Once more into the breach

It was a rainy day. Well, somewhere. But not here. So, once again we were forced to take the field and play a game of ball. Well, a semblance of ball. Well, our version of the game. We always attempt to strive for our best and don’t always get there, but we always manage to look good doing it, no matter which way it turns. Helps that you normally aren’t watching yourself. Why mirrors aren’t allowed on the field. It was one of those hot, sweltering nights. One of those nights where you might want to complain of the heat but hold your tongue in fear of jinxing it, which would make it go away. Would be nice if it did manage to stay a while, one of those dry heats, anyways. Some teams seem to prosper under the heat, while others less so. Some are able to perform under the heat of the moment, while others seem to work up a sweat just trying to perform. Other teams seem to come to a head a wee bit too early almost allowing the other team to sneak in from behind. Others just come too late or not at all.

But enough innuendo. Some of us are just having too much fun to work out the intricacies of the game but, no worries, we should be able to come into some sort of focus before the actual playoffs. It’s not really about where you end up, but how you end. Some teams take that to heart, thinking they can tuck away a single win for the season, then simply coast into the playoffs. And they are right. You can. As long you’re enjoying yourself, nought else matters. You know you can win, so why worry about losing. Everyone makes the playoffs. Even if you don’t want to make it there, so try and prepare yourself to feign excitement when you are informed you’ve made the playoffs. Some seem to be performing a wee bit too well for this early in the season. So much so, we may need to implement some sort of drug testing procedures. You know the one. A little pee in a little cup, which is then sent to Russia for some rigorous testing. Not to worry, results may vary from the actual reality. Besides, we aren’t really testing to see who is on performance enhancing drugs, but more to find out who might have some and are just not sharing them. In a strict legal sense, of course, and not to impugn anyone would be doing such a thing. Not at our age. Even if it is just for fun.

You may have missed it, but it was supposed to be photo night. Supposed to be, but we frown upon taking team pictures without the convener in attendance. We’ll try again next week, when we find an apt photographer (I tend to steer away from professional engagements). Apologies for those who wasted a shower and got all gussied up for nothing. Apologies as well since you’ll have to do it again next week. For those that just showed up as usual, unkempt and dressed in a casual fashion, throwing on what you find laying on the floor, you get another chance. But, thinking on it, I wouldn’t bother, we can make anything look good. Besides, we know what you really look like. All in all, some good games. Some teams are fast out of the gate, but sometimes it’s hard to keep up that pace for the entire season. Sometimes not, but we can definitely put in an extra effort to annoy them while they are winning, so they are a little more skittish by the time the playoffs roll about. Nothing is insurmountable, just have to keep chipping away at them until pieces start to fall off. Another team may still end up winning, so no point not having fun while you are losing, even if it has to come at the winning team’s expense. Even if you are on one of those winning teams, we seem to enjoy laughing at ourselves, so we can still have fun with that as well.

So to summarize, no matter how we play or how we dress, we still manage to make it all look good. Even if when people say it’s ‘come as you are’, they probably aren’t thinking of us. And, whether you win or lose, there is always some innuendo to be had, so enjoy it, even if it has to come at the expense of the winning team. Just keep it in mind, though, that payback can be a bitch, so try and pretend to appreciate them at times. Sometimes it is just safer to laugh at yourself and, more often than not, easier. And, always remember, we’re not laughing at you, we’re laughing with you…okay, sometimes we might actually be laughing at you, but you’re still welcome to join in.