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Where Dreams Are Played

By Bob Rixon

A sport can be as simple as trying to throw "pinky" past a kid wielding a broomstick. Or even simpler: a clothespin and a hopscotch court chalked on a sidewalk.

Or a game of "Tag", which requires no equipment at all. At the most basic level it doesn't even matter if you're good as long as you participate.

Sports are the great equalizer, transcending race, economics, class, age and language. We might think of the late, great Joe Dimaggio as the quintessential Italian-American athlete, but that's not why he's in the Hall of Fame.
Not only do sports reflect a changing society, they often do so in advance of wider change, as significant as Jackie Robinson predicting the civil rights movement of the 50's or as ridiculous as Joe Pepitone admitting he used a hair stylist and blow dryer.

Although sports are contests of strength, agility, cunning and skill, not everyone has these in equal measure nor does every sport require them in equal amounts. Cunning may compensate for lack of strength, skill and experience may overcome natural agility. We've all seen the wise old boxer who knows how to conserve his energy and land punches to wear down the defenses of a young, free-swinging fighter. Or the smart pitcher who adds a wicked slow curve to his repertoire when he loses something off his fastball. We've also seen cocky, young quarterbacks make good on their boasts. Many young athletes now combine New Age meditation techniques with age-old psyche-out methods.

Sports can tie a community together from childhood to old age; the pride of the athletes is felt by the fans, who in turn inspire teams with their vocal support. We share the joy of victory
and the disappointment of defeat.

Through sports we can forget our trials and tribulations for a little while,
as participants and as onlookers. We can ease our stress.

More than anything else, sports are about cooperation. As kids, we learn
to choose up teams, make rules, settle disputes, find ways of including everyone
who wants to play, Use our imaginations when we lacked proper equipment or facilities.
If you hit that car, it's out of bounds. We learned to get by without having other people make decisions for us.
Of course, reality eventually catches up with us. What could be more like the "real" world than the first time a little league umpire screams, "You're out!" in your ear? That's life, too, kid; get used to it.