I learned how to fight from watching hockey games.

[poltr1]

I like a good skating hockey game, one that holds my attention. But occasionally, there would be a missed penalty, a bad call by a ref, or just a "let's get this guy" attitude. It may start off with a body check, then a harder one, and eventually, the gloves come off, and the guys go at it. Sometimes they'll fall to the ice and wrestle before the linesmen break them up and send the players to their penalty boxes to cool off. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, and I don't watch hockey for the fights. But hockey is a physical sport, and fights happen.

In other sports, players who fight are usually ejected from the game, and often fined. Baseball, football, basketball, soccer -- the outcome's the same, though the calls and procedures may differ. Red cards, yellow flags, an ejection signal from the ump.

How many golfers have taken their frustration and agression on their equipment? How many bent golf clubs are out there? How many balls were thrown into the woods or the lake?

When people explode on the playing field, it can leave a lasting impression. I can still see George Brett storming out of the dugout after being accused of using pine tar -- an illegal substance -- on his bat. And I can still see the late Billy Martin verbally haranguing an umpire and kicking sand on the umpire's feet.

As for soccer, it's not the fights on the playing field I worry about. It's the fights in the stands. Hopefully that won't happen at this year's world Cup.

It's from watching sports that I've seen players mentally kick themselves -- get angry with themselves for missing a play. A goalie will bang his glove on the net after letting the puck slip past him. A baseball player may drop his bat in disgust or use it to strike the field.

I think this is where I learned how to berate myself when I don't meet my own expectations, or when I make a mistake.

Comments

[kliklikitty.livejournal.com]

I've always felt it a shame that so few people in this day and age do not truly teach their kids the age old line 'It's ok, you'll do better next time. This is no big deal.' If we diligently taught our kids this mentality and saw to it that it carried over into professional sports the message it would send to young fans would last them for life.

It's natural to be annoyed at yourself when you feel you've accidentally done something stupid. That annoyance can inspire you to do better the next time you get the chance. It's never right to beat yourself up over something that can not be helped.

All we can ever do in this life is our best. We all need to accept the fact that there will always be times when our best just will not be enough.

I think what you are getting at here my friend is that you are beginning to realize that berating yourself is not a healthy attitude to hold on to. Especially if you do not want your child to learn this behavior.

[dagonell.livejournal.com]

One of the things I love about the SCA is that they've held onto the concept of sportsmanship. Anyone blowing their cool gets a time-out. Dusting up with another fighter can get you banned for up to a year. I've been in battles where I've knocked my opponent down, helped him up and then had him ask me, "Okay, now how did you get past my guard like that?" That's sportsmanship.

True story: I was at a demo as a herald explaining sword fighting and mentioned that hitting an opponent from behind was illegal and would get you thrown out. A mundane asked "For how many minutes?" I responded, "I don't know, how many minutes are there in a year?"
-- Dagonll

[poltr1]

Isn't there a song in the musical Rent that answers that question (minutes in a year)?