Elitorial: All the field's a stage

Some sports are inherently not designed for spectators. Take crew, for example: you stand about 100 feet away from the boats and only see the last 10 seconds of the race, barely able to make out eight sets of limbs waving back and forth--not exactly spine-tingling excitement. Last year, however, on a frigid Saturday morning, I woke up at 7 a.m. to watch a friend race against Harvard, and I enjoyed every cold wet minute of it.

I will admit that I could hardly see her, and only knew which rower she was because she had told me in advance. Still, I learned a lot about her from watching the race that day. I grumbled about being awake at that ungodly hour, but for me it was one early morning out of the whole year, and I was just standing there all bundled up. She and her teammates had done this regularly and killed themselves to pull the boat across the wind-swept water--wearing skimpy little uni-things, no less. (Does it strike anyone else as a little strange how much the sport resembles a ship with galley slaves?) And somehow they still had the energy to sing the Bulldog cheer at the top of their winded lungs for every Yale boat racing that day.

I had heard her stories of hellish training, and had tried in vain to get her out of her room on the nights before morning practices, but I never fully understood what she was doing all those hours in the tanks, on the water, or strapped to an erg machine.

I don't even remember the result of the race that day, but in those 10 seconds of seeing her arms stroking back and forth, I was struck by just how dedicated and focused she had to be to work that hard and give up so much for the sport she loved. The enormous bowls of protein-rich cottage cheese and the sacrificed Friday nights finally made sense.

I've often been surprised, even offended, by people who rush out to see a friend's play or concert--and expect their friends to attend their own shows--but never set foot in the bleachers. I hate the implication that a soccer game and a track meet are less valuable to a spectator than a musical production because they lack obvious worth as forms of entertainment.

After all, an athletic contest is a type of performance. In the same way that actors rehearse, memorize lines, and get into character, athletes do endless drills, hone their skills, and get into their role as gymnasts, swimmers, or ultimate Frisbee players. Stage performers aim for the perfect performance, as do athletes. Winning, while obviously important, is not the sole motivating factor for people to play a sport; athletes do not usually quit competing just because they don't win all their games. Satisfaction in playing sports comes not only from triumphing over a long-time rival or earning an Ivy title, but also from expressing one's creativity on the field, improving a personal best time, or experiencing the success of teamwork.

You may be blown away by your roommate's ability to hit a high C at a concert, but you should also notice your other roommate's improved backhand slice on the court. Watching a well-played tennis match may not be as aurally pleasing as listening to a fantastic rendition of your favorite song, but both the player and the singer deserve a friend's appreciation and respect for their hard work.

Your support matters to your athlete friends even if you have no understanding of their particular sport, or even if you don't know the first thing about sports in general. You may not recognize an excellent pass when you see one or notice an aggressive defensive maneuver, but you will recognize the excitement on your roommate's face when he has successfully stepped up his level of play--and noticed you sitting in the stands to witness it.

I will even venture to say that you will discover something new about your friends and acquaintances just by watching them compete. If this means that you will have to wake up before the crack of dawn, stand by the field in the rain, or avoid studying for tomorrow's midterm for one more hour, so be it--it will be worth it.

You will notice the tougher side of the seemingly shy kid next to you in Spanish class as he tackles opponents on the rugby pitch. You will think twice about writing off your chem lab partner as a bitch when she helps her opponent up off the ground during a lacrosse match. You will be amazed by your slacker roommate, who demonstrates a phenomenal level of concentration and drive on the basketball court.

Or, like me, you will recognize a whole new trait in an old friend who will execute a dive, leap over a hurdle, slide into home, or kick a field goal. And you'll realize just what it means to be an athlete.

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