General Chat (Non-Music-Related)

Dayne ... you never cease to surprise me... very well stated Post. You capture the situation, the Truth and the reason very well here.

Planet Guy ... as I stated I had polio and both my legs were paralyzed for a year. I was nine yrs. old. I am not invoking any sympathy just pointing out your insensitivity which you seem to prance about here on a regular basis.

Yes, I was one of those not chosen or chosen last ... for a time. I was thankful that we moved to a different school when I went back to school after recovering from polio. I made my parents and siblings promise to not tell anyone about my infirmity. I was able to walk without calipers when I started the new school. I was weak and unable to run and walk very well but I was determined and devoted to be better and my Mother massaged my legs faithfully every day. It was a painful and hard battle with many tears and much frustration.

To cut it short ... I and my friend were the only two Freshmen to be 1st String and Letter. I ran the Quarter mile, the two mile, the half mile and the mile run in Track. I Lettered all four years and was on the Team. As a Sophmore I declined Footbal as I found it corny and much too rah rah so as a Sophmore and Junior I did not go out for it. As a Senior my friend who had lettered with me as a Freshman begged me to go out, so I did. I was on the Track Team all four years and the Anchorman of the Two Mile Relay Team. We set the State record in this. Doctors who had treated me came to watch my sports activities.

What this did was to expand my sensitivity and cause me to be more accepting and understanding of those who might not be as good as others at certain things. It was a lasting and valuable lesson for me.

Awesome Posts guys. SamBop I like you more and more. JookeyMan excellent points and it is interesting when one considers the difference between Athens and Sparta in relation to "Sports" ie Warfare and the Arts ... physical and intellectual prowess. Rui ... makes some interesting points and is true to himself ... have to admire that regardless. The Dumbing down program along with the elevation of "professional Sports" has been very very successful. the basis of it all should be what is human, Humane and Humanistic. Materialism has come to overshadow everything now. Greed and Power lust translates directly as Evil.

Some very good posts. I'll share one of mine.

I tried out for the JV football team. Only problem was I wasn't full grown. I weighed 110 lbs, 4 foot , 10 inches, and the only thing I had going for me was speed and the ability to catch. At 15, I was going against guys that were well into puberty. Guys that weighed over a hundred pounds more than me. Guys that had a good foot over me in stature.

Anyway my parents were not supportive of this. So much so I ended up running at least 6 miles to get to practice on time.They weren't around to drive me. HMMM. 90 degree August day.

Sports are not always fair. They are not intended to be that way. If you want to be the best of the best, you need the desire, and athletic blessing above and beyond.

Any way it was the first day of full contact. The coaches didn't like me because I was TINY. I was late. That pissed them off even more. I ended up getting my asss whooped blocking and being tackled by guys twice my size. OUCH!

Funny thing about that is I see and hear about people overcoming really tough situations.
Vamp, great life history.
Seems that what doesn't kill you... Only makes you stronger!

Absolutely Glen. I was 120 to 130 lbs. and 5' 6" and the other Farm Lads being Nebraskan were very much bigger and thankfully dumber. What you state about sports is very apt and it somehow is very "American" it seems. Good or Bad it sifts through the fodder. SamBop is astute in pointing out the conditionalism especially with regards to "The Military"