Volleyball Satire

Look at my schedule, and I bet you can guess the topic of my obsession. No, I don’t religiously watch “Game of Thrones” with every Sunday night marked in my calendar like some sort of federal holiday - my mom calls me “broken” since I haven’t seen any episodes - nor am I a Cardinals baseball super-fan, attending every game. My calendar is overtaken by America’s true favorite pastime: volleyball. Not everyone would agree that volleyball is America’s favorite pastime, but I think they're in denial. I spend virtually all my time practicing, playing, or watching volleyball, so that counts for something, right? The fast pace keeps spectators captivated in the simple yet overly complex game. Okay, it's not true that volleyball is “overly complex”

I recently had the amazing opportunity to watch the University of Illinois women's volleyball team play Stanford, and let me tell you… THEY. ARE. AMAZING. Stanford has a six-foot-eight beast; her head clears the net when she blocks. I bet she's been nailed in the face quite a few times, but hey, if that's the only downside to being that tall and a volleyball player, then sign me up! I’ve chosen to play volleyball in college, but since I’m only five-foot-ten, I won’t have to worry about being smacked in the face when I’m blocking. Attending the game just two rows in front of me was no other than Charlie Rodman, probably the greatest volleyball coach I’ve ever encountered. Never having played, when Belleville West was looking for a new head volleyball coach, he began to read books and teach himself the game. He coached my mom when she was in high school and led her team to win back-to-back state championships in 1990 and 1991. No longer the head coach, he still helps run practices, comes to the games and tournaments, and whenever I have a question about what I did wrong, where to go, or a new technique, he’s always the first person I go to for an answer. He coached two girls who ended up playing for Stanford and the University of Illinois in the same year, so when I say he’s an amazing coach, I’m not sugar coating

I can watch volleyball all day because of how much precision, aggression, and mental toughness is needed. Spectators may not always see that side of the sport, but as a player, I know that it takes more than just a powerful hit or serve to be successful. Slamming the ball down other teams’ throats or hitting someone in the face so hard that they fall over (my personal favorite) are great, but, unfortunately, they’re not always the smartest choice. It’s the technique and the years of acquired intelligence of the game that keep me engaged and coming back for more. I promise you that hitting someone in the face is more fun than watching a show about dragons and incest. Maybe you, Jon Snow, and I can get together, smack around some volleyballs, watch “Game of Thrones,” and decide which is better, but trust me, I already know which one I’d choose. Watch out, Mr.