Ben Can Fuck Right Off

OK, I am sure that Ben is some sweet guy with a family and a dog at this point in time. Hell, he was probably a nice guy way back when. But when you set yourself as my local rival, I am going to tell your tale years later to illustrate my points. Plus I had to tell just one more story because it is so damn hilarious.

If you read the first Ben story (link here, two posts ago), you know that Ben was an emotional player who liked to get loud and mouthy. Just so happens my father was an emotional fan who liked to get loud and mouthy. Would you believe the two of them communicated during games?

Funny the things you remember when you look back on your life.

We were hosting Ben’s team at home and it was a beautiful day for soccer. I do not remember who won the game or even what was happening, when suddenly I noticed a frustrated look on Ben’s face as he was looking over at the sidelines. What the hell was going on?

Play resumed and when Ben got the ball, instead of passing it up field he just blasted it off out of bounds. Ben was pointing towards my dad and I heard my dad laughingly say, “What the heck was that?!” Ben shouted back, “I was aiming at you!” In one of the best responses I can recall in real time, my father quickly retorted, “I believe you. You missed by a mile!” Ben’s face went red and the rest of the game he was absolute shit on the field.

To this day I do not know how the whole exchange began. I did not know these two fools communicated at all before witnessing this moment.

Lessons from the field right? As a twelve-year-old, or whatever I was at the time, I was not experienced enough to know the ease with which a fan can involve themselves in a game to mess with the heads of those playing. Normally I picture some asshole at a Yankees game badgering a Redsox pitcher, as opposed to some asshole on the sidelines of a youth travel soccer game, but hey the lesson remains. Don’t let some asshole get in your head!

When Paul is finishing one of his last letters and his death is looming near, his encouragement to the church of Philppi is to keep their focus harnessed and distraction free. He says in Philippians 4:8-9:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Whatever is going on in your life, tell the assholes to fuck-off and focus on what matters.

Seriously, we all have goals in life. Along the way assholes of all kinds will come along to distract us with their antics. We can self-destruct Ben style and blast a soccer ball off the field, or we can do what all people should do with assholes — ignore them and keep on keeping on. Focus on what matters.

Oh and sorry dad, you were both the lesson and the asshole, I guess.