Mom Ejected From Church League Basketball Game

"You want me out?!?!?!  You'll have to carry me out," the mom was heard shrieking as the ref moved slowly, but surely across the court towards the stands.


"Mommy!!!  Don't take my mommy!  P L EEE  Z E ..." three small children cried out as the scene at the church gym deteriorated quickly Saturday.


Well, that's what COULD have happened.  If I had said or done what my motherly instincts told me to do when the lady in front of me started sneering at Numbers 2-4 for cheering enthusiastically for Number 1 as he played his heart out in a non-competitive, church league game of 5th and 6th graders (That Number 14 on the opposing team was no less than 6 feet tall, but I digress.), that SO could have happened.  If I had come out with just the right remark to put the same lady in her proper place when she cheered enthusiastically after Number 1 missed his free throws in the last minutes of a non-competitive, church league game, that SO COULD HAVE HAPPENED.


I admit I'm not a sports person.  I have said many times, giving me four sons is a hilarious gag for God to play on someone who never has any idea who is playing in the World Series and has actually skipped a Super Bowl party to go to a knitting class.  It's just never been my thing.  But when one of my boys is playing or doing or participating in anything, my pride in their confidence and effort knows no bounds.  I've been known to cry at a curtain call, jump out of my shoes as a 3 pointer hit nothing but net and start a standing ovation after a preschool Christmas program.


Much to everyone's embarrassment, I tend to yell things like, "Go BABY, take it to the basket!" or "Come on score MAMA a basket!"  Remember I'm not a sports person.  I am simply cheering for my sweet, athletic, confident 11 year old Number 1 as he plays his heart out in a non-competitive, church league game.  I also cheer for the other team when they make a great shot or are down by a lot.  Maybe not as loud or as embarrassing, but I still encourage someone else's child playing in a non-competitive, church league game.


So today I said nothing.  I bit my tongue.  I controlled my anger toward the sneering lady for the last 5 minutes of a non-competitive, church league game until the final buzzer sounded and I could cross the court and congratulate the 5th and 6th graders who all played their hearts out in a non-competitive, church league game.


Another day, another story,
Em