When we use the word “fight “ in connection with sports, we are usually speaking in figurative, and not literal language. Fighting for the win and fighting to the finish and fighting for your life are not literal terms; they are figurative and fictional, allegorical and metaphorical and NOT literal. At least most of the time. In other words, when a coach says, “get out there and fight,” he doesn’t mean go and pick a fight with the other team. At least not literally.
Why then did the Washington Redskins and the Houston Texans fight each other at a SCRIMMAGE? A.K.A., “Practice.” (Not a game … Not a game, but “Practice.” — where is Allen Iverson when you need him?) To be sure, only a few unfavored felons actually started the fight, but both teams seemed to get totally involved, much to the enjoyment of hundreds of faithful fans along the sidelines and thousands more who shared the viral video online.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13399329
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13399506
What have we come to? Are we more excited about bad news than good? Are we more entertained by fighting than good ole-fashioned smash mouth football? Apparently so. Sad to say, this was the No. 1 sports story of the day.
Other than boxing, fighting is not for amusement or merriment. In other words, fighting is not for fun or fanfare. In sports and in life, we fight for an ultimate goal and a supreme purpose. We fight the devil and his dastardly, dubious demons of defeat and despair, discouragement and dismay. Fight them. Fight them tooth and nail. Fight them hard; fight them fierce. And fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, because fighting is not for fun.
So let’s put the fight back where it belongs; in our hearts and souls. Let’s fight the temptation to flash and flare out at our opponent in an unsportsmanlike way. And our opponents may not be on the field. They may be an extraordinary antagonist or an everyday adversary. But don’t let them foil your focus or frustrate your fancy of winning; keep your eye on the prize, because fighting is not just for a scrimmage or a game; fighting is spiritual; fighting is not a game; fighting is real.
