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June 28, 2005
water polo, rugby & gay sports
I used to play water polo before I played rugby. I was OK at it, but I did not excel at it due to not having an ectomorphic body shape. Those long limbed-types would simply use their Mr. Fantastic extenda-arms and dunk me when and if I would get the ball. Plus the team never played many matches, so I switched to rugby, as they play games almost every weekend in the spring and fall. Water polo was an incredible workout though, and it was very challenging, which was the point.
Last night waiting for the Metrorail I saw an "old" player from the rugby team who is leaving town to go to school elsewhere. We talked about how many on the team have "retired" due to pain or lack of time. Now when I say "old", this guy is in his early- to mid-20's and has played a year, which is a lot by rugby standards. It seems like I'm a rugby grampaw for only having played 5 years. The turnover is high once people realize there is a high pain and injury factor involved. I'm not saying I'm immune to pain. I've had some hard years. This year was a good one, despite throwing my back out picking up a goddamn Q-Tip.
I also believe some people have more "hit points" than others (Dungeons and Dragons reference) and can just take more hits, despite their size or stature. Younger people recover faster, and it also helps to just take a break once in a while too. I consider myself more of a Jack Russell Terrier than a rugby bulldog. I'd like to play as long as possible, as long as it does not hinder my ability to bike or run, which I would like to do for longer than that. When I bike through the city or down the trails I feel like I'm jacked up on amphetamines, and it feels good. Running is a necessary stress reliever.
I like to be athletic, and always have. I do not use the term "jock" lightly, as many do on their online cruisey profiles. I was in track and cross country in high school, and did the 400m, 800m, mile run, mile relay, and pole vault. I also come from a fairly active family - us Barretts are hyper folk. My grampa liked to hunt, as did my dad and one of my brothers. The other brother is a tennis and windsurfing fanatic. The hunting brother is a workout monster and has a bod that would put any circuit queen to shame, although it would shock him to know that another man would look at him that way. (That's another issue to address another day.) Anyway, I work out to feel alive, to use my body to perform a function, albeit for a generally useless recreational purpose. But that's the reason for a hobby, it's something that produces nothing other than to give you joy or pleasure.
That is why it kinda stung when another blogger said to me during an in-person blogger gathering a while back that people join gay rugby teams to fullfill unmet masculinity issues. This is not always so.
Yes, our team and many other gay or mixed teams have attracted their fair share of jokers who are attracted to the sport for its image, their perception of the hypermasculine qualities of the game, or to fulfill some pervy muddy rugby fantasy in their heads. After a match or two, such jokers quickly disappear, and/or we are quick to identify those types these days and find ways to get rid of them. I'm happy to say that our team has matured a lot over the years, and the drama factor from such folk has been reduced considerably. We had a very serious year in 2004/2005, and benefitted from the focus. I have personally gotten a lot more focused during practices too.
Anyhow, some people play rugby to inflict pain on others, as they consistently do in other theatres as well. Others play to simply keep in shape. I play for the pleasure of using my body in a coordinated fashion in concert with a bunch of other people to succeed. It is a beautiful thing to get the ball out of a scrum and get it to the backline for a fluid series of passes to the wing, or do dig out a ball from a ruck and run it forward. Even tackling can be fun, if I do it well.
And there is a definite addiction factor to it all as well. After 80 minutes you can feel quite "high," especially after a win. Most of the time you just feel tired, however. I don't know if rugby is any more healthy an alternative to the circuit scene - at least you don't get your head bashed in at the White Party or ribs bruised at the Blue Ball.
I do not play to prove anything other than that I can do it, and that I am still physically able to do right on the field. The sunshine and exercise don't hurt either. After 5 years, I can now see past the hot sweaty dirty meaty thighs in the scrum without getting a hormonal jolt to my crotch. During a match I am no longer distracted by the scruffy faces or the beckoning chest fur pouring out from the 'V' in the enemy's jersey neckline. While I am playing they are simply people to be stopped, neuter beings to be passed by and defeated. I can love them later when I've shown them who's boss, or vice verse.
Now you get a prize if you read this far. My favorite pictures of furry water polo players from this lovely photo gallery from Outsports, the premier source for the homoeroticism of hypermasculinity.
Tamas Kasas of Hungary, considered by many the sport's best player. And other furry aquatic men.
Posted by jimbo at June 28, 2005 1:56 PM
Comments
As a d4-rolling cloth-wearing type, I do admit to being a little envious of people who naturally take to athletics (and especially, like in your case, of people who seem to multi-class. :) ) The Boyfriend and I walked down one whole street at the SF Pride Festival full of athletics teams booths and demos, and I sucked in my gut a little, feeling inferior for a second. But if that's not where my talents and pleasures lie, why be mean to myself--or to someone like you--about it? Cheers to you for embracing what you love to do. (And looking good while doing it!)
Posted by: Casey at June 28, 2005 4:10 PM
Well, your post made me think about sports, gym class, and working out. I think I'll write a post about the topic tonight.
Posted by: homer at June 28, 2005 6:17 PM
I feel like I got a lot out of my brief stint with rugby, since all of my "athletic" activity before (and since) consisted only of running, biking, and endless time at the gym (yawn). It was really great to try a team sport, where, not only did you need physical strength and speed, you needed coordination, quick reflexes, and bravery.
Sadly, I was ultimately too neurotic for rugby. It was too difficult and too stressful for me. I've yet to find something else to try. And, you know, I'm a bit oldish now.
I never called myself a jock, that's for sure. For what it's worth. And finally playing a team sport, albeit very briefly, really made me understand and respect what it takes to be an athlete.
Posted by: Eric at June 28, 2005 11:11 PM
I didn't say "all" the gay rugby players are working out masculinity issues, did I? Really? Cuz if so, that not what I believe, and I apologize.
Posted by: Joe.My.God. at June 29, 2005 3:06 PM