Sportylicious!

Last night I went to a VERY exciting basketball game. Both Megan and Natalie have been playing basketball this season, and it’s been a good experience for them. They’ve had good teams with their friends, and good coaches.

Now this may come as a shock to you, but I am not sporty. At all. *Gasp!* Shocking, I know. When I was a kid, girls did not play sports. Did they? We played all kinds of torturous sports at gym in school. But those sports are dangerous. Remember Mary, and how she broke her arm playing kickball in…what was that? Third grade? Never run with your hands in your pockets was a lesson learned that day. Oh, yes, sports meant running, sweating, and danger. And I would not willingly play sports “just for fun”. Are you kidding? And soccer? Soccer wasn’t even a sport when I was a kid. And even if people did put their kids in soccer teams at the age of 3 like they do now, I don’t know if my parents would have had the money for such extras.

Oh, sure, I played Young Women sports, but not very willingly. I endured many a basketball, volleyball and softball game, but I pretty much just went so that our team would have enough people not to forfeit. There we were…Joni, Suzi, Carolyn, Liz, Penny, and me. Sometimes we would have a few of the older girls, but really, YW church ball belongs to the beehives. And I was never very confident in my sports skills, so these games were just a series of cringing, hoping that the ball would not end up with me. I lived in fear of letting my team down. As soon as I was old enough to have other things other things to do, I stopped going to those sports events.

Oh, and field day! The bad memories are just pouring back into my head now. Remember Stake field day? When the whole ward would gather for track and field events, and everyone had to run some sort of race, and we all got sunburns? How I wish I could have enjoyed events like that, instead of living in fear. FEAR, I tell you. Because I was overweight even as a kid, and had next to no self confidence when it came to anything athletic, the thought of running a RACE, even just a 50 yard dash, was pure torture. So I would sign up for things that were not so scary, like long jump or shot put, and maybe the tug of war. I’m so glad that I’m a grown up now, and I can just say No Thanks to these kinds of things if I do not want to do it.

ANYWAY, instead of regaling you with tales of my torturous sporting events when I was a kid, let me tell you how fun it is to watch MY kids playing sports. And they are actually enjoying it. And some of them are really good at it. Yes, I know you’ve heard all about Megan’s soccer and how much she loves it. But she’s actually really good at basketball, too! Her team is in the play-offs, now, and it’s double elimination. They kicked some serious butt at their game on Tuesday, and then last night they played their second game against this big, aggressive team. Our girls were a bit intimidated by the other team when they started, and the first half did not go our way. At the half, I think the score was 4 to 19. If you have ever been to a game with me, you know that I don’t really pay that much attention to the game. In fact, I’m usually the one with a book, or chatting with a friend, so it’s kind of a wonder that I knew the half time score! I even started out the game reprogramming phone numbers in my cell phone, adding the stupid 801 to all the numbers in my phone book. But I had to put the phone away after only a few minutes because it was just too exciting. There I sat, surrounded by 3 of my awesome friends, and we were all cheering our daughters on. Our daughters who were giving their hearts and their very best efforts to this game.

The second half, our girls came out, and really stepped up their game. They were shooting, stealing, and catching up. We, the moms on the sidelines, were screaming, cheering, and clapping until our hands hurt. I brought out the Altoids to soothe our sore throats. Because our girls were closing the gap. With one minute left, and our girls behind by 3, we’re screaming “Foul!” from the sidelines, so that the clock would be stopped for the free throws, and those girls gave it everything they had.

They did not win this game, but we couldn’t be prouder of them. They came back from behind to a score of 23 to 26. They played so well against this bigger team, and they stood their ground. My Megan, who is not quite 5 feet, was all over the court, stealing, guarding, and even shooting. She is not intimidated by those bigger girls, and will go head to head with the best of them.

As soon as the game was over, our sweet Brittney started crying. Not because they lost, but because she had pulled a muscle in her leg in track earlier in the afternoon, but had played through the pain the whole game. Once the game was over, she was allowed to break down and cry. These girls have given it their best! We are so proud of them!

They play again on Saturday, and I’m hoping I can get a decent picture then. I may just have to get a faster camera so I can become a sports photographer. You think?