Participation Trophies

 

Participation Trophies

This weekend is the Super Bowl.  And I am part of the spirited bunch of Americans celebrating football.

I do not mean to give the impression that I am a football fan.  

I grew up with a dad and brother who were quite engaged in the game and could “talk football” for hours.

I attended my share of high school football games to watch Martin in the marching band (where he marched but didn’t play his saxophone. He said it was a lot to expect to remember how to step AND what notes to play.) Then I had kids and grandkids who were marching, dancing, cheering, and playing instruments with the band for decades after that.

When we married, I made three promises to Martin. I promised to cook breakfast every morning just like his mom did. Big fail. I promised always to have catsup in the house. A WIN! And I promised that if it didn’t interfere with church or family, he could always watch the Dallas Cowboys games. That one I kept but with lots of sighs and grumbling from the other room.

So why am I excited when talk turns to Super Bowl? Because that is when the Vidal Fantasy Football League trophies arrive.

I have a trophy shelf that contains my dad’s square-dancing trophy and a tennis trophy that Martin and I won in an informal church league because I can serve adequately, and I remembered to stay out of his way the rest of the time.

And then there are the football trophies. I have lots of football trophies.

My Mouseketeers have been in the Vidal League since 2008. I have learned to trash talk, have set up a WhatsApp for family who joined the league, and have listened to lots of talk about trading tight ends, kickers and quarterbacks without understanding much of the detail.

Several years ago, George agreed to manage the Mouseketeers and that has resulted in big wins for me. And those wins and near wins have filled my trophy shelf. (George received Best Offensive Team this year for his Rea Ramblers. He said he has been offensive his whole life, but this is the first time he got a trophy for it.)

There is no entrance fee to be in our league but lots of trophies are purchased and engraved because Joe loves to make everyone feel like a winner. What other commish sends encouraging text messages and points out positives even in a week where you lost miserably to Martin’s Yellow Jackets?

I have two favorite football players in the NFL - Jalen Hurts (from Channelview) and J.J. Watts (former Texan-in case you weren’t aware). Both of these athletes are using their fame and fortune to help others through foundations and generous donations where there is need.

So, in the absence of entrance fees and following the model of my NFL heroes, my budgeted football funds will go to Harmony United Methodist Church for their food pantry ministry in honor of the Commissioner of the Vidal Football League, Joe Vidal.

And to the rest of the league – see you at draft day in August!