Wilsonville, ORNovember 23, 2008
The United States of America was founded on the principles of democracy, but it took centuries of at times bitter struggle to come up with the recipe for tolerance and coexistance that you find here today. A variety of different ethnic groups, religious beliefs and political opinions that polarize other nations blend together in harmony, giving America its unique flavor.
But in the arena of sports pockets of still exist. This is where you find the high schools of small towns and farming communities battling each other in the minor leagues.
Last night Scio, Oregon’s (Pop. 600) varsity football team (the ‘Loggers’) squared off with Knappa (also called the ‘Loggers’) in a semi-final – the prize being a shot at the state championship. Scio doesn’t have the resources to develop a pass and receive strategy, so this year it played a running game with big farm boys plowing through their opponents’ defenses. Yard by painful yard, particularly for the poor slobs in the farm boys’ path, Scio’s Loggers plodded up to the top of the heap.
The two pretenders squared off at Wilsonville (neutral territory). Knappa played a more sophisticated game, passing over Scio’s defense and employing their own farm boys to block Scio’s. By the end of the first half , with Knappa leading 29-8, it was clear who would take the day. Scio didn’t lose heart and fought on, no longer out of hopes for victory but for more personal reasons. My brother Barry leaned over, “A lot of these kids are seniors. They know that this will be the last time they play the game. Ever.”
With four minutes left in the game, both teams caught a new wind. Knappa charged fast and furious, while Scio threw in all their reserves to hold them back. Barry’s a member of the school board. He remarked that most injuries happen when teenage athletes get whipped up and start taking chances.
“Why is Knappa pushing so hard?” I asked. It was obvious by now that they would win.
Barry replied in his fake foreign accent. “This is America. When we win, we’re in their face.”
“And what happens when “they” are in the Americans’ face?", I wondered.
“We nuke ‘em.”
America has employed and deployed young men and women around the world with the same competitive spirit that I saw on that field in Wilsonville last night. As Scio’s varsity team can tell you, size and strength don’t always spell victory, but it does mean that the other guys had better watch out.
The two pretenders squared off at Wilsonville (neutral territory). Knappa played a more sophisticated game, passing over Scio’s defense and employing their own farm boys to block Scio’s. By the end of the first half , with Knappa leading 29-8, it was clear who would take the day. Scio didn’t lose heart and fought on, no longer out of hopes for victory but for more personal reasons. My brother Barry leaned over, “A lot of these kids are seniors. They know that this will be the last time they play the game. Ever.”
With four minutes left in the game, both teams caught a new wind. Knappa charged fast and furious, while Scio threw in all their reserves to hold them back. Barry’s a member of the school board. He remarked that most injuries happen when teenage athletes get whipped up and start taking chances.
“Why is Knappa pushing so hard?” I asked. It was obvious by now that they would win.
Barry replied in his fake foreign accent. “This is America. When we win, we’re in their face.”
“And what happens when “they” are in the Americans’ face?", I wondered.
“We nuke ‘em.”
America has employed and deployed young men and women around the world with the same competitive spirit that I saw on that field in Wilsonville last night. As Scio’s varsity team can tell you, size and strength don’t always spell victory, but it does mean that the other guys had better watch out.
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