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OzOz · 10-18-2008, 12:22 AM

I agree that sports are a great avenue for learning a raft of positive life skills and attitudes - however, it doesn't just automatically happen from chasing a ball around a field.

In my last year in high school at a well-respected boys' school here, I stayed in a boarding house that was run by a teacher who also happened to be the coach of the school's top Rugby Union team - the school's flagship sporting team. Now, I'm an absolute disaster on the sporting field - any sporting field - and my one and only season of playing Rugby the year before couldn't end quickly enough for me. When I moved into his house at the start of my last year, he had a long meeting with my parents during which he tried to instruct them in the virtues of having me play Rugby. Shortly thereafter he subjected me to an hour-long harangue about how playing Rugby "makes you a better person". This despite the fact that my parents had recently almost pulled me out of the school because of the sustained bullying I had been subjected to the previous year by several boys who were led by members of his own team. The same "sporting heroes" would routinely do things like steal younger boys' cut lunches when they were tasked with handing them out, and also get up in the middle of a class and start a game of cricket or football in the classroom.

Another attitude that the school did nothing to correct was the attitude alluded to by the OP - that if you don't idolise sports and "sporting heroes", then you're less of a man. I was shown open contempt by many of the younger boys because of this. For these reasons I have absolutely nothing to do with the school's alumni association (or whatever you call such things in the US).

Someone wants to watch or play sports? Cool. Go for it. Most importantly, enjoy! But don't expect me to join in enthusiastically - and above all, don't judge me for it. And don't describe someone whose only claim to fame is their ability to chase a ball around a field as a "hero".

If I ever have any kids, I'll encourage them to try different sports and hopefully stick with at least one they like. (After all, exercise is a good habit to get into.) However, I'll also try to do my best to make sure they keep a level head about it. I just hope I get it right.

10-18-2008, 12:22 AM	#33 (permalink)
OzOz Psycho Location: Right here, right now.	I agree that sports are a great avenue for learning a raft of positive life skills and attitudes - however, it doesn't just automatically happen from chasing a ball around a field. In my last year in high school at a well-respected boys' school here, I stayed in a boarding house that was run by a teacher who also happened to be the coach of the school's top Rugby Union team - the school's flagship sporting team. Now, I'm an absolute disaster on the sporting field - any sporting field - and my one and only season of playing Rugby the year before couldn't end quickly enough for me. When I moved into his house at the start of my last year, he had a long meeting with my parents during which he tried to instruct them in the virtues of having me play Rugby. Shortly thereafter he subjected me to an hour-long harangue about how playing Rugby "makes you a better person". This despite the fact that my parents had recently almost pulled me out of the school because of the sustained bullying I had been subjected to the previous year by several boys who were led by members of his own team. The same "sporting heroes" would routinely do things like steal younger boys' cut lunches when they were tasked with handing them out, and also get up in the middle of a class and start a game of cricket or football in the classroom. Another attitude that the school did nothing to correct was the attitude alluded to by the OP - that if you don't idolise sports and "sporting heroes", then you're less of a man. I was shown open contempt by many of the younger boys because of this. For these reasons I have absolutely nothing to do with the school's alumni association (or whatever you call such things in the US). Someone wants to watch or play sports? Cool. Go for it. Most importantly, enjoy! But don't expect me to join in enthusiastically - and above all, don't judge me for it. And don't describe someone whose only claim to fame is their ability to chase a ball around a field as a "hero". If I ever have any kids, I'll encourage them to try different sports and hopefully stick with at least one they like. (After all, exercise is a good habit to get into.) However, I'll also try to do my best to make sure they keep a level head about it. I just hope I get it right. __________________ Maybe you should put some shorts on or something, if you wanna keep fighting evil today.