Guest View

just for the players

Have you ever been to a high school football game at Edmonds Stadium?

As you enter, there is a big sign. It reads: Winning is for a day sportsmanship is for a lifetime.

I assumed it was for the student athletes consumption.

One recent night unbeaten Meadowdale High School put its record on the line against unbeaten Glacier Peak High School.

Late in the first half Meadowdale High was trailing 21 to 7, and being outplayed on offense and defense late. Suddenly one very loud parent on the Glacier Peak side of the stadium started yelling, "Grizzly!"

The majority of the adults in the GPHS section responded with "Power!" It really surprised the Meadowdale crowd. The GPHS crowd repeated it over and over. It seemed bizarre on so many levels.

I had never been to a high school game where the adult families and friends in the stands had their own cheerleaders. All I could think was: What kind of family and friends were these people?

Were they living vicariously through their team?

Did the economic downturn hit their town harder than the rest of so that they saw the football team as their salvation? What was up with them?

We (Meadowdale) were down by 14 points and it didn't look good for our side. Why would they start this cheer when their team was doing so well? They knew the other stands were filled with family and friends of the MHS players. Wouldn't an enlightened GPHS crowd realize its actions would seem smug, unkind and boastful?

Id call that poor sportsmanship, wouldn't you? Yellow flag! 15-yard penalty! Give `em a gag order!

Meadowdale High fought hard in the second half, rallied, and won the game 34 to 28 in overtime. I looked over at the silenced GPHS adult cheerleaders. It was poetic justice. They were silent. They weren't shouting a power cheer now.

I was so proud of the Meadowdale High School football team on this night. And I was just as proud of their friends and families in the stands.

(Edmonds artist Glenn Steinbergs views on art and other subjects appear regularly in the Edmonds Beacon. He can be reached at www.coolartdude.com.)