Being Involved In The Big S

Today is the day that my life changes.
I am going to play sports.
I have been psych-ing myself the past few days and even rationalized on my other colleagues’ lack of physical strength and lack of interest to be in the game. I have been doing sit-ups in the morning and push-ups when I feel the need to boost my flagging morale and ever growing belly. How many sit-ups and push-ups I CAN do? Four full sit-ups and nine push-ups. I don’t want to be hurt….
Some checklist before actually volleying this afternoon:
1. first aid kit (do you know that next to cleanliness, preparedness is also next (next) to godliness?)
2. sun block (India is the spawning ground from skin cancer)
3. water bottle (athletes perform better with adequate – not too much – hydration)
4. health insurance card (who knows – I might need it)
5. camera (to capture those winning Kodak moments)
There! Hopefully, if I find this (activity) satisfying and rewarding enough, I’d have a different career plan by the end of the year.
I wonder if Pacquaio needs a student?

A Hard Look at Sports (or my lack of it)

“So… do you like football?”

It was afternoon tea time and while I was reviewing the charts, one of the staff came to me and asked me a very discriminating question. It took me a while to answer because – admittedly – I am too lame for sports. I could never remember a sport that I am good at.

Partly, I blame my mother because she never encouraged me to sweat it out. While my brother would get extra allowance for uniforms, shoes and sports equipments, I got extra money for book club memberships and choir uniforms. While he spends time playing every Saturday, I would be locked up in a pretend world or escaping to a distant land. No I did not smoke pot at that age – I was simply enjoying reading and watching movies. When we reached high school , loads of girls were after my brother for the prom; I got the class beauty queen.

At university, I actually considered going into sports. I tried bowling (I thought the ball was heavy), basketball (I wasn’t tall enough), baseball (I am near sighted), and swimming (I have fear of deep waters). I was okay at badminton and I was beginning to like it, but then the students' council responsibilities came and that came to a halt.

All my friends in the university are good at basketball. I was good in Chemistry. I have friends who are good in volleyball. I was always very good in English and composition.

While in Ethiopia, I pretended to love football during the world cup because there was free beer. The staff would bet on the teams and those who support the loosing team would buy beer. In Myanmar, I would be the medic and the team manager - not the player.

So when the guy asked me if I love football, I cringed at the thought because I don't want to lie. I just gave a generic answer: "Not so much, because I don't really support any team."

But honestly, I think I should start now - with the enlarging belly and the paleness of my skin, I should try something. Wrestling perhaps, or sepak takraw, or even join the marathon.

I'll think about it after I finish exercising my hands. I have been lifting this glassful of vodka tonic for the past hour now.

Wait. When will beer drinking be considered a sport?