The Wind Down
Posted by Admin on November 9, 2009 in Training
For years, I’ve played two-hand-touch, co-ed football with a team named Sacks In The City. We boast some impressive records, most of which are historical, but all within the framework of a very limited scope. I think I remember once bragging, “We are the greatest co-ed football team in a two-hand-touch format on the island of Manhattan!” You can imagine the raised eyebrows from folks who wondered how this had any significance in any possible way.
When we first joined the league, it was a fledgling one at that with barely enough teams to even create a full schedule. The talent pool was small, so with having had a season’s experience under us in a different league, and with fairly good success there, we were primed for great results. But, as irony would have it, we lost in the first round of playoffs. The next three years, we won every game and had a three-peat to brag about. In our 5th season, we again lost in the first round of playoffs, but came back with four straight championships including, at one point, a 23 game unbeaten streak. I recall one season where the average score was 39 to 10! I also remember in one game, I had subbed out for an offensive series and heard a girl ask a guy, “Hey, who’s that team out there? They’re good.” His response: “Oh, that’s Sacks In The City. They win it every year.” You can imagine the grin on my face.
Well, in the past few years, the scope of talent has expanded considerably. Among them, a team called Bullpen Brawlers has been our chief rivals for some time and though nearly all of our games are spirited and down to the last play or two, we’ve wound up on the short end of the stick in recent meetings. Credit goes to them for being able to find a way to win, but it’s been hovering over us that another championship is out there waiting for us. Though we are getting older, I don’t perceive any degradation in ability or talent. Our QB is 41, I’m 38, another of our long-time receivers is also 41, one of our top female players is 35, etc. Most teams feature 20-something kids just out of college intramurals, so it gives me immense pride to prove that experience and a savvy approach to game strategy wins out over youth and raw athleticism.
This year, Sacks In The City has been able to put together an undefeated season. We beat a couple of teams on last-second heroics, and won a few others with slightly greater ease. More than anything else, it’s been fun. There’s an underlying pressure we all know and feel since we all desperately want that elusive championship, but we seem to be having more fun. Certainly winning has a way of lessening the pressure, but the question is: does the fun create better outcomes, or vice versa? Either way, going into yesterday’s game, we were 6-0 and with a guarantee that we’ll be playing in the playoffs the weekend after my surgery. It meant that yesterday’s game would be my last of the season. We won the game thanks to all cylinders firing in sync, and in particular, I was very happy to have had five receptions including two TDs.
We are likely to play Bullpen Brawlers in the semi-finals in two weeks. I will be there with my game shirt on, but with my leg in a brace and with a cane. It’ll kill me to not be out there. I love the game intensity and the unselfish nature of our team. If/when we win that game, and presumably the game following, I’ll feel good knowing that I helped contribute during the regular season. And, I’ll certainly be sure to help celebrate our success, be it as als0-rans or champs, at the bar afterwards!
So, with my Sacks season over, that leaves one final game next week in my other football league before that season ends. I haven’t been asked to play on the softball team in a while since I’m a sub player when the are short players, so consider that season over. Last is my soccer team. We have a game this week, and have playoffs next Monday (two days before surgery).
After surgery, it sure would feel good to know that my fall season resulted in football and soccer titles. It’s all about scope, I keep reminding myself, but what’s wrong with being a big fish in a small pond?
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