Playing Games

 The Olympics represent a lot of things to a lot of people. They inspire connectedness for some; others use them for geopolitical purposes; still others to make money. There is the competition between nations and the showmanship of the home country. (Bravo France!) There is also a lot of genuine emotion amidst the pageantry. There are scandals and some hearts get broken. Others soar.

Above all, it is the premier opportunity for athletes in multiple sports to compete on a world stage. For many of them, this experience will be life-altering in one way or another. They’ve worked hard to get here and most of them will get this chance one time only. 

Then again, the Olympics are not all that complicated. On the most basic level, human beings just like to play. Many other species on earth are playful as well.

Human societies have constructed elaborate games with complex rules that begin in childhood and progress to high-stakes battles in giant coliseums with tens or hundreds of thousands watching, cheering, booing, hoping and rooting, their eyes riveted on the athletes on the field. We tear up when they win, we tear up when they lose.

Meanwhile, far from the glamour of Paris, simpler games proceed before smaller crowds.

In Cooperstown, New York, home of baseball’s Hall of Fame, one 12-year-old is getting ready to throw a baseball to another on a Little League diamond in the annual tournament. 72 teams from all over the country have come here to play.

It’s the twilight of a warm summer’s day. Just the hint of a breeze is starting to stir the leaves on the trees beyond the outfield wall. It’s the late innings of the ballgame and among the spectators the anticipation is running high as they wait on the next pitch. Even the birds seem to have gone quiet. 

As a lifelong baseball fan, these are the moments I remember best, the moments when I didn’t yet know what was going to happen next.

So I think I’ll just end this story right there. 

(Photo: My grandson Oliver at the plate in Cooperstown.)

HEADLINES:

• Tropical Storm Debby live updates: 1 killed after storm makes landfall as hurricane (ABC)

• Beware the march of the childless voter (Financial Times)

• Kamala Harris interviewing top vice-presidential contenders (BBC)

• After smooth campaign start, Kamala Harris faces a crucial week ahead (AP)

• Panicking Trump Cites Made-Up Polls to Avoid Debating Kamala (TNR)

• Sofa so bad for JD Vance as Trump’s VP pick faces swirling speculation (Guardian)

• With Vance’s elevation, Pa. voters reexamine Trump’s views on women (WP)

• What the historic prisoner swap might mean for the future (CBS)

• US, UK and France ask their citizens to leave Lebanon as war fears loom (Al Jazeera)

• At least 70 killed in Bangladesh as protesters, police and pro-government activists clash (CNN)

• Far-right protesters attack hotel housing asylum seekers in violent weekend (WP)

• The GenAI jitters: Is there enough demand for $1 trillion in AI spending? (Business Insider)

• Will A.I. Kill Meaningless Jobs? (NYT)

• Man Reflecting On Where He Went Wrong In Life To Deserve Worst-Looking Chocolate Chip Muffin At Coffee Shop (The Onion)

LYRICS:

“Casey at the Bat.” (excerpt)

Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.