Day 277

Rivalries. They are as old as time itself, and continue through modern day:

Coke vs Pepsi.

Leno vs Letterman.

Ohio State vs. Michigan.

But one that has always played a part in my household is a different variety:

Cops vs. Firefighters.

Now, one would think that these two are anything but rivalries, assisting each other and their fellow man in times of crisis. And you would be right, as long as there is not a softball field or basketball court in sight.

The city my husband works for has always held annual sports events that pit the two 9-1-1 responders against each other. Many times it's for charity, sometimes it's just for bragging rights.

These games are the real reason their unions fight for good insurance though, as most of these men are testosterone-laden by nature and cannot seem to remember that they are not 17 years old anymore. I finally benched my husband from the softball team after watching him limp and listening to him whine for a week over a strawberry that stretched from hip to ankle. Of course, he told me he HAD to slide into third base, even though they were ahead by 5 runs....

But tonight, he played in a basketball game that once again pitted shield against ax. It was a local charity event, and all proceeds went towards the high school basketball teams. Many public schools are now "pay to play", which is such a sad thing for me to see. I hate to think about a kid not being able to play a sport in a public school system, simply because his parents can't afford the fee- especially when the kid is talented. And even if they aren't, sports provide a much-needed outlet and safe place for teenagers, and a reason to stay out of trouble.

The first game was the local teachers vs. local business owners. The teachers smoked the latter, but it was all in good fun. Nary a foul was called (although it was far from a clean game...), and all men came off the field smiling. A large turnout of students were there, and in between periods they played basketball-themed games where the freshman took on the sophomores, and the seniors took on the juniors- another timeless rivalry.

But then it was time for the city's protector's to take the court, and I said a silent prayer for no one to be injured. Again. The cops started off whooping our butts, but by the end of the second period, we had come back to make it a two-point game.

And although these men were also smiling, the poor refs did have to start calling fouls, for fear they would otherwise have to actually call the police officers that were on duty to break up a fight and the paramedics to treat war wounds....It was all in good fun, but there was definitely a level of testosterone out there that could be cut with a knife.

We lost 25-22. But, the kids got to see these guys come out to support them, and the men got to get some exercise without anyone needing to go to the hospital. Win-win, I say.

Tonight's pic represents rivalries, and supporting your community. Hopefully we raised enough money to make my husband's stiff knees, jammed finger, and purple toenail worthwhile- I have a feeling that our  household tonight is going to be one of Ben Gay and liquor...