"Figure skating isn't a sport"
"You don't like sports," guys will start. It's almost, but not quite, a question.
"I don't like team sports," I'll say.
"But you like figure skating," they say with a sneer.
"Yes," I'll admit. Because I don't like lying.
"Figure skating's not a sport." Sneer.
They will stand around me in a circle. Looking down on me for liking figure skating. Relegating me to play the part of a girly girl. Thinking they know me, know what kind of person I am. One who likes figure skating.
I never speak of it. I never bring it up. I know better than that. It's always the guys who bring it up, just to make fun of me. Until last night, I hadn't watched any at all this year. I just never turned on the TV. But the women in my belly dance class were all talking about what good skaters there were this year. They said the women's short program would be starting about the time I got home, and I should watch.
And I did. They are right. There are some fabulous skaters this year. But then I had to tell someone that I watched it. And I heard it again. "Figure skating isn't a sport."
Defining what is a sport is like defining what is art. I truly don't care whether figure skating is a sport or not. I am glad that the Olympic Committee thinks it is, because I like watching it. If they didn't, I would never see figure skating. Yes, I find it inspiring. Even if you don't think a spectator can tell a good performance from a bad one, I can. I am glad that someone thinks it is a sport and there are commentors and instant replays so I can compare what I saw to what an expert sees. So I can understand what I am seeing. Even if you don't see value in it, I do. I love how a good skating performance shows the limits of altheticism. I love the marriage of athletics and dance. I love seeing the performers reach and stretch themselves. How they couragously open themselves in their performance. I have actually taken moves from figure skating and put them into my own dance performances. Yes, I am inspired.
So you men who want to make fun of me for liking figure skating, go right ahead. You just go ahead and put me in my place as a girly girl. You enjoy yourselves, making me feel 10 and small and weak. Go right ahead.
I never bring it up. I know it is a guilty pleasure. And next time, I will beat you to the punch. "Figure skating isn't a sport," I'll say. Maybe I'll even lie and say I didn't watch. Because you will just make fun of me for watching, anyway.
Disclaimer: Before you get all offended, I know there are some guys out there who wouldn't make fun of me. There are even some athletic men out there who appreciate my own athletisicm, such as it is. But this kind of scene has happened to me more than once.
"I don't like team sports," I'll say.
"But you like figure skating," they say with a sneer.
"Yes," I'll admit. Because I don't like lying.
"Figure skating's not a sport." Sneer.
They will stand around me in a circle. Looking down on me for liking figure skating. Relegating me to play the part of a girly girl. Thinking they know me, know what kind of person I am. One who likes figure skating.
I never speak of it. I never bring it up. I know better than that. It's always the guys who bring it up, just to make fun of me. Until last night, I hadn't watched any at all this year. I just never turned on the TV. But the women in my belly dance class were all talking about what good skaters there were this year. They said the women's short program would be starting about the time I got home, and I should watch.
And I did. They are right. There are some fabulous skaters this year. But then I had to tell someone that I watched it. And I heard it again. "Figure skating isn't a sport."
Defining what is a sport is like defining what is art. I truly don't care whether figure skating is a sport or not. I am glad that the Olympic Committee thinks it is, because I like watching it. If they didn't, I would never see figure skating. Yes, I find it inspiring. Even if you don't think a spectator can tell a good performance from a bad one, I can. I am glad that someone thinks it is a sport and there are commentors and instant replays so I can compare what I saw to what an expert sees. So I can understand what I am seeing. Even if you don't see value in it, I do. I love how a good skating performance shows the limits of altheticism. I love the marriage of athletics and dance. I love seeing the performers reach and stretch themselves. How they couragously open themselves in their performance. I have actually taken moves from figure skating and put them into my own dance performances. Yes, I am inspired.
So you men who want to make fun of me for liking figure skating, go right ahead. You just go ahead and put me in my place as a girly girl. You enjoy yourselves, making me feel 10 and small and weak. Go right ahead.
I never bring it up. I know it is a guilty pleasure. And next time, I will beat you to the punch. "Figure skating isn't a sport," I'll say. Maybe I'll even lie and say I didn't watch. Because you will just make fun of me for watching, anyway.
Disclaimer: Before you get all offended, I know there are some guys out there who wouldn't make fun of me. There are even some athletic men out there who appreciate my own athletisicm, such as it is. But this kind of scene has happened to me more than once.