It's Not About Winning Or Losing - Or Maybe It Is

I love watching peewee sports teams. Their enthusiasm is infectious, even when things don't go quite right. Many of us have seen the videos of the little football players who suddenly find themselves with the ball in their arms and the goal within reach. The player takes off running, with all their might, half of the players on the field, and their parents in the stands, and one of the coaches, are cheering and encouraging them on in their drive toward a touchdown. The other half are frantically shouting the player's number and waving for the runner to stop, turn around, go the other way. "That's not our goal!"

See, it brings a smile to your face just thinking about it. But, what is even better is the shouting, jumping, and cheering when all the players make it to the other end. They all celebrate the touchdown, even if it was made for the opposing team. Their competitive drive to win for the sake of winning is trumped by the fun of simply getting the ball and running, without being tackled before you reach the end of the field. It's about scoring a touchdown, any touchdown, for a team. Everybody likes to celebrate a touchdown.

Unusual football plays can add a lot of fun to the game, too, like this play called the "Ugly Kardashian," used in a game at the Lewis & Clark Middle School in Jefferson City, Missouri. You have to admire the simplicity of the play. You have to admire the creativity. Enjoy!