Be All You Can Be
“Sports are important,” my Asheville potter son, Josh, in town for his brother’s bachelor party, said to me as I was trying to get a non-sports word in edgewise. “It has stopped wars ... and has started some too.” He continued.
He, Floyd County Soccer MVP in the year 1997, went on to tell me about a group of Senegalese in Asheville who rejoiced to the point of crying when their soccer team claimed victory over France, their country’s former colonial power, in a World Cup series match.
I was thinking about how when the Red Sox won the World Series after an 80 year slump; it was more than a game to everyone in my family, including Josh who has rooted for them as the underdog since he was a little boy. “How do you know these people from Senegal?” I asked him.
“They all worked at the gas station near my house then,” he answered without looking at me because his eyes were on the TV.
This year Angola rose from the ruins of civil war and poverty to play in the World Cup, bringing a boost of hope and confidence to their entire country, I learned from Josh.
“Yes, sports can be a good way to express nationalism without violence,” I said, and we both agreed.
It also brings men together, I thought as I snapped a picture of Josh and my husband, Joe, watching the game together.
Post Notes: For some further reading, check out “Significant Moments in Sports and War.” “Sports Metaphors Trivialize War,” is also interesting.
Comments
This is a great post!! Josh and Joe look great and it reminds me so much of Andrew. The sports I mean. oxxo
Posted by: Sherry | June 26, 2006 9:50 AM
What a great father/son photo. You captured their sharing very well.
OH, HOW I remember the Sox winning that World Series. My only regret was that my dad had passed away the year before and didn't get to revel in the win.
Posted by: Terri | June 26, 2006 1:01 PM
Yes, my regret was that Jim an Dan were gone when the Sox won. They would have gone ballistic! We joke that they pulled some strings.
Joe is my second and true husband, not my son's father. In fact, when we first got together he was more like a big brother.
Posted by: colleen | June 26, 2006 1:04 PM
We're big sports fans in our family, but the allure of soccer COMPLETELY escapes me. But, that's just me!
Michele sent me today!
Posted by: Karen | June 26, 2006 2:10 PM
Sports are important. I believe it in my soul. So many people I know of the female persuasion cannot fathom my intense passion for all things sport. (Well, all things except soccer, I must confess.) But for me, it is intrinsic. Part of the thread that has woven together the larger fabric of my life, a bonding agent between father and daughter, and sister and brother, and even, to a large degree, husband and wife. The passion of the athletes. The dedication and commitment. The emotion. The human interest stories beyond uniforms and balls of all shapes or sizes. All of it.
Sports are important.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 26, 2006 3:37 PM
Through Josh, I learned that sports are important. When it comes to sports, he's all heart, and when I saw the dedication he put into high school wrestling (even when I didn't agree with the tactics of making weight), I knew I was seeing the best part of him. If he could do that, I knew he could do anything he set his mind too. He was drawing on the core of his being to rise to the hero within.
Personally, I tend to not want to watch sports unless my sons are in the game...not even the Red Sox. I'm the black sheep in my family with that.
Sports can bring women togther too.
Posted by: colleen | June 26, 2006 4:27 PM
I enjoy the parts of the year when I'm wrapped up in sports, like the fall with Hokie football, but I also enjoy the times of the year, like now, when I don't have any sports to keep up with.
Posted by: Mayberry | June 26, 2006 9:06 PM
You know..(Well you probably do know...) Your darling Joe andyour Darling son look a lot alike!
Sweet Colleen...."Comment Moderation" is off now and you can and will be able to come and read and comment for at least till 10:00am on June 28th!!! That's Wednesday...Hope you can join the party my dear Colleen...
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | June 26, 2006 9:17 PM
I don't understand soccer. But give me an American football game and I am there. Basketball sometimes too fast. Baseball is much too slow. Football, just right.
Posted by: srp | June 26, 2006 10:25 PM
It was a baseball game - Red Sox vs. Texas in the spring of 2001 - that I sat with our brother Dan at the then brand new Enron Field that I got hooked.
Before that I did not understand the importance of sports. I now think it touches something primal in us.
Posted by: Kathy | June 26, 2006 10:29 PM
According to mr. kenju, I, who have never played sports, can never know the thrill of being on a winning team, the camaraderie, loyalty, etc., blah-blah-blah. I believe it, but I also believe that I haven't been exactly deprived due to that....LOL
Posted by: kenju | June 26, 2006 11:30 PM
Alright, alright, alright. Hand the blog over the Josh for a day. I want to hear about Dylan's batchelor party~,:^)
(You're going to be someone's Mother-in-law! What a lucky bride-to-be!)
Posted by: Rick | June 26, 2006 11:39 PM
I think the batchelor party had something to do with a campfire, a lake, cheeseburgers, and beer. Maybe Josh will visit and tell us more.
And PS My husband Joe is the one responsible for Floyd having soccer at all. Everyone is so all about football that soccer was a suspect sport back then, but it's taken off well.
Posted by: colleen | June 27, 2006 12:14 AM
I am experiencing World Cup fever. Spent a couple of days in Germany and the little influence I had had turned into high fever with the festive environment. Amazing what sports can do...
Nice pic of your two watching a game! I get to see this at home too!
Posted by: mar | June 28, 2006 3:00 AM
I don't do sports very well. Most times I'll just cheer for the underdog (with the exception to the Red Sox of course - hehe). I never participated in sports at school and having no brothers and a dad who (other than baseball) never tuned in didn't help tweak my enthusiasm for them.
Love the picture!
Posted by: Weary Hag | June 29, 2006 7:16 AM