A recent post by Dagonet talks about how as men, we need to compete. It goes back millenia to when men had to prove themselves as leaders in a tribe, a process that was never settled, since there were always new challengers to dethrone the top dog.
Today we don’t have to hunt for food, or defend ourselves from rival tribes, but the instinct to compete, to challenge others, remains. One way this need manifests itself is through sports. Most of us probably haven’t played on a team since high school, other than maybe a co-ed softball team. The closest most men get to a field or court is the bleacher seats or their couch at home. If I had to choose playing sports as long as my body will allow it, or ever watching another pro game again, I’d choose to play.
A couple of years ago I was feeling the itch so I finally took the plunge and learned to play baseball. I’d never done little league or even played catch more than a dozen times in my life, so it was all new to me. My first practices were embarrassing since I’d either launch the ball at peoples feet or lob it over their heads (still happens, but rarely). I’d never swung a baseball bat, but busted my ass off at the cages and in practice to learn. Getting my first hit was one of my proudest days in recent years. A couple weeks ago I had one of my best games with a couple of RBIs, including a triple that I crushed to center field. I now have a greater appreciation for the game and the talent it takes to play it at a higher level. When I work out, I don’t just do it for health or a better physique, I do it knowing it’ll make me a better player, competitor and warrior.
Beyond the satisfaction, sports are a great way to channel your anger. Check out Ty Cobb’s face in the picture above, the man was a determined son of a bitch, who was a base stealing machine (even stealing home in list last game at age 42) and one of the greatest hitters of all time. His anger got the best of him on many an occasion, but the lion’s share helped him succeed in his chosen career. When I’m pissed, nothing feels better than trying to tear the cover off a baseball with a mighty swing.
Competition is always going to be a part of our lives. Most of the time it might take the form of stuff we hate, like office politics, or entertainment for the masses, like rooting for a sports team, but athletic competition is an avenue available to us men that taps into a primal need to physically test our mettle. If you’ve missed being on a team and getting a chance to battle it out, do yourself a favor and join a team, playing a sport you love, whether it’s baseball, basketball, hockey, softball, whatever gets your blood flowing. Get a friend or group of friends to play. I’d recommend against co-ed teams, unless you’re just doing it for fun, since you won’t get the same visceral experience. Testosterone in men takes the game to a whole other level.
By the way, beer pong tournaments and other drinking games don’t fucking count.
