Friday is my last day on this web site. It's been an interesting social experiment and personal exercise. Fervent groups are fun. To be passionate is to be human. We are built for a need to communally share our passions. It likely started with the first hunting story acted out in front of the tribe by the light of the camp fire that was simultaneously roasting the prey that would soon become dinner.
Now, we type into computers or phones, hiding behind monikers while dishing accolades on our tribe, or dirt on others, commenting on the actions of young strangers most of us will never meet, as they play silly games.
"Whatever gets you through the night, is alright, it's alright." - John Lennon
"To care is human. The form it takes, irrelevant. We've got to care about things, even stupid things, because caring is the spice of life. The key is remembering, when it comes to sport, these really are stupid things." - 1BigGalloot
There is a noticeable and progressive spring in almost every Iowan's step this week as Saturday's Iowa at Iowa State football game nears. The world didn't end from 1935 - 1976 when this game didn't exist. Our history serves as a reminder this game isn't necessary, while our present is proof that living in Iowa sure is a lot more fun because it does.
From the - it's not the destination it's the journey department, comes this reminder :
Winning the game isn't the thing. The fact there is a game, is the thing.
Roman rulers diverted attention by appeasing the public with free food and entertainment in the Coliseum (bread and circuses). Professional and collegiate sport is America's modern bread and circus. In Iowa, it's collegiate sport.
As I exit this forum, I'd like to remind my soon to be former compatriots to take it easy on the gladiators. Wearing the colors of the tribe you've chosen is about all they have in common with you. Their fight is literally their own. 18 to 22 year olds struggle enough with their own demons and self worth. Don't make yours, theirs. Root, cheer, inspire, but don't berate or belittle. Just how would you fare if every work moment of yours were televised, slow mowed, critiqued by mentors and peers, but worse yet, also by millions of others who seem to think they have a right to weigh in on your performance, despite having no insight regarding the ins and outs of your specific arena?
Besides gladiating, these young people to whom too many of us have hitched our emotional wagons, are navigating additional first time challenges, like: being away from home, cleaning clothes, opposite sex encounters, high level academics, alcohol/drug decisions, parking tickets, ... We all have had our youthful indiscretions. How many of us have had them publicly broadcast? In these days of social media, and ubiquitous cameras, escaping four or five years of fish bowl scrutiny without nary a misstep is actually more upset, than normal.
These student athletes are becoming men and women in front of our eyes. Let's notice the growth. Appreciate it. Enjoy it. Applaud it. The fun of witnessing this progression is worth the price of a ticket, or satellite/cable package.
Lastly, yes, recruiting is the lifeblood of this specific circus. Keeping tabs on it and contributing to your tribe's conventional wisdom is fun, and valuable. It's never ending, yet each year, each team has its specific endpoint, and the squad is who it is.
Remember the rally crowd in the movie "Hoosiers," chanting, "We want Jimmy. We want Jimmy."
There is always a Jimmy. Often, several Jimmy's. But, coach Norman Dale's response is as classic as it is true.
"I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. These six individuals have made a choice to work, a choice to sacrifice, to put themselves on the line 23 nights for the next 4 months, to represent you, this high school. That kind of commitment and effort deserves and demands your respect. This is your team."
Gladiators are people. Which means they can be heroes, and knuckleheads. The same individual can even migrate between both roles, in the same game, just moments apart. Gladiators make mistakes, and, like us, have good days, and bad. Regardless, they deserve our commendation for entering the ring, and even more so for the outlandish time they put in, simply preparing to enter the ring.
I'll leave you with this must read, authored by former Cyclone football player Jeff Woody. Woody played against recently departed Hawkeye Tyler Sash, and worked a television broadcast with him. Gladiators appreciate gladiators. Gladiators understand gladiators.
Hawkeye message board posters, contemplate this piece every time you start typing. Please.
http://jwoody32.blogspot.com/2015/09/tyler-sash-son-hawkeye-athlete.html?m=1
Now, we type into computers or phones, hiding behind monikers while dishing accolades on our tribe, or dirt on others, commenting on the actions of young strangers most of us will never meet, as they play silly games.
"Whatever gets you through the night, is alright, it's alright." - John Lennon
"To care is human. The form it takes, irrelevant. We've got to care about things, even stupid things, because caring is the spice of life. The key is remembering, when it comes to sport, these really are stupid things." - 1BigGalloot
There is a noticeable and progressive spring in almost every Iowan's step this week as Saturday's Iowa at Iowa State football game nears. The world didn't end from 1935 - 1976 when this game didn't exist. Our history serves as a reminder this game isn't necessary, while our present is proof that living in Iowa sure is a lot more fun because it does.
From the - it's not the destination it's the journey department, comes this reminder :
Winning the game isn't the thing. The fact there is a game, is the thing.
Roman rulers diverted attention by appeasing the public with free food and entertainment in the Coliseum (bread and circuses). Professional and collegiate sport is America's modern bread and circus. In Iowa, it's collegiate sport.
As I exit this forum, I'd like to remind my soon to be former compatriots to take it easy on the gladiators. Wearing the colors of the tribe you've chosen is about all they have in common with you. Their fight is literally their own. 18 to 22 year olds struggle enough with their own demons and self worth. Don't make yours, theirs. Root, cheer, inspire, but don't berate or belittle. Just how would you fare if every work moment of yours were televised, slow mowed, critiqued by mentors and peers, but worse yet, also by millions of others who seem to think they have a right to weigh in on your performance, despite having no insight regarding the ins and outs of your specific arena?
Besides gladiating, these young people to whom too many of us have hitched our emotional wagons, are navigating additional first time challenges, like: being away from home, cleaning clothes, opposite sex encounters, high level academics, alcohol/drug decisions, parking tickets, ... We all have had our youthful indiscretions. How many of us have had them publicly broadcast? In these days of social media, and ubiquitous cameras, escaping four or five years of fish bowl scrutiny without nary a misstep is actually more upset, than normal.
These student athletes are becoming men and women in front of our eyes. Let's notice the growth. Appreciate it. Enjoy it. Applaud it. The fun of witnessing this progression is worth the price of a ticket, or satellite/cable package.
Lastly, yes, recruiting is the lifeblood of this specific circus. Keeping tabs on it and contributing to your tribe's conventional wisdom is fun, and valuable. It's never ending, yet each year, each team has its specific endpoint, and the squad is who it is.
Remember the rally crowd in the movie "Hoosiers," chanting, "We want Jimmy. We want Jimmy."
There is always a Jimmy. Often, several Jimmy's. But, coach Norman Dale's response is as classic as it is true.
"I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. These six individuals have made a choice to work, a choice to sacrifice, to put themselves on the line 23 nights for the next 4 months, to represent you, this high school. That kind of commitment and effort deserves and demands your respect. This is your team."
Gladiators are people. Which means they can be heroes, and knuckleheads. The same individual can even migrate between both roles, in the same game, just moments apart. Gladiators make mistakes, and, like us, have good days, and bad. Regardless, they deserve our commendation for entering the ring, and even more so for the outlandish time they put in, simply preparing to enter the ring.
I'll leave you with this must read, authored by former Cyclone football player Jeff Woody. Woody played against recently departed Hawkeye Tyler Sash, and worked a television broadcast with him. Gladiators appreciate gladiators. Gladiators understand gladiators.
Hawkeye message board posters, contemplate this piece every time you start typing. Please.
http://jwoody32.blogspot.com/2015/09/tyler-sash-son-hawkeye-athlete.html?m=1
