All Glory Is Fleeting

Why is it that athletes get all the glory?  Not being too athletically inclined I've wondered about this much of my life.  Now that I have school aged children, I am once again reminded of the importance placed on winning at sports, in school.

I have a son in grade school who plays basketball in a no-cut school sponsored sports program.  He is a short guy with big elbows and knees.  A hangman-like figure on the court.  There are four boy's teams from his grade.  He is an average player on an average team.  I'm not even certain what the team's win-loss record is for the season.  The best team from his grade had their tournament win published in the local paper.

I have a son in high school.  He made the no-cut golf team.  He didn't make the basketball team and didn't try for wrestling.  The wrestling team won at the state championships.  The girls basketball team is battling for placement among the top three in its class at the state level.  Because of this, the entire school was given a free day, ostensibly so the students could go to the game to cheer on the team. 

These athletes work hard.  They get to school early and stay late working on their skills.  They learn discipline and team work, all valuable skills for the real world.  My question is why are they singled out and so handsomely rewarded?

The math team at my older son's school won a state competition.  The school didn't get a free day.  My younger son and some classmates won a geography competition.  It wasn't written about in the local paper.  These students work hard too.  It takes discipline and dedication to study long hours.  It is true that it isn't very exciting to watch someone study.  Academic competitions aren't televised.  Their participants don't land (multi) million dollar contracts to play on T.V.  Remember, however, they find cures for illnesses, write novels that keep us entertained, and invent the things that allow us to watch sports on our big screen televisions.

Jennifer Beals, The L Word & Me

I'll admit it.  It's my dirty little secret (along with reading People Magazine & cheap mysteries).  I'm a fan of The L Word.  For the uninitiated, this is a series about lesbians on Showtime billed as a drama.  It's really a soap opera. 

I've never been a fan of soap operas because the plots are usually so outrageous that I can't by into the story at all.  The same is true on this show.  In the five years that the show has aired, (as in any soap worth it's salt) just about every major character has had a personality transplant.  There is no story continuity at all.  Characters are introduced one season, only to be forgotten about the next season (or even episode).  So, I haven't bought into the story.

So why, year after year do I keep watching?  Two words.  Jennifer Beals.  She is ostensibly the star of this ensemble along with Pam Grier. (Yes, Foxy Brown herself plays Beals' sister in the show).  I never saw Flashdance or any of her other movies.  I was surprised she was as good as she is in the series.  So if her acting isn't stellar every episode why continue?  I watch to check out her clothes and hair.

Quite simply I want to be Jennifer Beals.  She and I are approximately the same age, however she looks younger now than in 1983.  I am certain that she must have a painting in her attic somewhere that looks like ass.  Physically, she is in amazing shape.  I'd like to think that most of it was obtained  without the aid of plastic surgery, because, unlike some other actresses, she still looks like herself. 

This gives me hope that maybe, just maybe with a little work, I could have her arms. I'll never be 5'10" and a knock out.  But a gal can watch every week and dream.