Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010
All height, no hype
Emily Jarrett, Journal Staff
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Off the record, I don’t have any athletic ability whatsoever.
My Journal coworkers can attest to this. During our summer kickball league I was the designated catcher. And while I did make it on base a time or two, I was much better at trash talking the other team than running or catching the ball.
You’d think I’d have some sort of natural athletic ability. My mom played volleyball for years and my dad played basketball for Murray State University before being asked to play for a national team in Belgium. And I’m quite tall, that should at least help me in the setting/dunking department right?
Nope. I can’t catch or throw, I hate running and to be perfectly honest, I’ve really never paid much attention to sports enough to even know the rules (football is the sport with “downs” right? I’m kidding, sort of.)
No, all that athletic ability went to my little sister, Kayla, who plays soccer, basketball, volleyball and select softball. Seriously.
At one time I did play sports – soccer for two years and volleyball for another two. But I don’t think first grade soccer or third grade volleyball count as serious sporting events.
I sometimes feel I’m letting people down with my lack of athleticism. Generally, the first question I’m always asked is, “How tall are you?” followed closely by “Basketball or volleyball?”
(As a side note, why is it never golf or bowling? I realize basketball and volleyball are “tall people sports” but honestly, I think it’d be a lot more impressive and unique to be a 6-5 golfer or a 6-7 tennis player.)
And then, when I politely say, “Neither” something strange happens. Their entire face falls and they mumble, “Oh, well OK then,” or something similar. Happens every time.
It’s usually at this point that I’ll make a joke about having no hand/eye coordination to try and cheer them up. But I still feel I’ve let them down in some way, like I’m wasting my height or being selfish about not playing sports.
Believe me, you don’t want me to play on your team. I’m absolutely awful.
And that’s just fine with me. I’d much rather be on the sidelines, cheering people on than on the field. And I don’t mind watching sports on TV, just don’t ask me to comment on the game if you want an answer more in-depth than, “I like the red team, they seem nice.”
I realize this plays directly into a stereotype many girls, my coworkers included, are trying to correct. Journal photographer Julie can go round-for-round about Mizzou football and city reporter Miranda has been known to get into shouting matches with our sports writer Stephen over her beloved St. Louis Cardinals, versus his hometown Royals.
I’m also continually amazed at the women athletes we have in our high schools and their accomplishments. And, I am proud women’s sports are getting more of the recognition they deserve, especially the women athletes competing in Vancouver during the next two weeks.
But unless I magically wake up one day with the ability to dunk, spike or dribble, I’ll stick to cheering on the sidelines.
Go team!
Emily Jarrett is a staff writer for the Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7018 or e-mail ejarrett@lsjournal.com.
