Ahhh! That’s Old School
So what do you think of when you hear the current popular phrase “old school”?
Many of the enrolling college kids that I work with immediately see me as old school without ever having any interaction with me what-so-ever.
The older kids that have grown to trust me and, perhaps, even like me tell the youngsters that I’m old school.
So what is it about this phrase that has so many freely using it? It’s not defined in Webster. If you check out Wikipedia you’ll get information from early 19th century religion to origins of rap music.
I suspect the rappers can take more credit for making old school mainstream than anyone but wouldn’t know because I don’t listen to hip hop.
I have figured this out. In the world of athletics anyone over the age of 30, maybe even 25, is considered old school. So that makes me a dinosaur.
Every generation of competitive youth looks at older parents, teachers, coaches, and yes, athletic trainers with a bit of bewilderment.
Here are a few routinely asked questions that my college age kids have asked me through the years and my somewhat typical cynical responses:
1. Q: “Hey Ike! Did you ever play football? A: “Yeah, a loooong time ago. The worst part of when I played were those damn leather helmets!” That comment really gets some horrified looks from the kids and about 60-70% believe me. Actually we had the “new” Riddells in high school which were water filled and heavier than today’s version. I further explain that the game had a well established history long before I ever arrived and it didn’t just evolve when they started growing a little pubic hair. Again, further puzzled looks.
“And white shoes were cool. There was no such thing as spatting. Only a primadona would do that sort of thing which was the worst label that could be bestowed upon a real competitor. We wore white shoes because Joe Namath did, Billy ‘White Shoes’ Johnson did, and the coolest were the Oklahoma Sooners in those white with red trim Spot-Built turf shoes (except for Joe Washington and he wore GOLD shoes and nobody called him a primadona either!) So I got me a pair of white Spot Built’s and was the coolest kid in town and there’s no doubt they made me faster and….”
The looks from kids when I tell that story suggest that I’m lucky to still be living.
2. Q: “Hey Ike, you ever play any hoops?” A: “Oh Yeah! Back in the BTPL days, ‘before three point line’. We even had lights in the gym, in-door toilets, showers, and everything. In fact we actually took showers in the locker room after practices and games back in those days. The only basketball shoe made was Converse Chuck Taylor’s. And the trunks were just evolving from those slick, shiny ones you see in Hoosiers to the more popular, stretchy, sand knit ones. The fit was more snug but because I’m from a long line of ass-less people the crotch always came halfway down to my knees anyway making me about 30 years ahead of the times. If I would have marketed that look in 1972 I would be a multi billionaire today. Personally , I thought the knee high socks added a nice touch. But playing on all those sprained ankles was kind of tough, though. Did I tell you about the nice showers we had and used back then……?”
Most of the guys in this group can’t actually hear my old school tales because of all the “YABA, DABA, DOO AND I’M A BAD MF…” blaring from their I-Pods. The gals, well, they just think I’m related to the troll under the bridge until they get to know me better.
3. Q: “Hey Ike, when was the last wrestling match your were in?” A: “Eighth grade! I knew a half-nelson, cradle, double leg (which was nothing more than a tackle), and even pinned a guy with a double chicken wing! And the guy was from a rival school with real wrestling uniforms! Man, I was TOUGH after that match. And my uniform consisted of those ugly white and tight gym shorts, blank white tee shirt, and, you guessed it, Chuck Taylor’s. Thought about wrestling in high school but varsity basketball was winning state so I went the way of the Romans. Besides, basketball was a vacation between football and track. Had I wrestled in high school though I would have gotten me a real pair of wrestling shoes, a real wrestling uniform with those leg tights, and started cauliflowering my ears! There’s no telling how tough I would have been! And I had some gas, baby….”
By this time my college wrestling kids, who are genuine tough customers, are yawning unimpressively and rolling their eyes.
4. Q: “Hey Ike, you ever compete in track?” A: “You bet your training flats I did! Running was one of my first loves until I came to my senses about midway through college. As my Chuck Taylor’s wore out I had to get me a new pair of those spiffy, yellow, bic banana looking Puma running shoes. I was on the cutting edge of cool with those. But I began to develop some disturbing tendencies like calorie counting, entering 10K fun runs, subscribing to Runners World magazine, and foregoing Friday Afternoon Club for extended jogging sessions. But I made a complete recovery after just a couple of therapeutic binge drinking sessions with my buddies and a purchased meal plan down at the chow hall…..”
At this point there is usually rage in a runners eye! Their sense of humor got lost at mile marker #22.
For those of you who have ever dealt with runners you know that they are some of the most phobic athletes in competitive sports. Everyone’s out to get them and I’m often public enemy #1 for not allowing them to go ahead and further develop those stress fractures and chronic on top of chronic overuse injuries. To this group I’m not only old school I’m flat out incompetent for not having a magic wand which allows them to further self destruct. Runners will give you every possession they have if you can convince them that you’re the reason they can train at an additional 20 miles per week, up from 90-100 MPW. And many a private “sportsmedicine” clinic prey on them. Just tell them what they want to hear! Easy pickings!
I jokingly tell the kids I work with that, “I was old school when I was in school” and it was the only school we had. And it was not so much different from today. I was smart when I was young and starting out. Now that I’m older and experienced I don’t know a damn thing. It’s just that I don’t waste a kids time or mine anymore doing menial things that don’t work and I will never lie to them. And the reality of that, in the eyes of many young athletes, makes me very old school.
Help a kid smile today! It’s a Win, Win!
Ike
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