Year Eleven - 1977

Year Eleven - 1977

In 1977 it was a big year for me. Some of the pop cultural landmarks that happen in this year will continue to effect me to the present and beyond. Movies like "Smoky and the Bandit" and "Saturday Night Fever" were important because I had progressed in my tastes past what children were watching and I was beginning to appreciate adult humor and subject matter. Both of these films were rated "R" and it was unlikely that I saw either of them in a theater, but the pop cultural influences were inescapable in 1977.

1977 also brought us the epic which is "Star Wars". This was the first film I wanted to go back and see repeatedly in the theaters. It seemed to transport me to a completely different reality when I was in there watching it. Every time I seemed to see something new and interesting. Some times I just watched the background action after I had memorized the main focal point of each scene.

This year was when I turned eleven. In true Marshalltown rearing, every male child shall be subjected to "little league" sports....to find where your true talents lie. And my parents (mother) was not immune to this indoctrination. She made sure I was signed up for everything from pee wee football to little league baseball. Let me run down them individually so you can get an idea of my success in each one...

First up, FOOTBALL!

I was first registered for flag football. There were no real try-outs. Everyone that paid, played. I was put on the Raiders team....way back when the real Raiders were first in Oakland, CA. We got jerseys and helmets. We had to get mouth guards, which were a rubbery plastic with a slight mint taste and scent. These were heated up in water and then molded by putting the hot plastic right in your mouth and biting down into the molten substance. We all had to wear a belt with Velcro flags attached. There was no tackling. There was hardly any strategy at all. Basically we were set up on the scrimmage line pointed in the direction of our goal....and told when to start moving. I imaging that it all looked pretty ridiculous. And since I had about zero interest in the sport, I am sure I just moved in the direction of the ball mindlessly. At the end of the game, win or lose, we all got treat tickets to get candy at the snack bar.....that was the main thing for me. And after two seasons of doing this, I was allowed to not register to do it any more. Which was a good thing.....most of the other kids who cared about football were starting to actually play the game and they would not have wanted me out there anymore than I did.....so, not a football player.

Next up, BASEBALL!

Little league has a long tradition in my family. Or that is what I am told. My mother's father had coached little league for many years when they lived in Marshalltown. He had some kind of reputation still when I became of age to start playing. I can remember someone referring to me as "Ed Lindsey's grandson" and that made me feel good. I thought I probably belonged playing this game. I got my glove and started playing catch on a regular basis. Then came the games themselves. The fields for little league were basically the same ones used for pee wee football. Except, baseball is played in the Spring. When everything is growing. And bugs are flying about quite a bit since the fields were near a creek. That means bees. And if you remember, I was deathly afraid of bees. And paranoid about bees. So, of course they play me in the outfield....were most of the bees would be. And when I was not looking over my shoulder for bees....I would occasionally glance into the infield to see what was happening with the game. Or the ball would be hit out in my direction.....and much yelling would ensue to get my attention to retrieve the ball. What I became infamously known for was the one move I made which I thought was genius.....I put my glove over my face to protect it from the bugs.....I could see through the webbing.....and if a ball came I would just move the glove off my face and try to stop it.....of course I had no clue how this would look to those watching the game. Well, it was seen as hilarious and ridiculous.....and I guess my parents were mortified. After two seasons of baseball, I was allowed to stop playing that game.....if only to save my parents from further embarrassment.

And finally, BASKETBALL!

In the winter, past football season....and before baseball season. That is basketball season. Our little league basketball was sponsored by the YMCA. And it had a pretty extensive try-out process. Basically, each player was asked to dribble the ball down the court. At one end they would do a layup and then rebound the ball and dribble to the other end of the court and take a jump shot from around the six foot zone. This was meant to show off your basic skills and then the adult coaches would take notes on who they liked and each player was selected by preference. Well, I had dribbled a ball and taken a few shots in my time.....but I was in no way a practiced player. But, I took to the court to do my thing.....dribble....all good....layup? Went ok.....even though I missed, I had good form......dribble back.....all good....now for the jump shot......I was a little nervous.....I stopped about fifteen feet from the hoop.....I closed my eyes and tossed the ball up.......SWISH!!! I nailed it......nothing but net!!! There was an audible gasp from the spectators.....it felt kind of amazing. I became a first round draft pick that year.....I got placed on the winning team of the season......and I never made another basket in a game. Ever! I was the booby prize......and I was allowed to quit basketball three seasons later.

Marshalltown, like most midwestern small towns, liked to center it's local attentions on children's sports. I know that each of my attempts to participate became another badge of failure for my parents, but I never did miss playing any of these sports. And really, I never caught on to the strategies of any of them until long after I had played. Later on I would attempt golf, tennis and track & field......all to similar success.

My focus was not going to be competitive sports......that much was known. But, I did know after this year that I wanted to spend as much time as I could in a movie theater. And I have been an avid fan ever since. I watch and critique movies the way some people follow sports.... And it all started in 1977.