CARL’S CORNER - From Charlie Brown to Cathy's Clown

June 1, 2016 – Carl Gustafson CA Regional Tri-Director (San Diego)

I hear players spout out grand exclamations that apparently should be universally accepted as gospel truth: 

“This game is supposed to be fun!”

“Tournament ball is the test of a man’s character.”

“Fun is had in direct proportion to winning.”

“Winning doesn’t matter, it’s how you play the game.”

“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

“We should stop whining and just be glad to be alive and playing this great game at our age.”

And on it goes. So who is right? The proclamations and platitudes are all over the philosophical map.

Truth be known, we all play this game for different reasons and needs. We also have different expectations for what the game of softball should bring to our lives. By understanding this, we can remove an enormous amount of vexation, frustration, and irritation toward our fellow players.

You see the guy who arrives all frowning and scowling, playing the game like he is fighting Somali pirates holding his wife captive. He might be just proving something to himself, maybe that he didn’t deserve to ride the bench back in high school football where, if justice had been done, he’d have attracted a wife that the Somali’s didn’t want to give back. 

A guy shows up smiling and shaking hands, asking about the best eating establishments and remembering how many grandkids you have. Could be that softball is his fellowship, like a church, or maybe in his retirement he no longer feels needed, or maybe he never got over the birthday party he had in grade school where nobody came.

Some players may be established athletes and just need the exhilaration. Guys can be henpecked and needing validation as a man. Others might be in such a boring rut that Wal-Mart is the highlight of their week, so softball is liberating. A few might have been bullied as kids, others might have been the bullies, some are just undoubtedly full of bull. 

Each of us sees the game through his own unique prism and you can bet that we are all feeling different emotions and fulfillments. For senior softball to be collectively enjoyed, it would behoove us to appreciate the individuality.