I am confessing that I watched the entire Southlake Carroll game last night on tv, and cheered vociferously for our team, which did win in a very exciting and well-played game against Austin Westlake. I think most of Southlake travelled to the game; our streets were quiet.
When I said my tongue went through my cheek in that earlier post, I think now I will say I was partially wrong. I had conversations about our team this week with the meatguy in the supermarket, our poolguy, and some people in a 7-11. It was fun, and all of Southlake is pretty excited about making high school football history. I don't think this is bad. What would be bad is if it were the only way they got excited- to the exclusion of everything else- which is what your objection to Tx football seems to have been.
But they are equally proud of their Merit Scholars, their swim team, and their academic UIL victories. It is bad if they spend zillions on a state of the art stadium (which they did) and don't fund academics. But I still believe sports are a positive experience for many kids.
It just seems that we humans often tend to get very focused on those things that WE feel are important, and minimize or denigrate what is important to others. Intelligent people can come up with lots of support for their choices, but ultimately, we need to guard ourselves against the temptation to think too binarially (is that a word?).
ONe of my favorite all time movies is Hoosiers- it's about a whole lot more than basketball, but it sure captured the small community's passion for a sport. Texas small towns have been a lot like that in the past. Heck, in Virginia where I grew up in the 60s, the whole town turned out for the Friday night football game. It was the social event of the week.
I don't know if you were cutting close to any bones for me, but not acknowledging the value of organized sports and the fun of a united community and referring to athletes as somehow not measuring up ultimately in reaL life, is just the flip side of Bubba being dismissive of the "Jacks". As you said, it's about finding room and appreciation for all. |
