Go. Fight. Win?

I have sat through probably 1000 ballgames in my life. I've experienced alot of really amazing wins. I've seen Mount Cody block two field goals in one game, I have seen the Walker Vikings Soccer team go to the second round of the 5A playoffs after winning only one game the season before, I've seen Tim Croley hit a three at the buzzer to win a pickup basketball game. All really exciting games. All games where my team, and my coach, left heroes.

But I have watched high school teams I loved stomped in painful ways, I have seen the last minute heartbreaking interception, I have yelled and cheered til the last buzzer knowing the game would not end my way.

But all the time I understood that though my heart, my emotion, my loyalty were involved..I was watching a game. Usually played by children. Always coached by people doing their best. And win or lose, this season or next, there would be another game.

I just wish everyone else would acknowledge the truths I've mentioned. You shouldn't base your mood for a day or a week or a season on a game played by teenagers and college students. Who you are cannot be based on the scoreboard of a game that you didn't even play in. I say all this to say.. I am tired of hearing grownups berate boys who may have failed a test or have a broken heart because they aren't having the game of their lifetime. I am concerned about people who would call for coach's jobs after a game. When you have a bad day at work, when your team misses the mark one week, do hundreds of people suggest (loudly) that you should find a new job?

My guess is no. Because in most jobs you are allowed an off day. A day where everything doesn't exactly line up. In most jobs, your success isn't based on the efforts of an overwhelmed teenager.

I write this because this has hurt me. I have sat by fan's that spent the first half praising the coaches like they were heroes, and the second half dogging them like they weren't people at all.

So before you belittle someone at whatever game you attend this weekend.. remember that the players are at an awkward stage in life. They have alot to figure out outside of the game they are playing. They are someone's son. They are someone's brother. And I can vouch for the hard work of the coaches. My brother has been coaching for years. He stays up entirely too late and gets up entirely too early. He probably works 80 hours a week. He doesn't win every game, and there are probably even times he's made bad decisions (just like you), but he does his best everyday. Every coach does. They obviously didn't choose coaching for the huge salaries, but the huge rewards. And alot of those have to do with impacting lives, not winnings games. So before you call for someone's job, or publically berate them, remember you might be sitting by their mom, their sister, their son or daughter, their daddy, their sweet niece and nephew. Before you call for someone's job because you are too immature to deal with the part of life that doesn't involve winning.. consider if you want your job called for on the days where you have worked your hardest, tried your best, and come up short.

The end.