Sports in America

I love working with teenagers! They have so much energy and passion for life, and sometimes in the goofiest ways. But, you know, as they learn and establish their own way, they show great potential. I really hope all of them live up to that potential. They won't all end up the same, but if they figure out a way to convert their youthful exuberence into things important to their lives, they can all be successful in their own way.

That is one of the most wonderful things about this country and this time in which we live. We can each become what we want to become. That is a gift we need to protect. I like seeing the energy and interest these teenagers have in the current political circus. Most of them are 2-4 years away from their first chance to vote, but they are forming opinions, and learning to search out their own viewpoint.

That is what led to a great discussion about socialism, and why I feel it is not right for America. But, even though we disagree, I am proud to say that some of these students were sincere and confident in asking what is so bad about socialism. As I said in my last post, I feel that the forced charity of socialism breeds resentment and corruption at all levels, but they saw the idealistic helpful side of socialism. And I am serious when I say that I would much rather have them know their way around the politics and still vote socialist, than have them be ignorant of the consequences, and vote on emotion.

Well, my topic today doesn't seem related, but here goes.

One of my more vocal students asked a random question about cheerleading being a sport or not. I have some cheerleaders in my classes, and I live with our school's cheerleading captain (my daughter Elizabeth), so I had to handle this question carefully. I put the question back to AC by asking him to give his definition of a sport.

He started off with a requirement of major competitions at local, state and national levels. When I said "then it's a sport", he fired back a requirement that teams and individual awards identified a sport. Again, I guess cheerleading qualifies.

He was apparently trying to "disqualify" cheerleading as a sport, so he then ran through an interesting list of requirements: Hard physical training, injuries common, trash-talking and sabotage, referees(judges), moving on to famous "players and superstars" along with a huge fan following and lots of TV coverage. So far still in. Then he took another approach. "Has to be in the Olympics". I asked him how he really felt about football. :) Then he added things like constant analysis by so-called experts and former players, but not excluding "armchair quarterbacks". He even mentioned the endless post game review and sour-grapes.

The more he talked, the more clearly the thought came to me: One of America's favorite sports is Politics!!

Now, granted, it isn't in the Olympics, but there is definitely an element of politics at the Olympics, so I think it still counts.