Dodgeball

Ayelet Waldman disses dodgeball in Salon. My memories of playing it in grade school are pleasant — and I was anything but athletic. I'd get bonked by a ball and go stand in the elimination line and yak with my friends. After awhile, I'd get back in, maybe get lucky and eliminate one of the jocks, but mostly not, just get back in the elimination line again. It was easy and painless, mostly spent standing and talking, and once in awhile a score on the jocks to gloat over. All those balls flying around every which way added a bit of randomness that kept the jocks from their usual total domination.

Now touch football - that was a bitch. I had to play every play and I was often injured. Nothing too serious, but the bruises, sprains and dislocations hurt for a long time. I was hopeless at pullups, touching toes and climbing ropes - that was for the skinny guys. Baseball was OK, you mostly wait, once in awhile catch a ball, and that was nice. Track and basketball were too much huffing and puffing after the faster kids. Swimming I liked - it's easier to float when you're a bit pudgy. I remember one of the jocks sinking straight to the bottom, had to be rescued - nice. Wrestling - yuck. Calisthenics and weight lifting were boring, but obviously beneficial so OK.