Sports provide regular little morality plays for us all

One of the many reasons I love sports is that the very act of keeping score means there are likely to be surprises. The Denver Broncos dominated in most areas in yesterday's game in Dallas, for instance, and looked like a terrific team. Last week they looked awful. The Cowboys are still a better team but for one afternoon, the Broncos were in control.

Unlike most of life, where it is quite difficult to discern winners and losers, particularly in any longer view, athletic contests (with a few exceptions allowing for ties, which seem un-American) produce discrete results. 

But the scores are not really the story, and not really why I am a sports fan. In the case of the Broncos, there was a sense of the team creating a sort of mind over matter approach just a few days after the team traded away a defensive legend and so many players were unable to play due to Covid and/or injuries. Heck, the starting quarterback didn't know he could even play until just a few minute before warmups due to being near a backup quarterback who has tested positive.

Second- and third-team players stepped up and played quite well... perhaps only needing a chance to shine. And, of course, those same (maybe?) overachievers may drop back to mere mortal status next game. 

I have always been a fan of having some sort of opponent to battle against. I am a particular fan of labeling those we are in competition with as "they" or "them," which makes the battle less personal and more existential.

I remember so many conversations with other teachers where we moaned about what "they" were doing to our school or program or particular interest area. I'm not sure we really knew who "they" were, but they were certainly in the wrong. When we are battling the forces of evil, no matter how illogical that may appear when it comes to keeping score of a game, we can manage all sorts of feats, playing a bit "over our heads" for a time.

I wondered if the Packers, forced to play without their All-Pro quarterback due to his Covid infection (not to mention his lying and egotism about the entire issue), might rise up and find a way to defeat the Chiefs. That might have been satisfying to some, but I found the fact that they lost a close contest to be precisely the correct result.

Someone on the Packers didn't really play fair and the team suffered. That sort of cosmic balance doesn't occur enough for me in the world outside sports. The last administration, for instance, went out of it way to NOT play fair, and not much negative has happened to any individuals. Maybe I just need to be more patient.

I have mentioned this before, but sports are not as much about scores and results as about people overcoming challenges, exhibiting amazing skills, inspiring entire communities and much more. Upsets are expected, oddly, and undefeated teams sailing to championships are a bit boring.

Here's to our underdogs and hats off to people not being satisfied with "almost."