A Post About Sports and Writing

Today’s post can be found at http://www.sfnovelists.com, the group blog on speculative fiction that I maintain along with a group of over one hundred published authors of fantasy and science fiction. The post is called “What sports Can Tell Us About Writing, and What they Can’t.” I hope you enjoy it.

The Strange Reasoning of Mister Harrison

Under the heading of “Unclear on the Concept….”

 

James Harrison, the outstanding, but tempestuous all-pro linebacker for the Superbowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers has declared that he will not be joining his teammates when they go to the White House to be congratulated by President Barack Obama. This is not a political statement (and actually if it was, even if I disagreed with his reasoning, I’d at least respect his position) — Harrison did the same thing when the Steelers won the 2006 Superbowl, refusing to visit with then-President George W. Bush.

 

That said, Harrison’s stated reason for not going may be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard anyone say:

 

This is how I feel — if you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don’t win the Super Bowl. As far as I’m concerned, [Obama] would’ve invited Arizona if they had won.

 

Well, yes, James, in all probability President Obama would have invited the Arizona Cardinals to the White House if they had won the Superbowl.  That’s how this works.  He’s not inviting you and your teammates because he wants to see the Steelers.  He’s President; picking up a spare ticket or two (or four) probably isn’t much of a problem for the guy.  This is about honoring you and your teammates for winning the game.  So go; don’t go — really, I can’t imagine why any of us should care.  But please, don’t pretend that this is anything more or less than an attention-seeking ploy by a spoiled, immature prima donna.  And don’t try to justify it by spouting spurious logic and pretending that your pride has been wounded.

A Little Kid-related Bragging

None of you who know me would ever, EVER confuse me with a football player, right?  I mean there’s just no chance of that happening.  Same with Nancy.

You ever heard of “Punt, Pass, and Kick”?  It’s a program sponsored by the National Football League.  They go into schools and have kids compete by punting, throwing, and kicking a football.  The object is to get the greatest distance and accuracy in each event.  It’s a national competition and at the end of the football season the winners in the various age and gender groups are honored at the Super Bowl.

Well, my youngest daughter, who to my knowledge had never thrown or kicked a football in her entire life, won her age group competition at her school.  This was last month, and this past Saturday Nancy and I drove her down to Chattanooga for the regional competition.  We thought it was pretty cool that she had done so well at her school, and we figured it would be a good experience for her.  We also figured that at the regional level she’d be overmatched by bigger, stronger kids whose parents had actually been working with them on these skills for the past several years.  (I should note here that my daughter and I did spend this last month occasionally throwing and kicking a football around.  It was mostly for fun, but she did her best to improve her skills, and I helped where I could.)

Long and short:  She did better than we thought she would in Chattanooga.  She did really well actually.  She came in second, and brought home a big honkin’ trophy and a medal.  We couldn’t believe it.

I have two girls, and I never played football at any level except in my yard with friends when I was a kid.  My daughters are swimmers and soccer players and we have plenty of medals and trophies.  But I never thought in a million years that we’d have a football trophy in our house.  Life is full of surprises….

Spring Training

Pitchers and catchers report tomorrow, which, for those of you unfamiliar with baseball terminology, means that spring training is about to begin.  This is usually a time of rejoicing for me; an end to a long, lonely winter of sports about which I don’t really care.  Football, basketball, hockey — usually they’re just games to read about when there are no boxscores, a way of marking time until baseball awakes from its winter hibernation.

This year was a bit different, in part because of the Giants’ unexpected success (I’m still in shock) and in part because it was such an ugly offseason for baseball.  All steroids all the time.  I feel like I’m holding my breath, waiting to see how the sport will disgrace itself next, wondering how much more of this I can take.

But spring training is a time of possibility.  The trades have been made, the ink is dry on newly signed contracts, rookies are gearing up for the exhibition season, hoping to make that magical leap from unknown to phenom.  The Mets managed to sign the best pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana.  The Yankees managed to re-sign the best everyday player in the game, A-Rod.  And the Red Sox, for the second time in the last four years, begin the season as defending world champions.  Wouldn’t it be great if the baseball world found a way to get their collective s#%t together and put together a great season?  A few pennant races in the variouis divisions, close competitions for individual honors, maybe a no-hitter or two.  It wouldn’t take much.  Those of us who love the game are looking for reasons to care about it again.  

A new season.  Hope springs eternal.

Are You Kiddin’ Me?

Giants 17, Pats 14.  Unbelievable.

Chili, Petty, and the Giants

I’m not fool enough to think my Giants actually have a chance today, but I do plan to enjoy the game anyway.  Friends are coming over.  I’m making a big pot of chili (and so is one of said friends – we’re having our own little Chili Super Bowl), we have chips and pretzels and beer, maybe we’ll have a fire going in the family room.  This is our one chance each year to be Typical Americans, and we plan to enjoy it.   I mean, Tom Petty’s doing half time — how much should it matter if the Giants get blown out, right?

Right.  But it sure would be sweet if they actually won….

Today’s music:  Sister Hazel (...Somewhere More Familiar)

The Giants? Really?

Thought about posting what my Aussie friends would call a little whinge.  We had another snow day today, though we didn’t get even a single flake of snow.  All based on a forecast that proved wrong.  And I’m dealing with stupid household stuff (malfunctioning refrigerator, plumbing issues, etc.) 

But you know what?  I’m not going to whine.  The New York Giants are going to the Super Bowl.  I’ve been a Giants fan since I was about seven years old, and just about every year (except 1986 and 1990) they’ve managed to break my heart, sometimes in creative and excruciating ways. (Though not as creative or excruciating as last year’s Mets meltdown.  But I don’t want to go there….)  Not this year, though.  I didn’t quite believe it at first.  I even waited a day to post about it, in case their win on Sunday was under an official’s review or had been nullified by a penalty.  But, no.  They really won.  I don’t know quite how they did it, but it’s not my place to ask questions.  I’m just going to enjoy the ride.

Today’s music:  Oscar Peterson Trio with Milt Jackson (Very Tall)