Listened this evening as my local boy's baseball team got their butt's kicked in the State Finals baseball game (final score was 11-2). I don't feel too bad, though...they went into the State Finals unseated and played the final game against the number 1 ranked team in their division. Add to that the fact that these same boys (or many of them anyway) took first place at the State Finals in football, and second at State in basketball, and just getting to State in three different sports is no small accomplishment in itself.
While I generally haven't held high school athletics in too high esteem, I do now see their value in a small town where athletics are generally one of the only activities offered to youth.
I will also boast for a moment...the boys basketball team, in addition to taking 2nd place at the State Finals, were also awarded/recognized as the team with the highest academic average and also the most polite/best behaved team. I feel that these are equally (if not more so) deserving of recognition. The school principal and athletic director also recognizes this and often speaks more about this than the athletic achievements.
I also want to note that when the teams return home for a welcome, after a few speeches, the team lines up to shake hands with everyone who wishes to walk through and congratulate them. I've taken my children to the football and basketball welcome-homes and have been impressed at how nearly every one of the high school boys shook hands, smiled, and spoke briefly with my children even though they often didn't know who they were.
I do feel that this is great role modelling for the youth.
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As you remember, when I was a high school student, I probably couldn't have cared one iota less about high school sports. My only interest in it was the cheerleaders and the danceline (remember the Missteps?). As a teacher in a small town, my view has changed. It does bring the community together in a way that little else does. K points out some of the potential problems of high school sports (starting with diverting attention from academics) and he's completely correct there, as well. However, the positives are pretty strong.
I try to get out and "support the team" when possible. In my position, it's not always easy; I've got my own things to do, and I can't neglect a play rehearsal to go see a basketball game, and I do enjoy an occasional evening to myself, although during the school year that's extremely rare. And there are certain sports I don't especially care for (I won't, for any reason, watch wrestling). I do, though, try to make it to as many volleyball games as possible in the fall, and I'm one of the few non-parents who might be seen at a girls' tennis match, for example. And you know what? The kids really appreciate it. They've thanked me for coming out to watch them.
Another side of this is the neglect of the arts. Sure, when we do the fall school play, we get a fairly good attendence, including a few other students (although a lot of them think they shouldn't have to pay to see the play -- what, like we don't charge admission to the football games?) and community members whose connection to the school is tenuous. But we don't get the kind of community (and certainly not the type of in-school) support for arts that we do for athletics.
I'm done ranting now.
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