Anyone who knows me knows just how skeptical I can be about human nature. How greedy, selfish, and vain we all can be (myself completely and utterly included). Every once in a while, however, there's an experience or example that comes along to show us that we aren't just an existence full of negative characteristics.
My sister, Rachel, plays house league softball here in Burlington. Since there aren't enough girls to make more than two teams in our town, we also play a few Oakville teams. For my Ottawa people, think of Oakville being to Burlington as Toronto is to Otown; big rivalry. Oakville is a lot more intense about the game. Their girls train harder and have the attitude of always wanting to win. Burlington, although still passionate about the game, more centers in on the fun of the game. Losses are no big deal and games are a great way to socialize and have fun. Oakville puts all the money into the game, and their pride. Burlington puts all the heart. See the rivalry that way.
Throughout the season my sister's team didn't do too well. They always took their games in stride and their losses as the same. Our coach, Don, held onto the belief that the games should only be about fun which helped the attitude of the girls...as much as he wanted to win at times! Yet not all the coaches shared the same spirit. There was one team from Oakville, known as "the purple team", who were coached by a man who was a convenor for the association that made up this league. The Oakville teams are already well known for wanting to win but this coach took that attitude to a whole new level. During games he was constantly coaching from the sidelines, adding quips here and there, never letting the girls "just play". Being the convenor, he singlehandedly wrote the rule book for both players and coaches but failed to meet his own regulations. In one instance when a Burlington team beat his team, he tried to protest the outcome on mere technicalities. Technicalities he once tried to use himself before making rules forbidding it.
His lack of respect for the game, lack of sportsmanship, and his ulterior motive to win didn't leave this man very popular with many parents (especially among the Burlington parents). I admit, I was included in the general dislike for this coach. I watched him from the bleachers whenever we played his team and with another parent gave him the nickname "The Nazi". We joked about how if a girl on his team made a bad play or didn't make contact with the ball at the plate, that she wouldn't be there at the next game. That she'd be "gassed" or given other treatments the Nazis were known for. As morbid of a joke as that is (to some people) that's how intensely he seemed to coach his games. While good plays were congratulated, bad plays were duly noted.
The girls on his team seemed to take on his "win or die" attitude. Other teams started speaking up about the treatment they got on the field from "the purple team". Some were pushed, shoved, elbowed. Some were taunted when on third base by "the purple team's" bench and other numerous complaints. However, the greatest offense came when a Burlington team (not ours) was playing against this "purple team". The coach of the Burlington team in question was also a man who wasn't overly popular but he coached to the best of his abilities and stood by his team. One girl on his team (who will remain nameless) had Autism and was a great inspiration to many of us for giving softball a try. She played hard every game. In this game, a play was made by this girl that was an accident which led to an altercation with another girl on the "purple team". At first, all was fine. Apologies were interchanged and it should have ended there. Instead, the Oakville girl called the girl with Autism a "retard".
It should be noted that I am not one for political correctness but even I have my lines that should not be crossed. Needless to say, the backlash of such language being used and very poor sportsmanship led the Burlington team to walk off the field and out of the game. The poor girl cried from the insult and it was agreed by everyone that she should not have had to face that sort of abuse. News of the event spread from parent to parent, player to player, like wildfire. Outrage and disbelief flared up so quickly and most of it was directed right at the coach who led those Oakville girls. That weekend were the playoff games and the Burlington team directly affected by the horrid slurs threatened to pull out of the entire thing.
The weekend rolled around and it still wasn't certain what would happen. Rachel's team played their game against a different Oakville team on the last day of the playoffs and won, securing the bronze medal. It was a close game, 12-9, and their opponents were very graceful both on and off the field. However, as soon as the game was over the focus returned to the drama at hand. Had the other Burlington team showed up? Were they playing their game? What would happen? Sure enough, they did show up and they did play with sparkles everywhere to show their pride and a strong will to win for their teammate's honour. Our team decided to stay and cheer them on. It was quite a sight to see. No matter what "the purple team" did, everyone cheered for Burlington. Even the other Oakville team we played earlier watched the game and supported us. Everyone was behind the little girl with Autism who dared to play the game.
The time came when she came up to bat. Everyone went wild, cheering and clapping, calling out her name, making any sort of noise that they could. She took her time and ended up walking to first base. Then she stole second. Then third. The crowd was so loud it was hard to hear anything else. With energy over the top....the inning ended. The three outs had been made. Burlington and Oakville people alike still cheered, despite the fact that Burlington lost the game. Winning didn't matter. What mattered was that two fierce rivals had come together to overcome something purposefully hateful and hurtful. We had all come together to show this young girl that it didn't matter that she had Autism. All that mattered was her love for the game.
After the game, the Burlington team sat out in the field in a circle to get their after-game pep talk from their coach. It was something they did after every single game. Suddenly, the "purple team" emerged from their dugout and headed straight for the Burlington team, jogging enthusiastically towards them. Everyone went silent. This was not something that anyone expected. It turns out "the purple team" made an offering of treats to the Burlington team, giving a sincere apology to go along with the treats. At first, there was only shock. Then shock turned to relief. Relief turned to pride, which then turned to applause. The Oakville team's coach didn't join them but that didn't matter. Those girls had the maturity and heart to do what we as the parents and guardians refused to do. The apology and treats were accepted by both the players and the coach from Burlington and all was well from there. The award ceremony went smoothly with everything long forgiven.
Well, except for the Oakville coach. There's a petition going around for his removal from the organization altogether! Being able to witness this all firsthand, however, reminded me that not all people are stupid, douchebags, selfish brats, etc. That there is some good still left in the world. Some of it laying in the youger generation that we all so rat on so often.
