This underdog story features Scotty Smalls, Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, and their misfit friends. They form community, overcome adversity, and enjoy our national pastime.
But the scene from this movie that I want to focus on in this moment is an epic insult battle between Ham Porter (a member of the Sandlot) and Phillips (a member of a rival team).
Phillips rides in on his bicycle in order to stir the pot. This leads to insults back and forth between Ham and Phillips. Until Ham gives the greatest insult possible: "You play ball like a girl!"
Phillips is defeated. The children are speechless. *Mic Drop*
It was on.
Clearly, being described as a girl meant being "less than." But is this how we should view women? Is this how Jesus would view women?
I thought of this topic today because a wrestler on our team had to wrestle a girl today. I coach middle school wrestling. So of course the other boys try to make it as awkward and funny as possible for the kid who had to wrestle her.
It puts a young man (7th grader) in a tough spot. If he loses, well he lost to a girl! And if he won, well he just beat a girl!
I give this kid a lot of credit. He has a good family. He is taught to treat girls with respect and honor. But, of course, he isn't going to let him beat him right?
So, men/boys, put yourself in his shoes. What would you do? Wrestle? Don't try? Don't go out on the mat?
Women/girls, put yourself in her shoes. What would you want someone to do? You signed up for the sport. You want to win. But you don't want someone to let you win. You worked hard. You made weight and you want to win on your own merit. Am I right?
What is the most respectful and honoring thing you can do to a girl that you are wrestling against? Win! Don't be dirty, don't be cheap. Score. Win. Go 100% like you would if you were wrestling a boy. Why? Because she wants to beat you when you are giving it 100%.
I have seen some girls wrestle and they are very good. And I have seen some wrestle that are terrible (same with boys!) In fact, this girl won 2 matches at the tournament today.
I told a simplified version of this to our wrestler today before he wrestled the girl and he won. (I think the score was 12-3...)
Okay, so most of us will not be wrestling or competing against a girl in a sporting competition in the following week. How is this relevant to you and me?
I believe this topic is important to consider because when we believe that only stereotypes are true we limit the potential we can learn from one another.
What if we believed "Only boys are good at math and science while girls are good at English and Writing?"
Perhaps that boy would have written a world changing novel because you encouraged him?
Perhaps,that girl would have cured cancer because you encouraged her love of science from a young age?
As a society, we can only gain by encouraging and being respectful to one another. How will you be challenged to look past your preconceived notions of the world so you can learn and grow?
I hope this blog gives you something to wrestle with (pun intended).
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