Home games-I buy a cheeseburger. Away games-cheeseburger. If I’m coaching, a cheeseburger. If I’m watching a game-you guessed it, a cheeseburger from the snack shack of wherever I am is what I eat for dinner many evenings between April and June.
And it’s certainly not because it’s healthy or my physique can stand all that red meat, dairy and white bread. It’s because of the memories.
Two years ago, following a game that I can’t remember if we won or lost, my cell phone rang while we were dragging the field. It was someone who I knew just well enough that he had my cell phone number. “Hey, are there any burgers and dogs left from tonight’s game?” said the voice on the other end of the line. I peeked over and sure enough 2 parents were shutting down the grill and had a small stack of food wrapped in tinfoil under the warming lights. “Sure, c’mon up to Field #2, and get some” I told my phone call.
So this friend of mine, pulls down the lane at SC, parks and comes up the hill past the departing parents who are trying to carry their chairs, gather their kids and preparing to leave. He gets to the stand, puts his money down and sits on the bleachers to watch the sun go down while he enjoys his 2 cheeseburgers. Just sitting there, watching us drag the field-the happiest guy you could imagine-smiling.
We finished up, and I asked him how his dinner was. He proceeded to tell me how much he likes a burger from the stand, not because it’s good for him either, but because somebody’s Mom or Dad made it. Somebody’s Mom or Dad shopped for it. And the money goes to benefit the Athletic Association where the game is played.
This past Summer, this same guy-our “got anything left at the stand"-guy volunteered during 4 of the hottest weekends in the Summer to help build Silver Creek’s new playground. Not because he has any kids playing in the program or because he’s got nothing else to do over the weekend. Not because there were burgers, but because he wanted to help. Because he likes to eat a burger or a dog while the sun sets. Because he knows that by hitting the snack stand instead of McDonald’s he’s helping. When he’s pouring concrete and shooting elevations from a tripod, he’s helping. At the moment when we’re laughing at how NOT handy some of us working on the project are, he’s helping. He’s a local business owner too-always buys a banner for the field. And when he swings by for dinner on his way home, he’s helping.
I lied. It’s not always a cheeseburger. I remember one year that Bridgeton had someone who made Sloppy Joes that were awesome. Another year, walking tacos were all the rage. Sometimes, it’s cold and they have coffee or breakfast sandwiches in Riegelsville for a 10:00 game. Another year in Tinicum, we ate pizza while we waited for a rain storm to blow over so that we could play a game.
There are a lot of reasons why I get something at the stand. But it’s mostly because of great memories and even better people.
And it’s certainly not because it’s healthy or my physique can stand all that red meat, dairy and white bread. It’s because of the memories.
Two years ago, following a game that I can’t remember if we won or lost, my cell phone rang while we were dragging the field. It was someone who I knew just well enough that he had my cell phone number. “Hey, are there any burgers and dogs left from tonight’s game?” said the voice on the other end of the line. I peeked over and sure enough 2 parents were shutting down the grill and had a small stack of food wrapped in tinfoil under the warming lights. “Sure, c’mon up to Field #2, and get some” I told my phone call.
So this friend of mine, pulls down the lane at SC, parks and comes up the hill past the departing parents who are trying to carry their chairs, gather their kids and preparing to leave. He gets to the stand, puts his money down and sits on the bleachers to watch the sun go down while he enjoys his 2 cheeseburgers. Just sitting there, watching us drag the field-the happiest guy you could imagine-smiling.
We finished up, and I asked him how his dinner was. He proceeded to tell me how much he likes a burger from the stand, not because it’s good for him either, but because somebody’s Mom or Dad made it. Somebody’s Mom or Dad shopped for it. And the money goes to benefit the Athletic Association where the game is played.
This past Summer, this same guy-our “got anything left at the stand"-guy volunteered during 4 of the hottest weekends in the Summer to help build Silver Creek’s new playground. Not because he has any kids playing in the program or because he’s got nothing else to do over the weekend. Not because there were burgers, but because he wanted to help. Because he likes to eat a burger or a dog while the sun sets. Because he knows that by hitting the snack stand instead of McDonald’s he’s helping. When he’s pouring concrete and shooting elevations from a tripod, he’s helping. At the moment when we’re laughing at how NOT handy some of us working on the project are, he’s helping. He’s a local business owner too-always buys a banner for the field. And when he swings by for dinner on his way home, he’s helping.
I lied. It’s not always a cheeseburger. I remember one year that Bridgeton had someone who made Sloppy Joes that were awesome. Another year, walking tacos were all the rage. Sometimes, it’s cold and they have coffee or breakfast sandwiches in Riegelsville for a 10:00 game. Another year in Tinicum, we ate pizza while we waited for a rain storm to blow over so that we could play a game.
There are a lot of reasons why I get something at the stand. But it’s mostly because of great memories and even better people.
RSS Feed
