467 Clothman Pinned By Mother
“Clothboy, break your opponents – break ‘em like a twig …in Jesus name.”
My friend Dusty passed on that sage advice with a smile (I think he was smiling) the day before Clothboy headed to the State Wrestling Championships for the first time. “As the level of competition goes up buddy,” advised another friend, “your level of intensity has to go up. I’m not saying to wrestle angry, but you’ve got to be hardnosed.”
The state wrestling meet raises the testosterone level to flood stage. It’s the male equivalent of spring run off when the warming sun melts the mountain snow packs.
My advice to Clothboy was, “You’ve got to let your opponent know that this is your mat and that you say what happens here. Oh, and as you’re beating the living snot out of him, always demonstrate good sportsmanship.”
One can only imagine how out-of-place a mother’s estrogen-laced advice might sound in this raging flow of testosterone. Ah, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Clothboy has had a very good freshman season of wrestling. He was ranked 4th in the state for much of the year and he just placed third at divisionals. His only loss was to the kid who took first.
Of course, Clothboy’s success is important because when he looks good, I look good. Some say that’s why testosterone flows so high at sporting events. That’s pure nonsense. I don’t know how many times I’ve told Clothboy to maintain balance. “Someday you may earn a living by wrestling so always keep your priorities straight between that and homework.” Who needs a mother’s perspective with such insight?
Turns out, Clothboy found himself on the tough side of the tournament’s bracket. He lost to the eventual state champion in the second round and then dropped a tough match to the fourth place guy in a later round. When he missed placing (top six) by just one round I uttered the infamous, post testosterone phrase, “There’s always next year.”
At that point a mother whose son had won a state championship and was twice the runner-up said to me, “I could care less about metals and awards. I always told my son I was most proud of him when he demonstrated good character. Clothboy showed good character today.”
She pinned me!
She spoke like Paul who said, “What happens when you live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity …a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Character is more important than championships. Thankfully that’s a lesson Clothboy has learned despite his testosterone-laced father.
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