My sons' flag football game had just started, and I was fumbling around with the camera on my phone, trying to take some videos for a new app I had just uploaded. I looked at a couple of the other parents, shook my head, and got ready to shoot another clip of the game.
Then he yelled again. And again. At the officials, his players, at our coaches.
"Can you believe this?" one of the other dads said. "He's the Cobra Kai guy. You know, from The Karate Kid."
"I think I heard him tell one of his kids to 'sweep the leg.' "
Cobra Kai had programmed his kids to hit and hold, push and pull. They had the aggressive nature of a junior high team, at least. Our kids held their own for the entire game, and my sons each pulled off a play that showed you don't have to be yelled at to be smart and resilient, and you certainly don't have to take borderline bullying from verbally-abused first graders.
For those of you who don't know, my 6-year-old son Walt and 5-year-old son Nate are teammates, and they barely know what they're doing on the field, like most of the other boys on the team. But they're learning.
Walt was the first to show a toughness that surprised me when he ran down a ball carrier to the sideline. He then slipped slightly, crashed into the runner, and they both fell hard to the ground. I thought for sure Walt was hurt, but no. He jumped up and ran with his teammates while the other kid stayed on the ground and started crying. Crying. I fought hard to suppress my fatherly pride.
Cobra Kai was pissed. And he thought Walt had tried to kill his kid. "What's that all about? Come on. Come on!" As his player walked back to the huddle, the abominable coach berated the boy for crying.
Nate's play was more subtle. He was also on defense, and on a sweep play he was blocked, actually held, for the entire play. The kid clutched Nate's shirt and dragged him several yards down the field. At the very end of the play, Nate grabbed back at the kid and whipped him to the ground.
So, those fights with his older brother did have a purpose.
Beer Belly didn't see Nate's retaliation, but his angry, belligerent mouth continued to flow freely until the end of the game. I actually thought of giving him a piece of my mind when it was over, but thought better of it. They don't keep score in these games, and I knew that one our coaches would file a complaint with the league. Besides, the boys had their after-game treats and were ready to head for home.
As we left the complex, I looked across the field to see if Mr. Miyagi was laying low, waiting in the shadows by the gazebo in the picnic area to give Cobra Kai the beating he deserved. The boys snapped me back to real life.
"Daddy," Walt said, a touch of glee in his voice, "we got SunnyD!"
"Yeah," echoed Nate.
