September 5, 2008 - Helmet to Helmet

"It's not how big you are, it's how big you play".

Unknown

"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score"?

Vince Lombardi

The above quotes reflect two somewhat opposing views of sports in general, although I have to say that I'm not sure of the Lombardi quote - there are a number of quotes broadly attributed to the guy that he never actually said. Still, the two sentiments are genuine enough. On the one hand, the nobility of sport is as old as recorded history itself. Humanity has always loved stories of the underdog triumphing against impossible odds, the small and insignificant defeating the overwhelming favorite. The United States beating the Russians in hockey. The Mets winning the World Series. Boston coming back from a 3 - 0 deficit in the playoffs to beat the Yankees (a painful event for me). Navy finally beating Notre Dame in football. The list goes on and on. We eat that stuff up. It makes us believe that there might be "justice" in the world after all, that the little guy actually has a chance, and that playing your guts out, even if you lose, is more important than winning.

The opposing view, of course, is more cynical. We play to win because winning is about power and money. Few of us remember who lost a contest, no matter how great the effort. You play to win because it's the only acceptable alternative, not just in sports, but in life itself. How many losing presidential candidates can you name? When the Yankees were winning World Series after World Series, who came in second?

There is, of course, some truth in both views. As with most things, this is not an either / or question. I would suggest, however, that we seem to be moving more and more toward the winning - is - everything mentality. The players in the image above are between 7 and 10 years of age (and there are younger organized groups). They practice hard and they're expected to play hard. In some places, if a kid doesn't start at the earliest possible age, he (or she) can't decide to start later. It's not impossible to get in, but it's pretty difficult (unless you're the next Tom Brady).

Both of my grandsons play in this league (the oldest is the center in this image). I have very mixed emotions about it. I'm extremely proud of both of them - they work hard and they seem to love it. I just wonder sometimes if they might be missing out on play that is, well, just more spontaneous. To me, it's a tough call. I'm glad that I'm not the one who has to make it.