaha - no, please do tell me about your children and trips! I just needed something to make a point here...) :)